How to Block Emails in Gmail: Step-by-Step Guide

Blocking emails in Gmail stops unwanted senders from filling your inbox. Once you block someone, their messages go straight to Spam, and you won’t get notifications. This guide shows you how to block emails on the Gmail website and the mobile app, plus what to do if blocking doesn’t work as expected.

What You’ll Need

• A Gmail account (free or Google Workspace)
• Access to the email you want to block (or at least know the sender’s address)
• If you’re using the mobile app, make sure it’s updated to the latest version

Step-by-Step

On the Gmail Website (Desktop)

1. Open your web browser and go to mail.google.com. Sign in if you aren’t already.
2. Open the email from the sender you want to block. You can also select the email by clicking the checkbox next to it, but opening it is the most direct route.
3. Click the three vertical dots (More) in the top-right corner of the email reading pane. It’s next to the Reply and Forward arrows.
4. From the dropdown menu, click Block [sender name]. A confirmation pop-up will appear.
5. Click Block again in the pop-up to confirm. Gmail will move the email you opened to Spam and future messages from that address will go straight to Spam as well.

On the Gmail Mobile App (Android and iOS)

1. Open the Gmail app on your phone or tablet.
2. Tap the email from the sender you want to block to open it.
3. Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the screen.
4. Tap Block [sender name] from the menu that appears.
5. Tap Block in the confirmation dialog. The email will be moved to Spam, and future messages from that sender will be blocked.

Blocking via Search (Alternative Method)

1. In the Gmail search bar at the top, type the sender’s email address and press Enter.
2. Click the checkbox at the top left of the message list to select all emails from that sender (or select individual ones).
3. Click the three vertical dots that appear in the toolbar above the message list.
4. Choose Filter messages like these.
5. In the filter window, click Create filter. Then check Delete it and Never send it to Spam (or just Delete it). Click Create filter again. This doesn’t block the sender, but it automatically deletes their emails—a useful alternative if you want to silently discard messages.

Common Mistakes

• Blocking the wrong address: Some senders use multiple addresses or subdomains. Blocking one address won’t stop emails from a different address of the same company.
• Expecting a notification: Blocked emails don’t bounce back to the sender. They just go to your Spam folder, so the sender won’t know they’re blocked.
• Forgetting to unblock when needed: If you later want to receive emails from that person again, you have to manually unblock them. There’s no automatic expiration.
• Blocking a contact you actually want: If you block someone by mistake, you’ll miss their emails. Double-check the sender’s name and address before confirming.

Tips

• To unblock someone, go to Settings (gear icon) → See all settings → Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Find the blocked address and click Unblock.
• Use filters for more control. Instead of blocking, create a filter to archive, delete, or label emails from a sender. This keeps them out of your inbox without moving them to Spam.
• Blocking is per-account, not per-device. It applies across all your devices (phone, tablet, computer) as long as you’re signed in to the same Gmail account.
• If you’re getting spam from many addresses, consider marking one as phishing. Gmail will use that to improve its spam detection.
• Blocking a sender does not remove past emails from your inbox. You’ll need to delete or archive them manually.

Troubleshooting

Blocked emails still appear in your inbox. This can happen if the sender is using a different address or if Gmail’s spam filter is not recognizing the block. Double-check the sender’s exact address. If it’s the same, try creating a filter to delete those emails automatically. Also, check if the email is actually in Spam—sometimes Gmail shows a preview in the inbox notification but the message is in Spam.

You can’t find the “Blockâ€� option. The option only appears when you open an email. If you’re looking at the message list, click on the email to open it. On the mobile app, make sure you’ve opened the email, not just selected it.

Blocking a sender doesn’t stop their emails. Some bulk senders use a new address for every email. In that case, blocking one address is futile. Use the “Report spamâ€� button instead, and Gmail will learn to filter them out. You can also create a filter based on keywords in the subject or body.

You accidentally blocked someone. Go to Settings → Filters and Blocked Addresses, find the address, and click Unblock. Then, check your Spam folder for any missed emails and move them back to your inbox.

Blocked emails are not going to Spam. If you have a filter that says “Never send it to Spam� for that sender, it overrides the block. Check your filters and remove any conflicting ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does blocking someone in Gmail notify them? No, Gmail does not notify the sender when you block them. They will not receive a bounce-back or any indication that their email was blocked.

Can I block a phone number or a domain? Gmail only allows blocking specific email addresses, not phone numbers or entire domains. To block a domain, you’d need to create a filter that deletes emails from that domain.

Will blocking a sender delete their old emails? No, blocking only affects future emails. The emails you already have will remain in your inbox unless you delete them manually.

Can I block someone on Gmail without opening their email? Yes, you can select the email by checking the box next to it, then click the three-dot menu and choose “Block.� But opening the email is the most straightforward way.

Does blocking work on Gmail for business (Google Workspace)? Yes, blocking works the same way on personal Gmail and Google Workspace accounts. However, your admin may have policies that affect how spam is handled.

What’s the difference between blocking and reporting spam? Blocking sends all future emails from that sender to Spam. Reporting spam also moves the email to Spam and helps Gmail’s filter learn. Reporting spam is more effective for mass marketers, while blocking is better for a single annoying sender.

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