How to Remove a Blocked Sender in Outlook Settings

To remove a blocked sender in Outlook, open your email account’s junk or blocked-senders settings, find the address or domain, and delete it from the list. This lets future messages from that sender reach your inbox, although other junk filters or rules can still move them elsewhere. You’ll need access to the Outlook account that received the block; the exact menus vary between new Outlook, classic Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Mac.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Outlook account where the sender was blocked. If you use several accounts, check which mailbox received the unwanted message.
The sender’s full email address, or the domain you want to unblock. A domain entry, such as example.com, can apply to more addresses than one specific sender.
A web browser if you use Outlook mobile or cannot find the blocked-senders list in your desktop app. The account’s web settings are a useful alternative.

Step-by-Step

Confirm which Outlook account is involved. If you have multiple mailboxes open, identify the account where messages from this sender stopped arriving. In Outlook for Windows, check the account shown in the folder pane; in Outlook on the web, check the profile or account currently signed in. Settings for one mailbox might not change the blocked list for another.
Open the blocked-senders settings in new Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web. Select the Settings gear in the upper-right corner. In the settings pane, choose Mail > Junk email. If the pane is narrow, use its search box and search for Junk email. Look for the section called Blocked senders and domains. New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web use closely related settings, though labels and layout can vary slightly.
Remove the correct entry from the list. Find the sender’s address or the domain you intend to unblock. Select the entry, then choose the trash, delete, or remove control beside it. If the settings page offers a checkbox and a Remove button instead, select only the relevant entry and choose Remove. Take care not to delete an unrelated address or a domain that you still want blocked.
Save the change if Outlook asks you to. Some versions apply a deletion immediately; others show a Save button at the bottom of the settings page. Select Save if it appears, then close Settings. If you do not see the sender in the blocked list, check the other relevant account and look at the troubleshooting section below.
For classic Outlook for Windows, open Junk E-mail Options. In the classic desktop app, select the Home tab, then choose Junk in the Delete group and select Junk E-mail Options. Depending on your ribbon layout, the Junk control may be displayed differently, but it is on the Home tab. In the dialog box, open the Blocked Senders tab.
Remove the address in classic Outlook. Select the email address or domain in the Blocked Senders list and choose Remove. If you have more than one entry to clear, select only the ones you want to unblock. Choose Apply if available, then select OK to close the dialog. Send yourself a test message from the address, or ask the sender to send a new message, to check the result.
For Outlook for Mac, check Junk Email settings. In Outlook for Mac, open the Outlook menu and choose Settings (called Preferences in some older releases), then select Junk Email. Find the blocked senders list, select the relevant address or domain, and remove it. If the setting is not present in your version, sign in to the mailbox in a browser and follow the Outlook on the web steps instead.
Check whether a message was already moved to Junk Email. Unblocking affects handling of future mail; it does not necessarily restore messages that Outlook already placed in Junk Email or deleted. Open the Junk Email folder and look for a message from the sender. If you find one, select it and choose Not junk or move it to your Inbox. The precise command depends on your Outlook version.
Send or request a fresh test message. A new message is a better check than waiting for an old one to reappear. Look in Inbox, Junk Email, Deleted Items, and any folders used by your rules. If the test still goes to Junk Email, mark it as not junk and review rules and other filtering settings before assuming the block is still active.

Common Mistakes

Removing a different address from the list. A sender may use more than one address, and a blocked domain may be listed instead of the individual address. Compare the exact From address in a message with the entry in settings before deleting it.
Looking only in the Inbox. A message that does not appear there is not always blocked. Check Junk Email, Deleted Items, Archive, and any folders created by rules. A rule can move a message even after the sender has been unblocked.
Expecting old messages to return automatically. Removing a block does not reliably restore mail that was already moved or deleted. Search the mailbox and move any wanted messages back yourself.
Changing the wrong mailbox’s settings. A sender can be blocked in one account but allowed in another. Confirm the account name before editing the list, especially when Outlook combines work, school, and personal mail.
Confusing a blocked sender with a blocked domain. Removing one address does not remove a separate domain entry, and removing a domain may allow many senders from that domain. Review what each entry covers before making a broader change.
Assuming an unblock overrides every filter. Rules, a Microsoft 365 organization’s mail policies, or the sender’s mail server can still prevent a message from reaching the Inbox. The blocked-senders list is only one part of mail delivery.

Tips

Use the web settings when desktop menus are unclear. Sign in to Outlook on the web with the same mailbox and open Settings > Mail > Junk email. This is often the simplest route when using new Outlook, a phone, or a computer with a changed ribbon.
Check the full address, not just the display name. Display names can be reused or misleading. Open the message details or sender information and compare the actual email address with the blocked entry.
Prefer removing one address over a whole domain when possible. If you only want mail from one person, unblock their exact address rather than allowing every address at their organization or email provider.
Keep a wanted message out of Junk Email. If Outlook offers a Not junk action, use it on a legitimate message. Adding the sender to Safe senders may also be available in some Outlook settings, but only do so when you trust the address; it can affect how future messages are handled.
Allow a little time for settings to take effect. Many changes apply quickly, but connected apps or organizational mail systems may take time to reflect them. Refresh Outlook or sign out and back in before repeating the change.

Troubleshooting

The address is not in Blocked senders and domains. Check for a domain entry that covers it, then inspect the Junk Email folder and your rules. In classic Outlook for Windows, also check the Blocked Senders tab in Junk E-mail Options. If you use more than one account, repeat the check for the mailbox that received the message.

The sender is still missing after removal. Search All folders for the sender or subject, including Junk Email, Deleted Items, Archive, and folders used by rules. In Outlook on the web, open Settings > Mail > Rules and look for rules that move or delete matching messages. In classic Outlook for Windows, choose Home > Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts to review rules. Your organization may also apply mail-flow or security policies that you cannot change yourself; contact your Microsoft 365 administrator if the message is being rejected or quarantined.

The sender’s message is in Junk Email again. Select a legitimate message and use Not junk or move it to Inbox. Review safe-sender settings if available, and check for rules that target the sender or subject. If several unrelated messages are affected, the mail service may be classifying them as spam for reasons beyond the blocked list.

You cannot find Junk email settings on a phone. The Outlook mobile app’s menus can differ by platform and release, and it may not expose the full blocked-senders list. Open a browser, sign in to Outlook on the web with the same account, and use Settings > Mail > Junk email. Avoid changing a different account in the browser by confirming the signed-in address first.

The list changes but the message still does not arrive. Ask the sender to send a new message and check whether they receive a delivery failure notice. If they do, the issue may be at their mail provider or your organization’s mail gateway rather than Outlook’s personal blocked list. For a work or school mailbox, give your administrator the sender address, time sent, and any error message so they can check message trace or quarantine policies.

You removed the wrong entry. Return to the same blocked-senders settings and add the address or domain again if your version provides an Add option. In classic Outlook, open Junk E-mail Options, select the Blocked Senders tab, choose Add, enter the address, and confirm. In Outlook on the web, use the add control in Blocked senders and domains. Verify the spelling before saving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does unblocking a sender restore old emails?
Usually not automatically. Search Junk Email, Deleted Items, and other folders, then move any messages you still need to the Inbox. If a message was permanently deleted or never accepted by the mail system, unblocking will not bring it back.

Will the sender know that I unblocked them?
No notification is normally sent just because you remove an address from the blocked list. The sender may only know their new messages are being delivered if you reply or otherwise tell them.

Why does mail still go to Junk Email after I unblock an address?
Unblocking removes that entry from the blocked list, but spam filtering, a rule, a safe-sender setting, or an organization policy can still affect delivery. Check the message’s folder and review those other controls.

Does removing a blocked sender in Outlook on the web also remove it in the desktop app?
It depends on the mailbox type and how the block was created. Connected Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com mailboxes commonly share server-side settings, but some classic Outlook configurations keep junk settings locally or handle them differently. Check the list in the app you use if the result does not match.

Can I unblock a whole email domain?
Yes, if the domain appears in the blocked-senders list, remove that domain entry. This can allow messages from many addresses at that domain, so remove it only if you want to stop blocking all of them.

Can I manage the blocked list in Outlook for iPhone or Android?
Availability varies by app version, and the full list may not be available in the mobile app. Use Outlook on the web in a browser with the same account to find and edit the Blocked senders and domains list.

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