The fastest way to block spam on Gmail

Open the spam email, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select Block [sender's name]. Gmail will send all future emails from that address to your spam folder automatically. If you want to report the email as spam instead — which helps Gmail learn what spam looks like — click the three dots and choose Report spam before blocking.

For emails already in your inbox that look like spam, you can select multiple messages at once by clicking the checkbox next to each one, then click the trash icon at the top. If you want to block the sender and delete the message in one step, select the email, click the three dots, and choose Block [sender's name].

Once you block someone, their emails skip your inbox entirely and go straight to spam. You can unblock them later by going to Settings, clicking the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, finding the blocked address, and clicking Unblock.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the three dots on any email and select Block [sender's name] to send all future emails from that address to spam.
  • Use Report spam instead of block if you want Gmail to learn the email is spam and improve its filters for everyone.
  • You can block multiple senders at once by selecting their emails with checkboxes, then using the block option from the toolbar.
  • Blocked addresses are stored in Settings under Filters and Blocked Addresses, where you can unblock them anytime.

Create filters to catch spam before it reaches your inbox

Gmail's filters let you automatically sort, delete, or label emails based on words in the subject line, sender address, or message body. To set up a filter, go to Settings, click Filters and Blocked Addresses, and select Create a new filter.

In the search box, type the word, phrase, or sender address you want to filter. For example, if you keep getting emails with "unsubscribe here" in the subject line, type that phrase. Click Create filter, then choose what Gmail should do with matching emails: delete them, send them to spam, star them, or apply a label. Most people choose Delete or Skip the Inbox (which sends them to spam without deleting).

Filters work on all incoming mail from that point forward — they do not change emails already in your inbox. If you want to clean up old spam, select it manually and delete it, or use Gmail's search bar to find emails matching your filter criteria, select them all, and delete in bulk.

Use Gmail's built-in spam detection

Gmail automatically filters most spam before it reaches your inbox. Emails it thinks are spam go to your Spam folder, which you can check by clicking More in the left sidebar and selecting Spam. Gmail learns from what you report as spam and what you move back to your inbox, so the more you interact with these folders, the smarter the filter becomes.

If legitimate emails keep landing in spam, open one, click the three dots, and select Report not spam. This tells Gmail the sender is safe and helps prevent future emails from that address from being filtered. You can also add trusted senders to your contacts — Gmail treats emails from your contacts as less likely to be spam.

Unsubscribe from mailing lists instead of blocking

Not all unwanted email is spam. Marketing emails from companies you have done business with are usually legitimate, even if you do not want them anymore. Most of these emails have an Unsubscribe link at the bottom. Clicking it removes you from that mailing list, which is faster and cleaner than blocking the sender.

If you unsubscribe and keep getting emails from the same sender, then block them. If the unsubscribe link does not work or is missing, that is a sign the email is actual spam — block the sender and report it.

Manage what information you share to reduce spam

Spam often starts because your email address was sold, leaked, or guessed. You cannot stop this entirely, but you can slow it down. When you sign up for websites or services, use a separate email address if possible — Gmail lets you create multiple accounts for free. Some people use a "throwaway" email for shopping sites and a main email for important contacts.

If you have already given your main Gmail address to many sites, consider using Gmail's +addressing feature. Add a plus sign and a word after your username — for example, yourname+shopping@gmail.com — and Gmail will still deliver it to your inbox. You can then create a filter that catches emails to that address and labels or deletes them. This way you can see which companies are selling your address if spam starts coming to that specific variant.

Report phishing and scam emails

Some spam is dangerous. Phishing emails try to trick you into giving up passwords or credit card numbers by pretending to be from your bank, PayPal, or another trusted company. If you receive one, do not click any links or download attachments. Instead, click the three dots and select Report phishing. This sends the email to Google and helps protect other Gmail users.

After reporting, block the sender and delete the email. If you are worried you already clicked a link or entered information, change your password immediately and contact the real company directly using a phone number or website you know is legitimate — not one from the suspicious email.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not directly through the block feature, but you can use a filter instead. Go to Settings, create a new filter, and in the "From" field type @example.com (replacing "example.com" with the domain you want to block). Set the filter to delete or skip the inbox, and all emails from that domain will be caught.

What happens to emails after I block someone?

They go to your Spam folder automatically. You can still see them there if you need to, but they will not show up in your inbox or other folders. Gmail keeps spam for 30 days before deleting it permanently.

If I block someone, can they tell I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they do not receive a notification. Their emails just fail to reach your inbox, and they may not realize why if they do not get a response from you.

Can I block emails based on subject line words?

Yes, using filters. Create a new filter, type the subject line words in the "Subject" field, and choose to delete or skip the inbox. This catches all emails with those words in the subject, regardless of who sends them.

Why do I still get spam from blocked senders?

Spammers often use different email addresses or domains to get around blocks. If you keep getting similar spam from different senders, create a filter based on a common word in the subject line or message body instead of blocking individual addresses.