Block a sender in three steps

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots menu in the top right of the email, then select "Block [sender's name]". Gmail will move that sender's future emails to spam automatically.

You can also block someone without opening their email. In your inbox list, hover over the email, click the three dots that appear on the right side, and choose "Block [sender's name]". The result is the same — all future messages from that address go straight to spam.

Once you block someone, you won't see their emails in your inbox, and they won't know you blocked them. Gmail doesn't send a notification to the blocked sender.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a sender takes one click from the three-dot menu and sends all their future emails to spam automatically.
  • Emails already in your inbox from a blocked sender stay where they are — blocking only affects new messages.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, then Filters and Blocked Addresses, and clicking "Unblock" next to their name.
  • Blocking is different from unsubscribing; unsubscribe removes you from mailing lists, while blocking stops all email from that address.
  • If someone uses a different email address to contact you after being blocked, you'll need to block that address separately.

What happens to emails after you block someone

When you block a sender, Gmail automatically sends their emails to your spam folder. You can still see those emails if you open the spam folder and look for them, but they won't clutter your inbox.

Emails that arrived before you blocked the sender stay in your inbox or wherever they were. Blocking only affects new messages going forward. If you want to remove old emails from a blocked sender, you can search for their address, select those emails, and delete them manually.

Unblock someone if you change your mind

Go to Gmail Settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right, then select "See all settings". Click the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab near the top.

Scroll down to the "Blocked addresses" section. You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click the "Unblock" button next to their name. They can now send you emails again, and their messages will go to your inbox normally.

Block email by domain instead of individual address

If you're getting spam from many addresses at the same company or domain, you can block the entire domain. Go to Settings, then "Filters and Blocked Addresses", and click "Create a new filter".

In the "From" field, type the domain name with an asterisk — for example, *@spamcompany.com. Click "Create filter", then check the box next to "Delete it" or "Skip the inbox (Archive it)". Now all emails from any address at that domain will be blocked.

Be careful with this approach. Make sure you don't block a domain you actually need email from, like your workplace or a service you use.

The difference between blocking, unsubscribing, and marking as spam

Blocking stops all email from one address or domain. Use this for people you don't want to hear from at all. Unsubscribing removes you from a mailing list — it works only if the sender is a legitimate business that included an unsubscribe link. Marking as spam sends one email to spam but doesn't block future messages from that sender.

If you get unwanted email from a business or newsletter, unsubscribe first. Look for the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. If there's no unsubscribe link, or if unsubscribing doesn't work after a few weeks, then block the sender.

Marking as spam is useful for one-off unwanted emails, but it doesn't prevent the sender from reaching you again. Blocking is stronger and more permanent.

Report phishing and scam emails before blocking

If an email looks like a phishing attempt or scam, report it to Gmail before you block it. Open the email, click the three dots menu, and select "Report phishing" or "Report spam". This helps Gmail identify and stop scammers from reaching other users.

After you report the email, you can block the sender. Reporting takes just a few seconds and makes Gmail safer for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, Gmail doesn't notify them. Their emails simply go to spam, and they have no way to know you blocked them unless you tell them.

What if a blocked person emails me from a different address?

Gmail only blocks the specific email address or domain you selected. If someone uses a different email address, their messages will reach your inbox normally. You'll need to block each address separately if they keep contacting you from new accounts.

Can I block emails with certain words or phrases in the subject line?

Yes, using filters. Go to Settings, click "Filters and Blocked Addresses", then "Create a new filter". In the "Subject" field, type the word or phrase you want to block. Click "Create filter" and choose "Delete it" or "Skip the inbox". All emails with that phrase will be blocked automatically.

If I block someone, can they still see my emails?

Blocking only affects what you receive. If you send an email to someone before blocking them, they'll still see it. Blocking doesn't delete past conversations or prevent them from reading emails you already sent.

How do I block emails from a no-reply address?

No-reply addresses work like any other address. Open an email from that address, click the three dots menu, and select "Block [sender's name]". Future emails from that no-reply address will go to spam.