Blocking stops their emails and hides their messages from your inbox

When you block a person on Gmail, their emails go straight to spam and you won't see notifications when they write to you. They can still send messages — they just won't reach your inbox, and you won't know they tried. Blocking is permanent until you unblock them, and it works across Gmail on any device you use.

The block applies only to your account. If someone blocks you, you won't know it happened, and you can still send them emails (though they won't see them). Blocking is different from unsubscribing — unsubscribe removes you from mailing lists, while blocking stops all messages from one specific person.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked emails land in spam automatically, and Gmail won't notify you when the blocked person writes.
  • You can block someone from an open email by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting "Block [name]".
  • Blocked messages stay in your spam folder for 30 days before Gmail deletes them permanently.
  • You can unblock someone at any time through your blocked addresses list in Gmail settings.
  • Blocking works on Gmail's website and mobile app, and the block syncs across all your devices.

How to block someone from an open email

Open any email from the person you want to block. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the email. Click it, then select "Block [person's name]" from the dropdown menu. Gmail will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again, and the person is now blocked.

After you block them, Gmail moves that email and all future emails from them to your spam folder. You won't get notifications when they send you messages. If you change your mind later, you can unblock them using the steps in the "How to unblock someone" section below.

How to block someone from the contact list

Go to your Gmail inbox and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the left side. Scroll down and click "Contacts". Find the person you want to block and click their name to open their contact card. Click the three-dot menu at the top right of their card and select "Block [name]". Confirm the block when Gmail asks.

This method works if you want to block someone before they've sent you an email, or if you want to block a contact you've corresponded with before. The block takes effect immediately.

What happens when you block someone

All emails from the blocked person go to your spam folder automatically. Gmail doesn't send you a notification when they write, and their messages don't appear in your inbox, priority inbox, or any other folder except spam. If you search for their name or email address, their messages won't show up in the results.

The blocked person can still send you emails — they won't receive any message saying they're blocked. Their emails simply disappear from your view. After 30 days, Gmail permanently deletes messages in your spam folder, so blocked emails will eventually be gone for good.

How to unblock someone

Click the gear icon in the top right of Gmail and select "See all settings". Go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Scroll down to the "Blocked addresses" section and find the person you want to unblock. Click the "Unblock" link next to their name. Gmail will ask you to confirm — click "Unblock" again.

Once you unblock someone, their future emails will go to your inbox normally. Old emails they sent while they were blocked will still be in your spam folder, but you can move them back to your inbox if you want to read them. Unblocking takes effect immediately.

Blocking on Gmail's mobile app

Open the Gmail app on your phone or tablet. Find an email from the person you want to block and open it. Tap the three-dot menu at the top right. Select "Block [name]" and confirm. The block works the same way on mobile as it does on the website — their emails go to spam and you won't see notifications.

To unblock someone on mobile, open Gmail settings by tapping the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll down to "Settings," tap your email account, then tap "Blocked addresses". Find the person and tap "Unblock". The change syncs to all your devices within a few minutes.

When blocking isn't enough

If someone is sending you threatening, abusive, or harassing messages, blocking stops the emails but doesn't report the behavior. You can report the email to Gmail by opening it, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting "Report phishing" or "Report spam". This helps Gmail identify patterns of abuse and may prevent the person from contacting other users.

If the harassment continues from different email addresses, you may need to report it to law enforcement. Gmail's blocking feature works on a per-address basis, so someone can create a new email account and contact you again. In serious cases, contact your local police department or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I've blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they won't receive any notification. Their emails will be sent normally from their perspective — they won't know the messages aren't reaching your inbox. The only way they'd know is if you tell them or if they notice you're not responding to their emails over time.

What if I block someone by mistake?

You can unblock them immediately by going to Settings, clicking "Filters and Blocked Addresses," finding their name in the blocked list, and clicking "Unblock." Their future emails will go to your inbox normally. Any emails they sent while blocked will still be in your spam folder, but you can search for them and move them back if needed.

Does blocking someone on Gmail block them on other Google services?

No. Blocking on Gmail only affects email. If you use Google Meet, Google Chat, or other Google services, the person can still contact you through those apps. You would need to block them separately in each service if you want to prevent contact everywhere.

Can I block an entire domain or company?

Gmail's block feature works on individual email addresses only, not entire domains. If you're receiving many unwanted emails from the same company, you can create a filter to send all emails from that domain to spam. Go to Settings, click "Filters and Blocked Addresses," then "Create a new filter" and enter the domain name (like @company.com).

Will blocked emails ever come back to my inbox?

No. Once you block someone, all their emails go to spam automatically. Even if you unblock them later, emails they sent while blocked stay in spam. You can manually move them to your inbox if you want to read them, but Gmail won't move them automatically.