Gmail is one of the most trustworthy email services in the world with cutting-edge features to facilitate good communication. But come on! There are times when blocking someone on it is unavoidable.
If spam, harassment, bothersome promotions, or even unwanted contact from a friend is inundating your inbox. Gmail will be able to help you take it back.
If you’ve been wondering about how to block someone on Gmail or what happens when you block an email address in Gmail. Then this is the one guide for you.
Here, we’ll explore how to block emails on Gmail, how it differs from reporting spam, how to unblock someone, and how to go beyond with filters, auto-deletion, and custom rules.
Can I Block Somebody on Gmail?
Yes. You can block certain email addresses from sending mail to you. When you block somebody:
- Their mail will be delivered to your Spam folder by default
- You won’t receive notifications for their messages
- The sender won’t receive a notification that they’re blocked
- You can Unblock them at any time
What it does is, Gmail will neither reject the message nor inform the sender, but erase the message from your main inbox view automatically.
Blocking is a soft way of deleting someone’s messages silently from your view. Which is even without making any drama or informing them.
How to Block Someone on Gmail (Desktop Version)
Following are the easy steps to block a sender:
- Open Gmail in your desktop browser
- Tap on a message of the person you wish to block
- Tap the top right three vertical dots (⋮)
- Tap Block [Sender Name] from the menu
- Confirm
Mail received in this address will now get automatically sent to the Spam folder.
How to Block Someone on Gmail (Mobile App)
The Gmail mobile app also has the ability to block someone.
Steps:
- Open the Gmail app (Android or iOS)
- Tap the sender’s email address you would like to block
- Tap the three-dot menu (top right of body of email message)
- Tap Block [Sender Name]
- You will be prompted to confirm. The messages from this sender will be sent to Spam
How to Unblock Someone
Blocked someone accidentally? Want to receive messages from him/her again?
Here’s how you can undo a Gmail block on desktop:
- Open Gmail
- Go to Settings → Filters and Blocked Addresses
- Scroll down to Blocked Addresses
- Locate the address you want to unblock
- Click on Unblock
- Or, open a blocked sender’s email and click on the same menu (⋮) and select Unblock [Sender Name].
What Does Blocking Someone in Gmail Do?
Once you block, this is what Gmail does:
- All emails received from the blocked address are routed to the Spam folder
- They don’t appear in the Inbox, Primary, Social, Promotions or other tabs
- They are not notified by Gmail
- They are still reachable (you can access them in Spam)
- There is never any response or error back to the sender
- You still get to view emails from the blocked person that were already sent
Blocking is really a gentle filter that informs Gmail, “I don’t want to see this.”
Does the Blocked Person Know
No. The sender won’t have a clue. The blocked sender will continue to send emails as usual, unaware that their emails are being sent to your Spam.
Block vs. Report Spam vs. Mute in Gmail
Let’s see how blocking works compared to Gmail’s other options:
Block
Effect: Forwards messages from a specific email address to Spam
Use case: You don’t want to receive emails from someone or an organization anymore
Report Spam
Block
Effect: Stops sending emails to Spam and alerts Google to sender
Use case: Email is fishy, suspicious or spam
Mute
Effect: Threads are turned off in inbox and notification is muted, but emails still come through
Use case: You’re on an email thread and don’t need notifications
All three are useful in different situations, though blocking is best reserved for personal or direct senders that you’d like to ignore completely.
How to Automatically Delete Emails from One Person in Gmail
Blocking sends them to Spam. But what if you’d like Gmail to just delete them?
Use Gmail filters:
- Log in to Gmail
- Click on the gear icon → See all settings
- Go to Filters and Blocked Addresses
- Click on Create a new filter
- In the “From” field, enter the email address you wish to block and delete
- Click on Create filter
- Check Delete it and Also apply filter to matching conversations
- Click on Create filter again
From this point on, Gmail will automatically delete them and not send them to Spam.
How to Block an Entire Domain
Need to block all mail from a certain domain (@annoyingsite.com)
Steps:
- Proceed with filter creation process
- Enter @annoyingsite.com in the From field
- Choose Delete it or Skip Inbox and mark as read
- Click Create filter
It is useful to marketers who mail from many different addresses within a single domain.
How to Mute Someone’s Notification in Gmail Without Blocking Them
You at times need to receive mail from a person (e.g., work threads) but do not want to be notified every time.
You can:
- Either use the Mute option by opening the mail, tapping the three-dot menu and choosing Mute
- Or use filters to read the mail and skip the inbox
This mutes you and gives you peace without missing anything significant.
How to Block Gmail Group Emails
Tired of group threads?
- Open the email
- Click three dots at top right
- Select Mute
This silences the thread but does not render it unusable.
If you want to block them altogether, ask the group admin to remove your address from or create a filter to automatically delete such emails based on subject or keywords.
Blocking in Google Workspace (Work/School Accounts)
Gmail block feature is also found in Workspace accounts, but rules may be necessary.
If you are an admin
- Go to Google Admin console
- Apps > Google Workspace > Gmail > Compliance
- Apply blocked sender lists to all organization
- Utilize routing rules to bounce messages from given domains
If you are a user:
- You can still block individuals manually
- You can also make filters (if not restricted by admin)
- Contact your IT admin if block features are not supported
- How to Block Someone Who Keeps Changing Email Addresses
Others keep changing addresses to dodge blocks. How to be ahead:
- Block the domain
- Filter by subject or body keywords
- Flag each new address as spam
- Use “unsubscribe” links (if valid)
- Third-party spam management software
Clean Email or Mailstrom can handle chronic senders more effectively.
How to Block Marketing or Promotional Emails
Marketing emails usually contain an unsubscribe link, but occasionally are still excessive.
This is how to block them intelligently:
- Open the email
- Tap Unsubscribe (next to the sender’s name in Gmail)
- Or if that doesn’t work, tap the three-dot menu and select Block
- Or filter by the sender or subject and select Skip Inbox, Delete it, or Mark as read
You can also mass unsubscribe from dozens of senders with apps like Unroll.me.
Blocking Gmail Emails on iPhone or Android – Mobile App Tips
Although Gmail mobile will lack filtering, at least you can do the following:
- Block particular senders
- Mark as spam
- Mute conversations
- Unsubscribe from promotional emails
Use the desktop form or view Gmail via a browser for more filtering.
Can You Block Someone from Viewing You on Google Chat or Gmail Online?
Gmail blocking will be email based.
If it’s the same individual trying to contact you through Google Chat, Hangouts, or Google Meet, you can block them there also:
- Go to Google Chat
- Tap the individual’s name
- Tap Block & Report
- They cannot call or message you anymore
For even greater privacy:
- Go to your Google Account
- click People & Sharing
- Manage blocked people for all Google services
FAQs
Where do emails from the blocked individual go?
They’re automatically diverted to your Spam folder.
Will they ever know I blocked them?
No, Gmail won’t let them know.
Can I view the emails from the blocked sender later?
Yes. Check your Spam folder and look for their name or email.
Can I block someone once and forever?
Yes. Gmail won’t block someone temporarily unless you yourself unblock them.
How do I block someone through the Gmail app?
Yes, open the message, go to the three dots and choose “Block.”
Is Block not the same as Report Spam?
Block prevents the sender from sending again; Report Spam reports the message to Google.
Can I block someone without opening his or her email?
No. You need to open one message in order to access the block menu.
Can I create a block list in Gmail?
Yes, all blocked addresses can be accessed through Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses.
Does blocking work effectively on several Gmail accounts?
No. Each Gmail account is configured separately.
Can one block email content or subject lines as opposed to senders?
Yes, with custom filters using subject or keyword conditions.
Tips for Effective Blocked Senders Management
- Check your Spam folder weekly in the event of mis-blocks
- Keep blocked or filtered addresses list
- Apply filters for more precise blocking control
- Empty blocked and filtered email logs periodically
- Audit Gmail settings when there is account recovery or device sync trouble
Tools That Facilitate Gmail Blocking and Clean-Up
- Clean Email – Block and automatically unsubscribe
- Unroll.me – Bulk unsubscribe from newsletters
- Mailstrom – Bulk blocking and filtering
- Google Workspace Admin Console – Configure organization-wide blocking
- Third-party CRM email tools – For managing blacklist and safelist
Blocking someone on Gmail is an easy and effective means of maintaining your inbox free, relevant, and stress-free. Be it a spammer, an ex, a recruiter, or just someone who refuses to stop sending memes, you are not helpless.
From blocking a sender, muting annoying threads, marking as spam or filtering mail before it even reaches your inbox, Gmail has it all to make your email life easier.
With this knowledge of blocking someone on Gmail, unblocking someone and automatically filtering out emails, you’re totally in control of your mail. No noise, no spam—just peace of mind, message by message.
