Where to find the unblock button depends on which email service you use

The steps to unblock an email address are different in Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail. Most services keep blocked senders in a separate list that you can view and edit at any time. You do not need to contact the email company — you can unblock someone yourself in a few clicks.

The blocked sender will not be notified when you unblock them. Once unblocked, their emails will arrive in your inbox normally again, including any messages they sent while they were blocked (those usually appear in a folder called "Blocked" or "Spam" that you can check).

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail stores blocked addresses in Settings under Filters and Blocked Addresses, where you can unblock them one at a time.
  • Outlook and Yahoo Mail both have a Blocked Senders list accessible from Settings that shows all blocked addresses.
  • Apple Mail on Mac stores blocked senders in Mail Preferences under Junk Mail, while iPhone Mail uses the VIP or Blocked list in settings.
  • Unblocking someone does not notify them, and emails they sent while blocked usually sit in a separate folder you can review.
  • If you blocked someone by accident or changed your mind, unblocking takes less than a minute on any major email service.

Unblocking in Gmail

Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner, then select See all settings. Go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. You will see a list of every address you have blocked. Find the one you want to unblock and click Unblock next to it.

If the list is long, use the search box at the top of the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab to find the address faster. Once you unblock it, Gmail will start delivering that person's emails to your inbox right away. Any emails they sent while blocked will move from the Spam folder back to your inbox automatically.

Unblocking in Outlook

In Outlook on the web, click the gear icon and select View all Outlook settings. Go to Mail in the left sidebar, then Junk email. Under Blocked senders, you will see a list of every address you blocked. Click the minus sign next to the address you want to unblock.

In Outlook desktop (Windows or Mac), go to File > Options (Windows) or Preferences (Mac), then Trust Center > Junk Email. Click Blocked Senders and select the address you want to remove, then click Remove.

Unblocking in Yahoo Mail

Click the gear icon in the top right and select Settings. Go to Security and privacy in the left menu, then scroll down to Blocked addresses. You will see a list of blocked senders. Click the X next to the address you want to unblock.

Yahoo Mail will ask you to confirm the unblock. Once you do, that person's emails will start arriving in your inbox again. If they sent you messages while blocked, check your Spam folder — Yahoo sometimes puts unblocked senders' old messages there temporarily.

Unblocking on iPhone or iPad (Apple Mail)

Open the Mail app and go to Settings > Mail > Blocked. You will see a list of blocked senders. Swipe left on the address you want to unblock and tap Unblock. The change takes effect when ready.

If you use iCloud Mail through the Mail app, you can also unblock someone by opening an email from them (if you can find it in your Blocked folder), tapping the sender's name at the top, and selecting Unblock. Either method works — use whichever is faster for you.

Unblocking on Mac (Apple Mail)

Open the Mail app and go to Mail > Preferences (or Settings on newer macOS versions). Click the Junk Mail tab. Under Blocked, you will see a list of addresses. Select the one you want to unblock and click the minus button at the bottom of the list.

Close Preferences and the change is saved. Mail will now accept emails from that address. If you want to check what emails they sent while blocked, look in your Junk folder — Apple Mail sometimes keeps blocked senders' messages there.

What happens after you unblock someone

Once you unblock an address, that person's future emails will arrive in your inbox normally. You will not see a notification that you unblocked them, and they will not be told. If they tried to email you while they were blocked, those messages usually sit in a Spam or Blocked folder that you can search through and move back to your inbox if you want to read them.

If you block the same person again later, the system treats it as a new block — your email service does not remember that you unblocked them before. You can block and unblock the same address as many times as you need to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I unblocked them?

No. Unblocking someone does not send them a notification or message. They will only know if their emails start arriving in your inbox again and you tell them you unblocked them.

Can I unblock multiple people at once?

Most email services require you to unblock addresses one at a time. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all work this way. If you have a long list, it takes a few minutes, but there is no bulk unblock feature.

What if I forgot which email address I blocked?

Go to your blocked senders list in your email settings. You can see every address you have blocked. If the list is very long, search for a partial name or domain (like "gmail.com") to narrow it down.

Do I need to unblock someone in both email and my phone?

No. If you use the same email account on your phone and computer, unblocking in one place unblocks them everywhere. The block list is stored on the email service's servers, not on your device.

What if emails from someone still do not arrive after I unblock them?

Check your Spam or Junk folder first — sometimes unblocked senders' messages end up there by mistake. If you still cannot find their emails, ask them to resend a message. If it still does not arrive, the problem may be on their end, not yours.