What blocking by email actually does

Blocking someone by email means you stop receiving messages from that person's address. The exact result depends on which email service you use — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider — because each one handles blocks differently. Most services send their messages to spam automatically, so you won't see them in your inbox, but the sender usually doesn't get a notification that they've been blocked.

Blocking is not the same as unsubscribing from a mailing list, and it's not the same as marking one message as spam. A block affects all future messages from that specific email address. If the person sends you mail from a different address, that message will come through normally unless you block that address too.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all have a block feature, but you access it differently in each service.
  • Blocking sends future messages to spam automatically, but the sender won't know they're blocked.
  • If someone emails you from a new address, you'll need to block that address separately.
  • You can unblock someone later if you change your mind, and blocked messages stay in your spam folder for 30 days before deletion.

How to block someone in Gmail

Open the email from the person you want to block. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the message and click it. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Block [sender's name]" from that menu.

Gmail will move that message and all future ones from that address into your spam folder automatically. If you want to see what's in your spam folder, click "More" in the left sidebar, then "Spam." You can also block someone before opening their message by right-clicking their name in your inbox and selecting the block option from the context menu.

How to block someone in Outlook

Open the message from the person you want to block. At the top of the message, click "Junk" (or "Spam" depending on your version). A dropdown menu will appear. Select "Block Sender" from that menu.

Outlook will move that message and all future messages from that address to your Junk folder. You can also access this feature by right-clicking the sender's name or address in your inbox. If you use Outlook.com in a web browser, the button location is the same — look for "Junk" at the top of the message.

How to block someone in Yahoo Mail

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots menu icon at the top right of the message. Select "Block sender" from the options that appear.

Yahoo will automatically send future messages from that address to your spam folder. You can also block someone by hovering over their name in your inbox, clicking the three dots that appear next to it, and selecting "Block sender." Yahoo keeps blocked messages in your spam folder for 30 days before permanently deleting them.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block an address, all messages from that sender go directly to your spam or junk folder. You won't see a notification in your inbox, and the sender won't receive any message telling them they've been blocked. From their perspective, they simply won't know whether you're reading their messages or not.

The blocked person can still send you email — the messages just won't appear in your main inbox. If you want to check whether someone has tried to contact you after blocking them, you can look in your spam or junk folder. Keep in mind that if the person creates a new email address, messages from that new address won't be blocked unless you block it separately.

How to unblock someone

If you change your mind, you can unblock someone in most email services. In Gmail, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), then click "See all settings." Go to the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Find the blocked address in the list and click "Unblock" next to it.

In Outlook, go to Settings, then "Mail," then "Junk email." Look for the "Blocked senders" section and find the address you want to unblock. Click the X or delete icon next to it. In Yahoo Mail, go to Settings, then "Blocked addresses," find the person you want to unblock, and click "Unblock."

When blocking might not be enough

Blocking works well for unwanted email, but it has limits. If someone is harassing you across multiple email addresses, you'll need to block each address separately as they contact you. If the harassment is severe or threatening, blocking email alone may not be sufficient protection.

Consider also blocking the person on other platforms where they might contact you — social media, messaging apps, phone calls. If you're being threatened or stalked, document the messages (take screenshots before deleting them) and report the behavior to the platform and to local law enforcement if necessary. Most email services also have a "Report spam" or "Report abuse" option that you can use to flag serious problems to their support teams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. When you block someone, they won't receive any notification. Their messages will simply go to your spam folder, and they won't know whether you're reading their mail or ignoring it. They may eventually figure it out if they never get a response, but the email service won't tell them.

Can I block someone if I've already deleted their message?

Yes. You don't need to have the message open to block someone. In Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo, you can right-click a sender's name or address in your inbox and select the block option from the menu that appears, even if you've already deleted their message.

What if someone emails me from a different address after I block them?

Messages from a new address won't be blocked automatically. You'll see them in your inbox like any other new message. You can block that new address the same way you blocked the first one. If this becomes a pattern, consider reporting the behavior to your email provider as harassment.

Can I see messages from blocked senders if I want to?

Yes. Blocked messages go to your spam or junk folder, not deleted. You can open that folder and read any message from a blocked sender if you choose to. The block just keeps them out of your main inbox automatically.

Do I need to block someone on my phone and computer separately?

No. When you block someone in Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo, the block applies across all devices where you access that email account. If you block someone on your phone, they're blocked on your computer too, because the block is stored with your account, not on the device itself.