You can block a sender in Gmail in under one minute

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the email. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the dropdown menu. Gmail will then send all future emails from that address to your spam folder automatically.

Once you block someone, you won't see their emails in your inbox, and they won't know they've been blocked. If you change your mind later, you can unblock them through your Gmail settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking someone on Gmail takes three clicks and sends all their future emails directly to your spam folder.
  • The person you block cannot tell they've been blocked, and you won't receive notifications from them.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings and finding them in your blocked addresses list.
  • Blocking only affects new emails — it does not delete or hide emails they already sent you.
  • If someone uses multiple email addresses, you'll need to block each address separately.

How to block an email address step by step

Start by opening Gmail in your web browser and finding any email from the person you want to block. Click on the email to open it fully.

In the top right corner of the email, you'll see three vertical dots stacked on top of each other. Click that menu icon. A dropdown list will appear with several options. Look for "Block [sender's name]" — it's usually near the bottom of the list. Click it once.

A small popup will confirm that you've blocked the sender. That's all you need to do. From that moment on, any email from that address will go straight to your spam folder, and you won't see a notification.

What happens after you block someone

All emails from the blocked person will automatically go to your spam folder. You won't see them in your inbox, and Gmail won't alert you that a message arrived. If you ever want to read their old emails, they'll still be in your inbox — blocking only affects new messages.

The person you blocked has no way of knowing they're blocked. Their emails will appear to send normally on their end, but you won't receive them. If they contact you through a different email address or another platform, you won't see those messages blocked unless you block that address too.

How to unblock someone on Gmail

If you want to unblock someone, go to your Gmail settings. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of your inbox and select "See all settings."

Click the "Filters and Blocked Addresses" tab. Scroll down to find the section labeled "Blocked addresses." 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. Their emails will now come to your inbox normally again.

Blocking on Gmail mobile apps

On the Gmail app for iPhone or Android, open an email from the person you want to block. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the email. Select "Block [sender's name]" from the menu. The process is identical to the web version.

To unblock someone on mobile, open the Gmail app, tap your profile picture in the top right, and go to "Manage your Google Account." Tap the "Data & Privacy" tab, scroll down to "Your data in Gmail," and select "Blocked addresses." Find the person and tap "Unblock."

When blocking isn't enough

If someone is sending you threatening or harassing emails, blocking alone may not be sufficient. You can report the email as spam or phishing by clicking the three dots and selecting "Report spam" or "Report phishing." This helps Gmail identify patterns of abuse and protect other users.

For serious harassment, consider saving the emails as evidence and reporting the behavior to local law enforcement. Gmail's blocking feature is designed for unwanted mail, not for legal protection against threats.

Common mistakes when blocking on Gmail

The most common mistake is thinking that blocking deletes old emails from that sender. It doesn't — all their previous messages stay in your inbox. You have to delete them manually if you want them gone.

Another mistake is blocking an email address and then wondering why you're still getting emails from the same person. This usually means they're using a different email address. You'll need to block each address separately. If someone keeps creating new addresses to contact you, report them for spam and consider changing your email address or using Gmail's priority inbox to filter messages by sender.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked see that I've blocked them?

No. When they send you an email, it will appear to go through normally on their end. They have no notification that you've blocked them, and Gmail doesn't tell them. They may eventually notice you're not responding, but they won't know it's because of a block.

Will blocking someone delete their old emails from my inbox?

No. Blocking only stops new emails from reaching your inbox. All emails they sent you before the block will still be there. If you want to remove them, you'll need to delete them manually or use Gmail's search to find all messages from that sender and delete them in bulk.

What if someone keeps emailing me from different addresses?

You'll need to block each address separately. If this is happening repeatedly, report the emails as spam or phishing. You can also create a filter in Gmail settings to automatically send all emails containing certain words or from certain domains to spam.

Can I block someone on Gmail without opening their email?

Not directly from the inbox list. You have to open the email first to see the three-dot menu with the block option. However, you can right-click on an email in your inbox list and select "Block [sender]" on some devices.

If I unblock someone, will I see their old emails again?

Yes. Unblocking restores their emails to your normal inbox view. Any messages they sent while they were blocked will still be in your spam folder, but you can move them back to your inbox if you want to read them.