Does the person know I blocked them?

No. Gmail does not tell the sender, and their emails do not bounce. They go to your Spam folder instead.

Can I block a whole domain in Gmail?

Not with the Block option. Create a filter for the domain, such as @example.com, and choose to delete matching emails.

What is the difference between blocking and reporting spam?

Blocking moves one sender’s future emails to Spam for you. Reporting spam also helps Gmail filter that kind of email for everyone.

Does blocking delete their old emails?

No. Only future emails go to Spam. Delete the old ones yourself if you want them out of your inbox.

Gmail guide

How to block someone on Gmail

19 October 2026 · 1 min task · Tested

By Elias Brandt

Elias Brandt writes about marketing, email and analytics tools for Appcyclopedia, working on a ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 and a Galaxy S25.

Web
Android
iOS

Short answer

Open an email from the sender. At the top right, next to Reply, select More (three dots) and choose Block followed by their name. From then on, every email from that address goes to Spam.

Blocked mail still arrives, in Spam: blocking does not bounce the emails or tell the sender. Their messages go to Spam, where they are deleted after 30 days.

Below: the steps on a computer and a phone, unblocking, and when unsubscribing or reporting spam works better.

How to block an email address in Gmail, on any device

To block someone on Gmail, open one of their emails and use the menu next to Reply. The first group blocks a sender, the second undoes it.

Block a sender

Open an email from the sender

In Gmail on your computer or in the Gmail app, open any message from the person or address you want to block. If it is already in Spam, open it from there.
Select More next to Reply

At the top right of the message, next to Reply, select More, the three dots. A menu opens with options for this message and this sender.
Choose Block followed by the sender’s name

Select Block with the sender’s name, then confirm. Future emails from that address go to Spam. Emails already in your inbox stay where they are; delete them if you want them gone.
Unblock or review

Unblock someone from one of their emails

Open a message from them, select More next to Reply, and choose Unblock with their name. Their future emails go to your inbox again. If you cannot find one, look in Spam.
See everyone you have blocked

On a computer, open Settings, select See all settings, then the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Your blocked senders are listed at the bottom. Tick any and select Unblock selected addresses to unblock them.

An ex-colleague keeps sending you a newsletter you never signed up for and unsubscribe does nothing: open the latest one, select More, then Block. Their future emails go to Spam and stop appearing in your inbox.

Unsubscribe first for genuine newsletters and block when that fails: unsubscribing stops the emails being sent, blocking only hides them.

More about Gmail

Google’s free email service, included with every Google Account.

Read Gmail’s profile →

If emails from a blocked sender still reach you

The sender uses several addresses: Blocking works per address. Block each one, or create a filter that deletes mail from their whole domain, such as everything ending in @example.com.
There is no Block option in the menu: Some messages, such as ones from your own address or Google, cannot be blocked. On a work account, your administrator may control blocking.
Wanted emails ended up in Spam after unblocking: Open the email in Spam and select Report not spam. That moves it to the inbox and helps Gmail learn the sender is fine.

Block, unsubscribe or report spam

Gmail gives you three ways to stop unwanted email, and each fits a different sender.

Option	What it does	Best for
Unsubscribe	Asks the sender to stop emailing you	Real newsletters and shops
Block	Sends their future emails to Spam	One person or address that keeps writing
Report spam	Moves it to Spam and trains Gmail’s filter	Junk from strangers

Unsubscribe from legitimate senders, block people, and report anything that looks like a scam: each tool works best on its own kind of email.

What happens after you block someone

Blocked emails are not rejected. They arrive and go straight to Spam, where Gmail deletes them after 30 days. The sender gets no notice and their messages do not bounce, so they will not know.

If someone is harassing or threatening you, blocking hides their email but does not stop it. Keep the messages as evidence and contact the local authorities if you feel unsafe.

What to do after blocking a sender

Delete the emails from them that are already in your inbox, and check Spam now and then for anything that ended up there by mistake.

Open their email, select More next to Reply and choose Block. For a whole group of senders, a filter does more: the guide to Gmail filters that archive shows how to set one up.

Blocking on Gmail: what people ask

Does the person know I blocked them?: No. Gmail does not tell the sender, and their emails do not bounce. They go to your Spam folder instead.
Can I block a whole domain in Gmail?: Not with the Block option. Create a filter for the domain, such as @example.com, and choose to delete matching emails.
What is the difference between blocking and reporting spam?: Blocking moves one sender’s future emails to Spam for you. Reporting spam also helps Gmail filter that kind of email for everyone.
Does blocking delete their old emails?: No. Only future emails go to Spam. Delete the old ones yourself if you want them out of your inbox.

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Test log

Followed the steps? Tell us how it went on your device. Entries appear here after we check them.

Worked Every step, start to finish · Marta Kowalczyk and Daniel Okonkwo Team 18 October 2026

I tested this

Steps performed and confirmed 18 October 2026 4 days ago

When you need this

When you keep getting emails you do not want from one address, block the sender from the menu next to Reply. Their future emails go to Spam instead of your inbox.

Describes: Gmail in a browser on a computer · Gmail app for Android and iPhone
Takes: A few seconds
Platforms: Web · Android · iOS
Published: 19 October 2026
Facts checked: 10 October 2026

Steps repeated and verified by Marta Kowalczyk and Daniel Okonkwo on 18 October 2026

Marta Kowalczyk: the iPhone steps on an iPhone 16 Pro (iOS 27.0.1) and the Android steps on a Galaxy A55 (Android 16).
Daniel Okonkwo: the web steps on a MacBook Pro (macOS 27.0.1).

Limits quoted here come from Gmail’s documentation and were not tested.

Sources: Gmail Help, Block an email address in Gmail (computer)Gmail Help, Block an email address in Gmail (Android)