Blocking a sender in Gmail takes a few taps. Once you block an address, its future messages skip your inbox and drop straight into Spam. You can do it from a browser, an Android phone, or an iPhone, and reverse it whenever you want. Here’s how to block emails on Gmail across every device, plus how to unblock people and deal with phishing that slips through.
How to Block Emails on Gmail on a Computer
Open Gmail in any browser and open a message from the person you want to stop hearing from. The block option lives inside that open message, not in your settings.
- Open the message from the sender.
- At the top right, next to Reply, click the three-dot More menu.
- Choose Block “[sender name]” and confirm.
From here on, anything that address sends lands in Spam. Changed your mind later? Open a message from that person, often it’s sitting in Spam by then, click the same More menu, and pick Unblock.
How to Find Your Blocked Sender List in Gmail
After a while you might lose track of who you’ve blocked. Gmail keeps the whole list in one spot. Click the Settings gear, then See all settings, and open the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Every blocked address is listed there.
Tick the box next to any address and click Unblock selected addresses to let their mail back in. This is the easy way out when the sender’s messages already went to Spam and got cleared, so there’s nothing left to open. Chromebook users who run Gmail through the browser can also lean on a handful of Chrome Web Store extensions to sort mail faster alongside these built-in controls.
How to Block Emails on Gmail for Android
The steps mirror the desktop version, with a slightly bigger menu that’s easier to tap.
- Open the Gmail app and open the message you want to block.
- Tap the three-dot More menu next to Reply at the top right.
- Tap Block “[sender name]”.
To reverse it, find a message from that sender, checking Spam through the Menu icon if it’s no longer in your inbox, tap More, then Unblock.
How to Block Emails on Gmail on iPhone and iPad
Gmail on iOS follows the same path.
- Open the Gmail app and open the message.
- Tap the three-dot More menu next to Reply.
- Tap Block “[sender name]”.
Unblocking works the same way. Track down a message from the sender in Spam, tap More, then Unblock.
What Happens After You Block a Sender
Blocking only touches mail that arrives after you set it. Messages already in your inbox stay put until you move or delete them yourself.
Blocked mail goes to Spam rather than disappearing, so you can still peek in that folder if you’re expecting something. The sender never gets a notice, and it can take a day or two before their emails fully stop showing up.
Unsubscribe Instead of Blocking Newsletters
If a newsletter or promo is more annoying than harmful, blocking is overkill. Scroll to the bottom of the message and use the Unsubscribe link. That drops you from the mailing list without filling up your blocked addresses, which is the tidier fix for marketing mail.
For anyone running a big chunk of the day through Gmail, keeping it next to the everyday productivity apps and writing tools built for Chromebooks you already use makes inbox cleanup part of a smoother routine.
How to Report Phishing and Spam in Gmail
Some messages deserve more than a block. If an email asks for your password, banking details, or other personal information, treat it as phishing. Open the More menu and choose Report phishing. For junk that dodged Gmail’s filters, pick Report spam from the same menu. Both help Gmail catch similar mail next time.
If someone uses Gmail to threaten or harass you, that breaks Google’s policies. Contact local authorities first if you feel unsafe, and check which cyber harassment laws apply where you live. On a Chromebook it’s worth tightening your wider defenses too; this rundown on how to protect your device from hackers and phishing and this walkthrough on locking down your Google account with two-factor sign-in cover the settings worth turning on.
FAQs
How do I block emails on Gmail permanently?
Open a message from the sender, click the three-dot More menu next to Reply, and choose Block. Future emails route to Spam and stay blocked until you unblock the address yourself.
Does blocking an email delete existing messages?
No. Blocking only redirects future mail to Spam. Messages already in your inbox stay there until you delete or move them. Clear old emails manually after blocking the sender.
Will the sender know I blocked them?
No. Gmail sends no alert to the blocked person. Their emails quietly move to your Spam folder, and it may take a day or two before new messages stop arriving.
How do I unblock a sender in Gmail?
Open Settings, click See all settings, then the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. Check the address you want back and click Unblock selected addresses. Their mail returns to your inbox.
What should I do about phishing emails?
Don’t reply or click links. Open the More menu, choose Report phishing, then delete the message. For ordinary junk that slips through, use Report spam from the same menu instead.
