The fastest way to block an email address in Gmail

Open any email from the sender you want to block. Click the three vertical dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the email. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown. Gmail will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically, and you won't see notifications when they write to you.

That's the complete process. Once blocked, emails from that address go straight to your spam folder. You can still see them if you check spam, but they won't clutter your inbox or trigger notifications on your phone.

If you've already deleted the email, you can still block the sender. Go to your spam folder, find an email from that person, open it, and use the same three-dot menu to block them.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking sends all future emails from that address to spam automatically, without notifications.
  • You access the block option through the three-dot menu on any email from that sender.
  • Blocked emails still exist in your spam folder if you need to review them later.
  • Blocking one email address does not block similar addresses — if someone uses a different email, you'll need to block that one separately.
  • You can unblock a sender anytime by going to Gmail settings and removing them from your blocked list.

Where to find your blocked senders list

Gmail keeps a record of everyone you've blocked. Open Gmail, click the gear icon in the top right, then select "See all settings." Go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. You'll see a list of every address you've blocked.

From this list, you can unblock anyone by clicking the "unblock" link next to their address. This is useful if you blocked someone by mistake or if circumstances change and you want to receive their emails again.

What happens when you block someone

When you block an email address, Gmail routes all messages from that sender to your spam folder. You won't get a notification when they email you, and their messages won't appear in your inbox. The sender has no way of knowing they've been blocked — Gmail doesn't send them a notification.

Blocking is one-way. If you block someone, they can still send you emails; you just won't see them unless you check spam. They can also still see emails you've already sent them, and they can reply to old conversations — those replies will also go to spam.

Blocking is different from unsubscribing

If you're getting unwanted emails from a company or service you signed up for, blocking might not be the best first step. Look for an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the email. Clicking it removes you from their mailing list entirely.

Blocking works better for personal emails from people you don't want to hear from. Unsubscribing works better for newsletters, promotional emails, or notifications from services. If unsubscribing doesn't work or the sender ignores it, then blocking is your next option.

When blocking doesn't stop the emails

If you keep getting emails from someone after blocking them, they may be using different email addresses. Each address needs to be blocked separately. Check the "From" field on the incoming emails — if the address changes slightly each time, you're dealing with multiple accounts.

Another possibility is that the emails are coming from an automated system or service you signed up for. In that case, look for account settings or notification preferences within that service itself. You may be able to turn off emails at the source rather than blocking them one by one.

If the emails are harassing or threatening, blocking is not enough. Report them to Gmail by clicking the report spam or report phishing button, and consider reporting the behavior to local authorities if it escalates.

Blocking on mobile Gmail

The process is the same on your phone. Open the email, tap the three vertical dots at the top right, and select "Block [sender]." On iPhone, the menu may appear as three dots or as "More." On Android, it's always three vertical dots.

Once you block someone on mobile, the block applies to Gmail everywhere — on your phone, computer, and the web version. You don't need to block them separately on each device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block an entire domain instead of just one email address?

Gmail's block feature only works on individual email addresses, not entire domains. If you're getting unwanted emails from many addresses at the same company, you can create a filter instead. Go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and create a new filter that catches emails from that domain and sends them to spam automatically.

Will the person I blocked know I blocked them?

No. Gmail doesn't notify senders when they've been blocked. They won't receive a bounce-back message or any indication that their emails aren't reaching you. Their emails will simply disappear into your spam folder without them knowing.

Can I block someone and still see their emails if I want to?

Yes. Blocked emails go to spam, not deleted. You can check your spam folder anytime to read them. If you decide you want to see their emails in your inbox again, unblock them through Settings, and their future emails will return to your inbox.

What if someone is harassing me through email?

Block them first, then report the emails to Gmail. Open the email in spam, click the three-dot menu, and select "Report phishing" or "Report spam." If the harassment is severe or includes threats, take screenshots and report it to local law enforcement as well.

Does blocking on Gmail block them on other Google services?

No. Blocking someone's email address in Gmail only affects Gmail. They can still contact you through Google Meet, YouTube comments, or other Google services. You'll need to block or report them separately in each service if needed.