Unblocking an email on your phone takes three taps in Gmail's settings

Open the Gmail app on your phone and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Manage your Google Account, then go to the Security tab. Scroll down to Blocked addresses and tap the address you want to unblock, then select Unblock. The person can now send you emails again, and their messages will land in your inbox instead of being automatically deleted.

If you do not see the Blocked addresses section, you may be using an older version of the Gmail app. Update it from your phone's app store, then try again. The steps are the same on both Android and iPhone.

Key Takeaways

  • Unblocking happens in your Google Account security settings, not inside the Gmail app itself.
  • You can unblock one address at a time by tapping it and selecting Unblock.
  • Once unblocked, future emails from that address will arrive normally in your inbox.
  • Past emails that were blocked are not automatically restored — you may need to ask the sender to resend them.
  • The process is identical on Android and iPhone.

Finding the blocked addresses list on Android

On an Android phone, open Gmail and tap your profile picture at the top right. You will see a menu with your email address and account options. Tap Manage your Google Account. A new screen opens showing several tabs across the top — tap Security.

Scroll down the Security tab until you see Blocked addresses. This section lists every email address you have blocked. If the list is empty, no addresses are currently blocked. If you see addresses listed, tap the one you want to unblock.

Finding the blocked addresses list on iPhone

On iPhone, the steps are nearly identical. Open Gmail and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Manage your Google Account, then swipe to the Security tab. Scroll down to find Blocked addresses and tap the address you want to unblock.

If you have trouble finding the Security tab on iPhone, make sure you are on the correct account — if you have multiple Google accounts, the menu may show a different account's settings. Tap your profile picture again and confirm you are signed into the right account.

Tapping unblock and what happens next

Once you tap the address you want to unblock, a confirmation screen appears asking if you are sure. Tap Unblock to confirm. The address is removed from your blocked list when ready.

After you unblock an address, emails from that person will arrive in your inbox starting with their next message. Gmail does not automatically restore emails that arrived while the address was blocked — those messages remain deleted. If you need those past emails, you can ask the sender to resend them, or check your Trash folder to see if they are still there.

Unblocking multiple addresses at once

Gmail does not have a button to unblock all addresses at once. You must unblock each address individually by tapping it and selecting Unblock. If you have many blocked addresses, this takes a few minutes, but there is no faster way through the phone app.

If you have a computer nearby, you can unblock addresses faster on the desktop version of Gmail — the process is the same, but a larger screen makes it easier to see and tap multiple addresses in succession.

Why an email might not arrive after you unblock it

After you unblock an address, new emails from that person should arrive within a few minutes. If nothing shows up after an hour, the sender may not have actually sent anything yet. Ask them to send a test email so you can confirm the unblock worked.

In rare cases, Gmail's spam filter may still catch emails from that address if the sender's email account has been compromised or is sending spam. If emails keep landing in Spam even after you unblock the address, you can mark them as Not spam in Gmail to train the filter. If the problem continues, the sender's account may need to be secured.

Blocking an address again if you change your mind

If you unblock an address and later decide you want to block it again, open an email from that person and tap the three-dot menu at the top right. Select Block [sender's name]. The address goes back on your blocked list, and future emails from them will be deleted automatically.

You can also block an address directly from the Blocked addresses section in your Google Account security settings by tapping Add an email address and typing the address you want to block.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to unblock an address in Gmail on my computer too?

No. Blocking and unblocking happens at the Google Account level, not in the Gmail app. If you unblock an address on your phone, it is unblocked everywhere — on your computer, tablet, and any other device you use Gmail on.

Can I unblock an address without opening the Gmail app?

Yes. Go to myaccount.google.com in your phone's web browser, tap Security, scroll to Blocked addresses, and unblock the address there. You do not need to open the Gmail app at all.

What if I forgot which address I blocked?

Open your Google Account security settings and look at the Blocked addresses list. Every address you have blocked is shown there. If the list is empty, you have not blocked anyone.

Will the person know I unblocked them?

No. Unblocking an address is silent — the sender receives no notification. They will only know if you tell them or if you respond to their emails.

Can I block an address without opening an email from them?

Yes. Go to your Google Account security settings, tap Blocked addresses, select Add an email address, type the address, and tap Block. You do not need to receive an email from them first.