The fastest way to block someone in Gmail
Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the email, then select "Block [sender's name]". Gmail will immediately stop delivering messages from that address to your inbox and send them to spam instead.
If you have already deleted the email, you can still block the sender. Go to your Spam folder, find an email from that address, open it, click the three dots, and choose "Block [sender's name]". The block takes effect right away.
Once you block someone, all their future emails go straight to your spam folder. You will not see notifications for their messages, and they will not know they have been blocked.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking an email address in Gmail takes one click from the three-dot menu and sends all future messages from that sender to spam automatically.
- You can block a sender even after deleting their email by finding any message from them in your spam or trash folder.
- Blocked senders cannot tell they have been blocked, and their emails will not clutter your inbox or generate notifications.
- Blocking is different from unsubscribing — unsubscribe removes you from mailing lists, while blocking stops all mail from a specific address.
- If you block someone by mistake, you can unblock them by going to Settings, finding their address in the blocked list, and clicking unblock.
Where to find your blocked senders list
To see everyone you have blocked, open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select "See all settings", then go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Scroll down to the "Blocked addresses" section to view your full list.
From this list, you can unblock anyone by clicking the "unblock" link next to their email address. This restores their emails to your inbox and they will start arriving normally again. You can block and unblock the same person as many times as you need to.
Blocking email addresses versus unsubscribing
Blocking stops all messages from a specific email address. Use this when someone is sending you unwanted mail and you do not want to hear from them again. Blocked emails go to spam, and you will not see them.
Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — usually newsletters, promotional emails, or notifications from services you signed up for. Most legitimate marketing emails have an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom. Clicking it removes your address from their list, but it does not block the sender.
If you block a sender, you will not see an unsubscribe option because their emails go straight to spam. If you unsubscribe from a mailing list, that sender can still email you if they have a reason to — for example, a password reset or account alert. Block someone only if you want to stop hearing from them entirely.
What happens when you block someone
When you block an email address, Gmail moves all their current emails to your spam folder and sends all future messages there automatically. You will not receive notifications for their emails, and they will not appear in your inbox, sent items, or any other folder except spam.
The blocked sender does not receive a notification that you have blocked them. From their perspective, your email address simply does not respond — they have no way to know whether you blocked them, deleted their emails, or never saw them.
Blocked emails stay in your spam folder for 30 days before Gmail deletes them automatically. If you need to keep a message from a blocked sender, move it to another folder before the 30 days are up.
Blocking email addresses on mobile Gmail
On the Gmail app for iPhone or Android, open an email from the sender you want to block. Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select "Block [sender's name]". The process is the same as on desktop — the block takes effect immediately.
To view your blocked list on mobile, open the Gmail app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll down to "Settings", select your account, tap "Filters and Blocked Addresses", and look for "Blocked addresses". You can unblock someone from this screen by tapping their address and selecting unblock.
Blocking mass emails and newsletters
If you receive unwanted newsletters or promotional emails, look for an unsubscribe link at the bottom of the message first. Clicking unsubscribe is usually faster and more effective than blocking because it removes you from the sender's list entirely.
If there is no unsubscribe link, or if unsubscribing does not work, then block the sender. Some spam and scam emails do not include a real unsubscribe option, so blocking is your best option. You can also report the email as spam by clicking the spam icon (exclamation mark in a triangle) before blocking.
If you receive many unwanted emails from the same domain (for example, all from @example.com), you can create a filter to automatically send all mail from that domain to spam. Go to Settings, click "Filters and Blocked Addresses", and select "Create a new filter". Enter the domain name and choose "Delete it" or "Skip the inbox" to handle all future mail from that sender automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block an email address if I have already deleted the email?
Yes. Go to your Spam or Trash folder, find any email from that sender, open it, click the three dots, and select "Block [sender's name]". You do not need the original email — any message from that address will work.
What is the difference between blocking and reporting as spam?
Reporting as spam sends the email to your spam folder and tells Gmail the sender is sending unwanted mail, which helps Gmail identify spam for all users. Blocking does the same thing but also prevents that specific address from ever reaching your inbox again. You can do both — report the email as spam and then block the sender.
If I block someone, can they still see my emails?
Blocking only affects what you receive. If you block someone, they can still send you emails — those emails just go to your spam folder and you will not see them. Blocking does not prevent them from emailing you or seeing your replies to past conversations.
How do I unblock someone I blocked by mistake?
Go to Settings, click "Filters and Blocked Addresses", scroll to "Blocked addresses", find the person's email, and click "unblock". Their emails will start arriving in your inbox normally again. You can block them again anytime if you change your mind.
Will the blocked person know I blocked them?
No. Blocked senders receive no notification. From their side, it looks like your email address is simply not responding to their messages. They have no way to know whether you blocked them, ignored them, or never saw their emails.