Block a sender on the web
- Go to Gmail on your computer and open an email from the sender.
- Near the top right, next to Reply, click More (the three dots).
- Click Block “sender name”.
Blocked email isn't deleted. It goes to Spam, where you can still find it.
Block a sender in the Gmail app
The steps are the same on iPhone and Android.
- Open the Gmail app, then open an email from the sender.
- At the top right, next to Reply, tap More.
- Tap Block “sender name”.
Unblock someone, or see who you've blocked
On the web
- Open Settings at the top right, then click See all settings.
- At the top, click Filters and Blocked Addresses.
- Check the box next to anyone you want back, then click Unblock selected addresses.
In the Gmail app (iPhone and Android)
- Open an email from the sender.
- At the top right, tap More, then Unblock “sender name”.
Block, unsubscribe or report spam?
Blocking is one of four tools, and each one fits a different kind of email.
| Tool | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Unsubscribe | For newsletters and stores you once signed up for. Look for Unsubscribe next to the sender's name. |
| Block | For one address that won't stop, like a person, or a sender that ignores your unsubscribe. |
| Report spam | For email you never asked for. It moves to Spam and helps Gmail catch similar email. |
| Filter | For a pattern, like one store's endless promos. Here's how to set one up. |
Why it keeps coming back
Blocking works on one address at a time. Companies often send from several addresses, and spammers switch theirs all the time, so new ones slip past.
Blocking also doesn't take you off a mailing list, as Google's own help page points out. The list keeps sending, and the email lands in Spam.
Quick questions
Where does email from a blocked sender go?
To Spam. Google says everything a blocked sender emails you afterward goes to your Spam folder, so you can still check it there.
Does blocking remove their old emails?
No. Blocking only changes what happens to email they send from now on. Their old email stays where it is, so archive or delete it if you want it out of sight.
If I block someone on my computer, are they blocked on my phone?
Yes. Blocking belongs to your Gmail account, not one device, so a sender you block on the web stays blocked in the app.
Can Ada block senders for me?
Not with Gmail's Block button. But tell her to archive everything from a sender right away and it stops reaching your inbox, without going to Spam. Or ask her to unsubscribe you.
Sources
- Gmail Help: Block an email address in Gmail
- Gmail Help: Manage your subscriptions
- Gmail Help: Report spam in Gmail
Steps checked against Gmail Help in October 2026. Google renames buttons now and then, so a label may look a little different.
