If your Gmail inbox is being flooded with unwanted promotional emails, annoying newsletters, or persistent harassment from a specific person, ignoring them is not enough. You can permanently stop these messages from cluttering your primary inbox by blocking the sender entirely.
How to Block a Sender in Gmail
When you block a sender in Gmail, any future emails they send you will bypass your inbox completely and go straight into your Spam folder. The sender is not notified that you have blocked them.
- Open your web browser and log in to Gmail.
- Find an email from the person or company you want to block, and click to open it.
- In the top-right corner of the email itself (next to the Reply arrow icon), click the three vertical dots (More menu).
- From the dropdown list, select Block “[Sender Name]”.
- A confirmation pop-up will appear. Click the Block button to finalize your decision.
You can perform the exact same steps using the Gmail app on your iPhone or Android device. Open the email, tap the three dots next to the sender’s name, and tap Block.
How to Unblock a Sender
If you accidentally blocked someone, or you need to receive an important email from a previously blocked address, you can manage your block list in the Gmail settings.
- Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner of Gmail and select See all settings.
- Click on the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the section labeled “The following email addresses are blocked.”
- Find the email address you want to unblock, and click the Unblock link next to it (or check the box next to multiple names and click “Unblock selected addresses”).