Blocking someone on Outlook stops their emails from reaching your inbox

When you block a contact in Outlook, their messages go straight to your Junk folder instead of your inbox. You won't see notifications when they email you, and they won't know they're blocked — the message will appear to send normally on their end. Blocking is different from deleting: it's permanent until you unblock them, and it works across all your Outlook devices if you use the same account.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, or Outlook on your phone. All three methods are straightforward and take less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked emails land in your Junk folder, not your inbox, and you won't receive notifications about them.
  • Blocking works the same way across Outlook on the web, desktop, and mobile — the blocked sender's messages go to Junk on all devices using your account.
  • You can block someone from an open email, from your contact list, or by typing their address directly into your blocked senders list.
  • Unblocking is just as easy as blocking, and you can do it anytime if you change your mind.

How to block someone in Outlook on the web

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) at the top right of the email. Select Block from the dropdown menu. Outlook will ask you to confirm — click Block again, and the sender is now blocked.

If you want to block someone without opening their email, go to your Settings (the gear icon in the top right). Select Mail from the left sidebar, then Junk email. Under Blocked senders, type the email address you want to block and click the plus sign to add it. You can add multiple addresses this way.

How to block someone in Outlook desktop

Right-click on an email from the person you want to block. Select Junk, then Block Sender. The sender is now blocked, and their future emails will go to your Junk folder.

You can also manage your blocked list directly. Go to File in the top menu, then Options. Click Mail on the left, then Junk Email. Click the Blocked Senders tab. Type an email address in the box and click Add. This method works if you want to block someone before they've ever emailed you.

How to block someone on Outlook mobile

Open the email from the person you want to block. Tap the three dots at the top right of the email. Select Block Sender. Confirm when Outlook asks you to verify. On both iPhone and Android, the process is the same.

If you're using the Outlook mobile app and want to add someone to your blocked list without an email from them, open Settings, tap Mail, then Junk Email. Tap Blocked Senders and add the address manually. The change syncs to your other devices within a few minutes.

What happens after you block someone

All emails from a blocked sender go to your Junk folder automatically. You won't see a notification when they email you. If you check your Junk folder and see their messages, you can delete them permanently or move them back to your inbox if you change your mind about blocking.

The blocked person doesn't receive a notification that they're blocked. Their emails appear to send successfully on their end, so they won't know unless you tell them. This prevents awkward back-and-forth messages asking why you're not responding.

How to unblock someone

If you want to unblock someone, go to your Junk Email settings the same way you blocked them. In Outlook on the web, that's Settings > Mail > Junk email. In Outlook desktop, it's File > Options > Mail > Junk Email > Blocked Senders. Find the person's address in your blocked list and click the minus sign (web) or Remove button (desktop). On mobile, tap the address and select Unblock.

Once you unblock someone, their emails will go to your inbox again instead of Junk. Any messages they sent while blocked will still be in your Junk folder — unblocking doesn't move them. You can manually move important messages back to your inbox if you need them.

When to block versus when to report spam

Block someone when you know them personally and don't want to hear from them anymore. Use the Report Spam option when you receive unsolicited bulk email, phishing attempts, or messages from unknown senders trying to scam you. Reporting helps Microsoft identify patterns and protect other Outlook users.

If an email looks like a phishing attempt — asking for passwords, banking details, or urgent action — report it instead of just blocking. Open the email, click the three dots, and select Report Phishing (on the web) or Report Junk (on desktop). This sends the message to Microsoft's security team for investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them on Outlook?

No. Their emails appear to send normally, and they won't receive any notification. They might notice you're not responding, but Outlook doesn't alert them that they're blocked. If they ask directly, you'll need to tell them yourself.

What if I block someone but they email me from a different address?

Blocking only affects the specific email address you blocked. If they send from a different account, those messages will reach your inbox. You can block multiple addresses from the same person if needed — just add each one to your blocked senders list separately.

Do blocked emails take up storage space in my Junk folder?

Yes. Blocked emails sit in your Junk folder until you delete them. Outlook automatically empties your Junk folder after 30 days, but you can delete blocked messages sooner if you want to free up space. Permanently deleting them removes them from your account entirely.

If I unblock someone, will I see their old emails?

No. Unblocking only stops new emails from going to Junk — it doesn't restore messages they sent while blocked. Those emails stay in your Junk folder. You can search for their address in Junk and move specific messages back to your inbox if you need them.

Can I block an entire domain instead of just one person?

Outlook doesn't have a built-in option to block entire domains, but you can block multiple addresses from the same company one at a time. If you're receiving many unwanted emails from a domain, consider using Outlook rules to automatically send all messages from that domain to Junk or delete them.