Find and unblock the sender in Gmail settings

To unblock an email address in Gmail, you go to your settings, find the blocked address in your blocked list, and remove it. The sender can then reach your inbox again. The whole process takes about two minutes.

Gmail keeps a record of every address you have blocked, so you do not have to remember exactly how you spelled it or whether it was a work or personal account. You can see the full list and unblock anyone from one place.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked addresses live in Gmail settings under Filters and Blocked Addresses, not in your inbox or trash folder.
  • You can unblock an address by clicking the "Unblock" button next to its name — no confirmation dialog appears, so the change takes effect when ready.
  • Once unblocked, future emails from that sender will arrive in your inbox normally, but old blocked messages do not reappear.
  • If you block an address by mistake, you can unblock it right away from the same settings page.

Open Gmail settings and go to Filters and Blocked Addresses

Start by signing into your Gmail account on a computer or phone. On a computer, click the gear icon in the top right corner of the page. A menu drops down. Click "See all settings" at the bottom of that menu.

You will land on the Settings page. Look for the tab labeled "Filters and Blocked Addresses" near the top. Click it. You will see a section called "Blocked addresses" with a list of every sender you have blocked.

Locate the address you want to unblock

Scroll through the blocked addresses list until you find the one you want to unblock. The list shows the full email address for each blocked sender. If you have blocked many addresses, you can use your browser's find function — press Ctrl+F on Windows or Command+F on Mac — and type part of the address to search.

Once you find the address, look to the right of it. You will see a small "Unblock" link or button next to the sender's name.

Click Unblock and confirm the change

Click the "Unblock" button next to the address. The page refreshes, and that address disappears from your blocked list. No confirmation dialog appears — the unblock happens when ready.

You can now close the settings page. The sender is no longer blocked, and their future emails will arrive in your inbox or spam folder depending on Gmail's filters.

Unblocking on a phone or tablet

On the Gmail app for iPhone or Android, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left. Scroll down and tap "Settings." Choose your Gmail account. Scroll down to "Blocked addresses" and tap it to see your full list.

Find the address you want to unblock and tap "Unblock" next to it. The change takes effect right away. Close settings and return to your inbox.

What happens after you unblock an address

Once you unblock someone, they are treated like any other sender. Their new emails will arrive in your inbox unless Gmail's spam filter catches them for other reasons. Emails they sent while they were blocked do not reappear — those messages stay deleted or in spam, depending on where Gmail put them.

If you want to see old messages from that sender, you can search for their address in the search bar at the top of Gmail. Type "from:theiraddress@example.com" and Gmail will show you every message from them, including ones that arrived while they were blocked.

If you block an address by mistake

If you blocked someone and want to undo it right away, go back to Filters and Blocked Addresses in settings. The address you just blocked will be at the top of the list. Click "Unblock" when ready. There is no waiting period or reversal process — unblocking works the same way whether you blocked the address five minutes ago or five months ago.

You can also unblock an address directly from an email. If you see a message from someone and realize you want to unblock them, click the three-dot menu icon next to the sender's name. Select "Unblock [sender]" from the dropdown. This takes you straight to unblocking without opening settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I unblocked them?

No. Unblocking is invisible to the sender. They will not receive a notification, and there is no record on their end that you had blocked them. They will only know if their emails start reaching you after a long silence.

Can I block and unblock the same address multiple times?

Yes. You can block and unblock any address as many times as you want. Each time you block someone, they go to the blocked list. Each time you unblock them, they are removed from it. There is no limit to how many times you can do this.

What if I unblock an address but still do not see their emails?

Their messages may be going to your spam folder instead of your inbox. Check your spam folder and look for their address. If you find their email there, click it and select "Not spam" to train Gmail to put their future messages in your inbox.

Do I need to unblock someone on my phone and computer separately?

No. Your blocked list is the same across all devices. If you unblock an address on your computer, it is unblocked on your phone too. Gmail syncs your settings automatically.