Where to find blocked senders in Outlook

To unblock an email address in Outlook, you need to access your blocked senders list. The location depends on which version of Outlook you use — the web version, the desktop application, or Outlook on your phone.

In Outlook on the web, click the gear icon in the top right corner, then select "View all Outlook settings." Go to "Mail" > "Junk email" and you'll see a section called "Blocked senders." In Outlook desktop (Windows or Mac), go to "File" > "Options" > "Trust Center" > "Trust Center Settings" > "Junk Email," where you'll find the same blocked senders list. On Outlook mobile, the process varies slightly — swipe left on an email from the blocked sender and tap "Unblock," or go to Settings > Mail > Blocked Senders.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked senders are stored in your Junk Email settings, accessible through the gear icon (web) or File menu (desktop).
  • Unblocking removes the sender from your blocked list but does not delete any emails they already sent you.
  • Emails from unblocked senders will arrive in your inbox normally going forward, unless they match other junk mail rules.
  • If you block a sender by accident, you can unblock them immediately using the same settings menu.

Unblocking a sender in Outlook on the web

Open Outlook in your browser and sign in to your account. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of the page, then select "View all Outlook settings." This opens a new window with your account settings.

In the settings window, click "Mail" in the left sidebar, then scroll down to find "Junk email." Under "Blocked senders," you'll see a list of all email addresses and domains you've blocked. Find the sender you want to unblock, click the X button next to their address, and confirm the removal. The sender is now unblocked and their emails will go to your inbox instead of junk.

Unblocking a sender in Outlook desktop

Open the Outlook application on your computer. Click "File" in the top menu bar, then select "Options" (Windows) or "Preferences" (Mac). A new window opens with your account settings.

In the Options window, click "Trust Center" in the left sidebar, then click "Trust Center Settings." Select "Junk Email" from the list on the left. You'll see four tabs at the top: "Safe Senders," "Safe Recipients," "Blocked Senders," and "International." Click the "Blocked Senders" tab to see your list of blocked addresses. Highlight the sender you want to unblock and click "Remove," then click "OK" to save the change.

Unblocking a sender on Outlook mobile

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Outlook app and go to your inbox. Find an email from the sender you want to unblock. Swipe left on the email (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then tap "Unblock" from the menu that appears.

If you don't have an email from that sender in your inbox, go to Settings (the gear icon at the bottom of the screen), then tap "Mail" > "Blocked Senders." Find the address in the list and tap "Unblock" next to it. The sender is now removed from your blocked list.

What happens after you unblock a sender

Once you unblock an email address, emails from that sender will arrive in your inbox normally. Outlook will no longer automatically send their messages to junk. However, unblocking does not restore any emails they sent you while they were blocked — those messages remain in your junk folder or deleted items, depending on your settings.

If you want to see emails they sent before you unblocked them, check your Junk Email folder. You can move those messages back to your inbox manually if you need them. Going forward, any new emails from the unblocked sender will arrive in your inbox unless they match other junk mail rules you've set up.

The difference between blocking and other junk mail rules

Blocking a sender is different from marking emails as junk. When you block someone, all their emails go to junk automatically. When you mark a single email as junk, Outlook learns that similar messages should go to junk, but it doesn't block the sender entirely.

You can also create rules that automatically move emails from certain senders to specific folders. If you've set up a rule for a sender and later unblock them, the rule will still apply — their emails will go to whatever folder you set up, not your inbox. To change this, you'll need to delete or edit the rule separately in your Mail Rules settings.

Unblocking a domain instead of a single address

If you blocked an entire domain (like @company.com instead of a specific person's address), the unblocking process is the same. Go to your blocked senders list, find the domain name, and remove it. All email addresses from that domain will then be unblocked.

Be careful when unblocking a domain, because it removes the block for everyone at that organization. If you only want to receive emails from one person at that domain, consider unblocking just their individual email address instead, or create a rule that sends their emails to a specific folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I unblock someone without going into settings?

On Outlook mobile, yes — swipe or long-press an email from the blocked sender and tap "Unblock." On the web or desktop, you must go through the settings menu to access your blocked senders list. There's no shortcut from the inbox.

Will unblocking someone restore their old emails to my inbox?

No. Unblocking removes them from your blocked list, but emails they sent while blocked stay in your Junk folder. You can move them back to your inbox manually if you want to read them, but Outlook won't do this automatically.

What if I unblock someone by accident?

You can block them again using the same settings menu. Go back to your blocked senders list, click "Add," type their email address, and click "Add" again. The block takes effect immediately.

Does unblocking someone remove other rules I set for them?

Unblocking only removes the block. If you've created a mail rule that sends their emails to a folder or marks them as junk, that rule will still apply. You'll need to edit or delete the rule separately if you want to change it.

Can I unblock a sender on one device but keep them blocked on another?

No. Your blocked senders list syncs across all your devices — Outlook web, desktop, and mobile all share the same account settings. Unblocking on one device unblocks them everywhere.