Block a sender in three steps

Open the email from the person you want to block. Click the three dots (more actions menu) in the top right of the email. Select Block [sender's name] from the dropdown menu.

Gmail moves all future emails from that address to your spam folder automatically. The sender will not be notified that you blocked them. If you change your mind, you can unblock them later from your blocked senders list in Gmail settings.

This works for individual email addresses only. If someone uses multiple addresses to contact you, you will need to block each one separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a sender takes three clicks: open the email, click the three-dot menu, and select Block.
  • Blocked emails go to spam automatically, but the sender does not know they are blocked.
  • You can block multiple addresses from the same person if they use different email accounts to reach you.
  • Unblocking a sender is reversible — go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and click Unblock next to their name.
  • Blocking is different from reporting spam; blocking stops future mail, while reporting helps Gmail identify patterns of abuse.

Block an email address before you receive anything from it

You do not have to wait for an unwanted email to arrive. If you know an address you want to block, go to Gmail Settings (the gear icon in the top right), then select See all settings. Click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.

Scroll to the bottom and click Create a new filter. Type the email address you want to block in the From field. Click Create filter, then check the box next to Delete it or Skip the inbox (Archive it). Click Create filter again to confirm.

This method is useful if someone has been harassing you and you want to stop their mail before it arrives, or if you want to block a known spam address that has not contacted you yet.

Block all mail from a domain, not just one address

If you are receiving spam from many addresses at the same domain (for example, spammer@badsite.com, noreply@badsite.com, and contact@badsite.com), blocking each address individually is tedious. Instead, block the entire domain.

Go to Settings, then Filters and Blocked Addresses. Click Create a new filter. In the From field, type an asterisk and the domain: *@badsite.com. Click Create filter, then select Delete it or Skip the inbox. Click Create filter to save.

All email from any address at that domain will now go to spam or be deleted. Use this carefully — if you block a domain, you will not receive mail from anyone using that company's email system, including legitimate contacts.

The difference between blocking and reporting spam

Blocking stops one sender's mail from reaching your inbox. Reporting spam tells Gmail that an address is sending unwanted bulk mail, which helps Gmail's filters catch similar messages for all users.

When you report an email as spam, Gmail analyzes it to improve its spam detection. If many users report the same sender, Gmail may block that address for everyone. Reporting takes one extra click: open the email, click the three-dot menu, and select Report spam.

You should report spam when the sender is clearly sending unsolicited bulk mail (marketing, scams, phishing attempts). You should block when the sender is someone you know personally or a legitimate business that you straightforward do not want to hear from anymore.

Unblock a sender if you change your mind

Go to Settings and click Filters and Blocked Addresses. Scroll down to the Blocked addresses section. Find the address or domain you want to unblock and click Unblock next to it.

Once you unblock an address, emails from that sender will start arriving in your inbox again (or in spam, depending on Gmail's own spam filters). Unblocking does not retrieve old emails that were blocked — those remain in spam or deleted, depending on how you set up the block.

When blocking is not enough

If someone is sending you threatening, harassing, or abusive emails, blocking them in Gmail is a first step, but it may not be enough. Save copies of the emails before blocking — take screenshots or read them as files. Report the behavior to the platform where you met the person (social media, dating app, work system) if applicable.

If the harassment continues from new addresses after you block them, or if the content is threatening, consider reporting it to local law enforcement. Many police departments have cybercrime or online harassment units. Keep a record of dates, times, and the content of each message.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked tell that I blocked them?

No. Gmail does not notify senders when they are blocked. Their emails straightforward go to spam, and they will not receive a bounce-back message or any other indication that you blocked them. They may eventually notice you are not responding, but Gmail itself does not tell them.

What happens to emails I already received from someone before I blocked them?

Blocking only affects future emails. Old messages from that sender stay in your inbox unless you delete them manually. If you want to remove them, search for the sender's address, select all their emails, and delete them.

If I block someone, can they still see my emails if I sent them something before?

Yes. Blocking only stops their incoming mail to you. It does not delete emails you already sent them or prevent them from reading messages you sent in the past. If you need to prevent them from contacting you further, blocking is the right tool.

Can I block emails based on keywords or subject lines instead of sender address?

Yes, using filters. Go to Settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, and Create a new filter. Use the Subject or Has the words field to enter keywords. Then select Delete it or Skip the inbox. This catches emails with those words regardless of who sends them, so use specific keywords to avoid blocking legitimate mail.

What if I block someone and they create a new email address to contact me?

You will need to block the new address separately. If this happens repeatedly, it may be harassment. Document each new address and the dates you received contact, then consider reporting it to law enforcement if the behavior is threatening or abusive.