Where to find the block button in your email service

The fastest way to block an email address depends on which service you use. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all have a block feature built in, but the steps differ slightly.

In Gmail, open the email from the sender you want to block. Click the three dots (more options) in the top right of the message, then select "Block [sender's name]". Gmail will automatically send future emails from that address to spam and delete any already in your inbox. In Outlook, right-click the sender's name in your inbox and choose "Block" from the menu, or open the email and click the three dots, then "Block sender". Yahoo Mail users should click the three dots on the email and select "Block". In Apple Mail on Mac, select the email and go to Mail > Block Sender in the top menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Every major email service has a built-in block feature that sends future emails from that address to spam automatically.
  • Blocking an address does not delete emails already in your inbox — you may need to delete those separately.
  • Blocked senders cannot tell they have been blocked, and they will not receive a bounce-back message.
  • If someone creates a new email address and contacts you again, you will need to block that address separately.

What happens when you block someone

When you block an email address, all future messages from that sender go straight to your spam or junk folder instead of your inbox. You will not see a notification that a blocked email arrived. The sender does not receive any message telling them they have been blocked — their email simply disappears from your view.

Blocking is not the same as unsubscribing. If you receive marketing emails from a company, look for an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the message first. That removes you from their mailing list. Blocking works better for unwanted personal emails or harassment, because it stops all messages from that specific address regardless of content.

Blocking does not delete old emails

When you block someone, emails they already sent you stay in your inbox unless you delete them manually. Gmail will remove past emails from that sender when you block them, but Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple Mail do not. If you want to clean up old messages, you will need to search for that sender's address and delete the messages yourself.

To find old emails from a blocked sender in Outlook or Yahoo, use the search box and type the sender's email address. Select all the results and delete them. This step is optional — blocking alone will stop new messages from reaching you.

When blocking is not enough

Blocking works well for one-off unwanted emails, but it has limits. If someone is harassing you from multiple email addresses, you will need to block each address separately as they contact you. If the harassment is severe or threatening, blocking is not a substitute for reporting to your email provider and, if necessary, law enforcement.

Most email services have a "Report spam" or "Report abuse" option alongside the block button. Use this when you receive threats, explicit content, or repeated harassment. Reporting sends the message to the email provider's safety team, which can investigate patterns of abuse and take action against the sender's account.

Blocking on mobile devices

The block feature works the same way on phones and tablets as it does on a computer. In Gmail on your phone, swipe left on the email (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then tap the block icon. In Outlook mobile, swipe left on the email and tap the trash icon, then choose "Block sender" from the menu that appears. Yahoo Mail mobile has a three-dot menu on each email — tap it and select "Block".

If you use Apple Mail on iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the email and tap "More", then "Block Sender". The block will sync across all your devices if you use the same email account on multiple phones or computers.

Unblocking an address if you change your mind

You can unblock an email address at any time if you decide you want to receive messages from that sender again. In Gmail, go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses > Blocked addresses, find the sender, and click "Unblock". In Outlook, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email > Blocked senders, select the address, and click "Unblock". Yahoo Mail users should go to Settings > Blocked addresses and click the X next to the sender's name. In Apple Mail on Mac, go to Mail > Preferences > Junk Mail and uncheck the sender's address if it appears there.

Once you unblock someone, their emails will go to your inbox normally again. Any emails they sent while they were blocked will still be in your spam folder — you can move them back to your inbox if you want to read them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. When you block an email address, the sender does not receive a bounce-back message or any notification. Their emails simply fail to reach you, and they have no way of knowing whether you blocked them, deleted them, or never saw them.

What if the person creates a new email address and emails me again?

You will need to block the new address separately. Blocking one email address does not prevent someone from contacting you through a different account. If this happens repeatedly, report the pattern to your email provider's abuse team — they can investigate whether it violates their terms of service.

Does blocking stop someone from seeing my emails if I email them first?

No. Blocking only stops incoming messages from reaching you. If you send an email to someone and then block them, your message will still arrive in their inbox. They can still reply, but you will not see their reply.

Will blocking remove someone from my contacts?

No. Blocking and deleting a contact are separate actions. If you want to remove someone from your contacts list, you need to delete them manually. Blocking only affects incoming emails.