Block a sender in Outlook on the web

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions) in the top right of the message. Select Block from the menu. Outlook moves future emails from that sender to your Junk folder automatically.

You can also block a sender without opening their email. Right-click the message in your inbox, then select Block. The sender goes to your blocked list immediately, and their past emails stay in your inbox unless you delete them manually.

To see who you have blocked, go to Settings (the gear icon), then View all Outlook settings. Select Mail > Junk email. Your blocked senders list appears under Blocked senders and domains. You can add addresses directly here or remove someone from the list if you change your mind.

Block a sender in Outlook desktop app

Right-click any email from the sender you want to block. Select Junk > Block Sender. Outlook sends their future emails to your Junk folder.

If you are using Outlook on Windows or Mac, you can also open an email and go to the Home tab. Click Junk (or Report Junk on Mac), then select Block Sender. The sender is added to your blocked list right away.

To manage your blocked senders in the desktop app, go to File > Options (Windows) or Outlook > Preferences (Mac). Select Trust Center > Junk Email. Click the Blocked Senders tab to see your list, add new addresses, or remove old ones.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a sender in Outlook sends their future emails to your Junk folder, but does not delete emails they already sent you.
  • You can block someone by right-clicking their email and selecting Block, or by opening the message and using the three-dot menu.
  • Blocked senders appear in your Junk email settings, where you can add addresses directly or unblock someone later.
  • Blocking works the same way in Outlook on the web and the desktop app, though the menu locations differ slightly.
  • If a blocked sender uses a different email address, you will need to block that address separately.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a sender, Outlook routes all their future emails to your Junk folder. You will not see notifications for their messages, and they will not appear in your inbox. The sender does not receive any notification that you blocked them — they may not know their emails are going to Junk.

Emails the sender already sent you stay in your inbox unless you delete them. Blocking only affects new messages going forward. If you want to remove old emails from a blocked sender, you have to delete them yourself or move them to Junk.

Block email addresses and domains

You can block individual email addresses or entire domains. If you block a domain (for example, @spammer.com), Outlook blocks all addresses from that domain at once. This is useful if you are getting unwanted email from many accounts at the same organization.

To block a domain in Outlook on the web, go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Junk email. Under Blocked senders and domains, type the domain name (for example, spammer.com) and click Add. In the desktop app, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Junk Email > Blocked Senders and type the domain there.

Unblock a sender if you change your mind

Open your Junk email settings and find the Blocked senders and domains list. Locate the address or domain you want to unblock and click the trash icon or Remove button next to it. That sender's emails will no longer go to Junk and will arrive in your inbox normally.

In the desktop app, the process is the same: go to File > Options > Trust Center > Junk Email > Blocked Senders, find the address, and click Remove. After you unblock someone, their emails may take a few minutes to start arriving in your inbox again.

When blocking is not enough

If a sender keeps using new email addresses to contact you, blocking individual addresses becomes tedious. In that case, blocking their domain (if they all use the same company email) is faster. If they use different domains, you may need to create a mail rule instead, which can filter emails based on subject line, sender name, or other details.

For persistent unwanted email, you can also report it as phishing or spam to Microsoft. In Outlook on the web, open the message and click the three dots, then select Report. Choose Phishing or Junk depending on the type of email. Reporting helps Microsoft improve its spam filters for all users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the sender know I blocked them?

No. Outlook does not notify senders when you block them. Their emails simply go to your Junk folder without any message back to them. They may eventually realize their emails are not reaching you if you stop responding, but Outlook does not tell them directly.

Can I block emails by subject line or content instead of sender?

Blocking works only by sender address or domain. To filter emails by subject line or keywords, you need to create a mail rule instead. In Outlook on the web, go to Settings > Mail > Rules and create a new rule with conditions like "subject contains" or "body contains".

What if I accidentally block someone I want to hear from?

Go to your Junk email settings and find the person in your Blocked senders and domains list. Click the remove or trash icon next to their address. They are unblocked immediately, and their future emails will arrive in your inbox normally.

Will blocking stop all emails from a company if I block their domain?

Yes. If you block a domain like @company.com, all emails from anyone at that company go to Junk. Make sure you do not need to hear from anyone there before blocking the entire domain. You can always unblock it later if you change your mind.

Can I block emails on my phone?

Yes. In the Outlook mobile app for iPhone or Android, open an email and tap the three dots menu. Select Block or Junk depending on your app version. The sender is added to your blocked list and their future emails go to Junk on all your devices.