Block a sender in three steps

Open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the email. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown menu. Gmail will move all future emails from that address to spam and hide any existing messages from that sender.

Once blocked, you will not see emails from that address in your inbox, and Gmail will not notify you when they arrive. The blocked sender can still send messages — Gmail simply filters them out of your view. If you change your mind, you can unblock the address at any time through your Gmail settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking takes three clicks from any email: open the message, click the three-dot menu, and select "Block [sender's name]".
  • Blocked emails go to spam automatically, and you will not receive notifications when they arrive.
  • You can block multiple addresses one at a time, or manage all blocked senders from the Settings page under Filters and Blocked Addresses.
  • Unblocking a sender is just as quick — go to Settings, find the blocked address, and click "Unblock".

Block a sender from the email itself

This is the fastest method if you are already reading an unwanted email. Open the message, then look for the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the email (next to the back arrow and archive button). Click those dots to open a menu with several options.

Select "Block [sender's name]" from the list. A confirmation message will appear at the top of your screen saying the sender has been blocked. From that moment on, all emails from that address will skip your inbox and land in spam instead.

Block a sender through Gmail Settings

If you want to block someone without opening their email, or if you want to manage all your blocked senders in one place, use the Settings page. Click the gear icon in the top right of Gmail, then select "See all settings."

Go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Create a new filter." In the "From" field, type the email address you want to block. Click "Create filter," then check the box next to "Delete it" or "Skip the inbox (Archive it)." Click "Create filter" again to finish.

This method gives you more control — you can choose whether blocked emails go to spam, get deleted, or get archived. You can also create filters based on subject line or keywords, not just the sender's address.

What happens when you block someone

Blocking does not delete past emails from that sender — they simply disappear from your inbox view. If you unblock the address later, those old emails will reappear in their original folders. The blocked sender does not receive any notification that you blocked them.

The blocked sender can still send you emails. Gmail just prevents those messages from reaching your inbox. If someone is harassing you and creates a new email address to contact you again, you will need to block that new address separately.

Unblock an email address

Click the gear icon in the top right of Gmail and select "See all settings." Go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Find the blocked address in the list and click the "Unblock" button next to it. The address is now unblocked, and future emails from that sender will arrive in your inbox normally.

Unblocking does not restore old emails to your inbox — they remain in spam or archived. If you want to see those messages again, search for the sender's address in your spam folder or use the search bar at the top of Gmail.

Block email addresses that look like spam

If you receive emails from addresses that look suspicious or are clearly automated, blocking works the same way. Open the email, click the three dots, and select "Block [sender's name]." You can also report the email as spam at the same time by clicking "Report spam" from the three-dot menu.

Reporting spam helps Gmail learn which messages should be filtered automatically for all users. Blocking only affects your own inbox. If you receive many similar emails from different addresses, creating a filter (rather than blocking individual addresses) may save time — you can filter by subject line or keywords instead of blocking each sender one by one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person I block know that I blocked them?

No. Gmail does not notify the sender that you blocked them. They will not see any error message or bounce-back. Their emails simply go to spam, and they have no way of knowing whether you blocked them, marked them as spam, or simply never read their messages.

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

Not directly through the block button, but you can create a filter for it. Go to Settings, click "Filters and Blocked Addresses," and create a new filter. In the "From" field, type the domain name with an asterisk — for example, *@unwanteddomain.com — then set it to delete or archive. This blocks all addresses from that domain.

What if I block someone by mistake?

Go to Settings, find the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab, locate the address you blocked, and click "Unblock." Their future emails will arrive in your inbox normally. Old emails from before you unblocked them will still be in spam unless you move them back manually.

Will blocking stop someone from seeing my emails?

No. Blocking only prevents you from receiving their emails — it does not stop them from receiving yours. If you send them a message, it will arrive normally. If you want to prevent communication both ways, you may need to stop sending them emails as well.

Can I block emails based on subject line instead of sender?

Yes, through filters. Go to Settings, click "Filters and Blocked Addresses," and create a new filter. In the "Subject" field, type the words you want to filter. Then choose whether to delete, archive, or send those emails to spam. This works for any email with those words in the subject line, regardless of who sent it.