How to Block an Email Address in Gmail

Last updated: July 6, 2026 · Verified against the current process

Quick answer Open a message from the sender, click the three-dot menu at the top right of that email, and choose Block "[sender]". Their future mail goes to Spam instead of your inbox. To stop mail from an entire domain — or to delete it outright rather than send it to Spam — build a filter instead.

Gmail's one-click block is the fastest way to silence a single sender, but it's blunt: it only handles one address and it doesn't delete anything — it just reroutes future mail to Spam. Filters are the more powerful tool. They can auto-delete, archive, or label mail from a sender or a whole domain, and they run on every message forever. This guide covers both, plus what blocking really does behind the scenes so you don't expect more from it than it delivers.

Block a sender on desktop

  1. Open a message from the sender

    In Gmail on the web at mail.google.com, click any email from the person you want to block so it opens.

  2. Open the message menu

    At the top right of that message — next to the reply arrow — click the three-dot "More" menu. Don't confuse it with the toolbar at the very top of the page; you want the menu attached to the individual email.

  3. Choose "Block"

    Select Block "[sender name]". Gmail confirms, and from now on their mail skips the inbox and lands in Spam. Existing messages already in your inbox stay put — blocking only affects future mail.

Block a sender on mobile

The steps mirror the desktop flow in the Gmail app for Android and iPhone:

  1. Open a message from the sender

    Tap an email from the person in the Gmail app.

  2. Tap the three-dot menu

    Look for the three-dot menu at the top right of the open message, next to the reply arrow.

  3. Tap "Block"

    Choose Block "[sender]". That's it — the block syncs across every device signed in to the account.

What blocking actually does

It's worth being clear about the limits, because "block" sounds more final than it is:

Blocking is quiet and reversible Because Gmail never notifies the sender and keeps their mail in Spam rather than deleting it, blocking is a safe, low-stakes first move. If you later need something they sent, it's recoverable from Spam for 30 days.

Filters: auto-delete, archive, or label

A filter is a standing rule that acts on every matching message. Unlike blocking, it can delete mail outright, archive it, or tag it with a label. To create one:

  1. Open the filter form

    Click the search bar's filter icon (the sliders at the right of the box), or go to Settings (gear → See all settings) → Filters and Blocked Addresses → Create a new filter.

  2. Set the criteria

    In the From field, type the sender's address. Leave the rest blank to match everything from them, or add words in Has the words to narrow it. Click Create filter.

  3. Pick the action

    Choose what happens to matching mail: Delete it (skips Spam, goes straight to Trash), Skip the Inbox (Archive it), or Apply the label to sort it into a folder. You can also tick Also apply filter to matching conversations to clean up existing mail.

Auto-delete runs silently A filter set to Delete it sends matching mail straight to Trash, where it's erased after 30 days — you'll never see it. Double-check the From address before saving, or you may quietly bin messages you actually wanted.

Block a whole domain

To stop mail from every address at a company or spam operation, use a filter with the domain instead of a single address. In the From field, enter @example.com (the domain with the @ sign), then set the action to Delete it or Skip the Inbox. Every message from any address ending in that domain now follows the rule. This is the closest Gmail gets to a true domain block — the built-in Block button can't do it.

Use domain filters carefully. Blocking @example.com catches all senders there, including any you might want to hear from. For mixed domains, block the specific addresses instead.

Unblock a sender

  1. Open the blocked list

    On desktop, go to Settings → Filters and Blocked Addresses and scroll to the list of blocked addresses.

  2. Click Unblock

    Find the address and click Unblock. On mobile, open a message from that sender, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Unblock "[sender]". Their mail returns to the inbox from then on.

Blocking is the right tool for a specific harasser or one persistent spammer. If your inbox is flooded from many directions, blocking senders one at a time won't keep up — see our full guide to stopping spam emails for the layered approach that actually holds.

Frequently asked questions

What actually happens when you block someone in Gmail?

Blocking does not bounce the mail or notify the sender. Their future messages are still delivered to your account but routed straight to the Spam folder instead of the inbox, and Spam is emptied automatically after 30 days.

Can I block an entire domain in Gmail?

The one-click block only handles a single address. To block a whole domain, create a filter with the criteria @example.com in the From field and choose Delete it or Skip the Inbox. Every message from any address at that domain then follows the rule.

Does the blocked person know they are blocked?

No. Gmail gives no notification to the sender and returns no bounce message. From their side the email appears to send normally; it simply lands in your Spam folder.

How do I unblock an address in Gmail?

Open Settings, go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, scroll to the blocked list, and click Unblock next to the address. On mobile, open a message from that sender, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Unblock.

Should I block or unsubscribe from marketing emails?

Unsubscribe from legitimate senders — it stops the mail at the source. Reserve blocking and auto-delete filters for spam and senders that ignore unsubscribe requests, since blocking only diverts their mail to Spam rather than stopping it.

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