How to block an email address depends on which service you use

Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have built-in blocking features, but the steps differ slightly between them. In most services, you find the email you want to block, open it, and select a block or report option from a menu. Once blocked, emails from that address skip your inbox and go to spam or a blocked folder instead. The sender won't be notified that you've blocked them.

Blocking works at the account level, meaning it only affects the email account where you set it up. If you use multiple email addresses, you'll need to block the sender in each account separately. Most services let you block hundreds of addresses, though the exact limit varies.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail all have block features accessible from the email menu or sender details.
  • Blocked emails go to spam or a dedicated blocked folder, not your inbox, but the sender won't know they're blocked.
  • Blocking only works in the account where you set it up—you must block separately in each email address you own.
  • If someone creates a new email address to contact you after being blocked, you'll need to block that address too.

How to block in Gmail

Open the 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 menu. Gmail will move that email to spam and automatically send future emails from that address to your spam folder.

You can also block someone from their contact card. If you've received mail from them before, click their name or profile picture at the top of the email, then click the three dots next to their name and choose "Block."

To unblock someone later, go to Gmail Settings, click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, find the blocked address in the list, and click "Unblock" next to it.

How to block in Outlook (web and desktop)

In Outlook on the web, open the email and click the three dots at the top right. Select "Block" from the menu. Outlook will move the email to your Junk folder and filter future messages from that sender there automatically.

In Outlook desktop (Windows or Mac), right-click the email in your inbox, hover over "Junk," and select "Block Sender." The email moves to your Junk folder, and future emails from that address go there too.

To see your blocked senders list in Outlook on the web, go to Settings, then Mail, then Junk Email. You'll see a list of blocked addresses and can remove any by clicking the X next to them.

How to block in Yahoo Mail and Apple Mail

In Yahoo Mail, open the email and click the three dots at the top. Select "Block sender." Yahoo moves the email to spam and filters future messages there. To manage blocked senders, go to Settings, then Security and Privacy, then Blocked Addresses.

In Apple Mail on Mac, select the email and go to Mail menu, then "Junk Mail," then "Block Sender." On iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the email, tap the trash icon, then tap "Block This Contact." Future emails from that address go to your Junk folder.

What happens when you block someone

Blocked emails don't disappear—they go to your spam or junk folder where you can still see them if you need to. The sender doesn't receive a notification that you've blocked them. If they send you an email, it will appear in spam, and they won't know whether you read it, ignored it, or blocked them.

Blocking only stops emails from reaching your inbox. It doesn't prevent the person from seeing your email address in their contacts, sending you messages, or creating a new email account to contact you. If someone you've blocked creates a new address, you'll need to block that address separately.

When blocking isn't enough

If you're receiving many emails from different addresses or the sender keeps creating new accounts to contact you, blocking individual addresses becomes tedious. In that case, create a filter or rule that catches emails by subject line, keywords, or domain name instead. Most email services let you set up filters that automatically send matching emails to spam without you having to block each sender individually.

If the emails contain threats, harassment, or unwanted sexual content, you can report them to your email provider in addition to blocking. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple all have abuse reporting options in the email menu. Reporting helps the service identify patterns of harassment and may lead to account suspension for the sender.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. They won't receive a notification, and their emails will appear to send normally from their perspective. They'll only realize you've blocked them if they notice you've stopped responding and they can't see read receipts or delivery confirmations.

Can I block an entire domain instead of one address?

Most email services don't have a built-in domain block feature, but you can create a filter rule that catches all emails from a domain. In Gmail, create a filter with the rule "from:@domain.com" and set it to skip inbox. In Outlook, use a rule with "from" containing the domain name.

What if I blocked someone by mistake?

You can unblock them in your service's settings. In Gmail, go to Filters and Blocked Addresses in Settings. In Outlook, go to Junk Email settings. In Yahoo, go to Blocked Addresses in Security and Privacy. Find the address and click unblock or remove.

Does blocking stop emails on my phone too?

Yes, if you use the official Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or Apple Mail app, blocking syncs across devices. An email blocked on your computer won't reach your phone inbox either. Third-party email apps may not sync blocking, so check your app's settings.

Can I block emails with certain words or subjects?

Yes, through filters or rules rather than blocking individual senders. Create a filter that matches the word or subject line and sends matching emails to spam automatically. This works better than blocking when you're getting unwanted emails from many different addresses.