To block a sender in Outlook, select a message from that person, open the message actions or Junk menu, and choose Block or Block Sender. Outlook then treats future mail from that address as junk; the exact menu depends on whether you use new Outlook, classic Outlook, Outlook on the web, or the mobile app.
What blocking a sender does
Blocking is a way to keep unwanted messages out of your Inbox. In most Outlook accounts, future messages from a blocked address are directed to the Junk Email folder rather than stopped at the sender’s mail service. The sender generally is not notified that you blocked them, and blocking does not prevent them from sending messages.
Blocking is usually best for a persistent sender whose messages you do not want to see. It is not the same as deleting one message: deleting removes the selected email, while blocking changes how Outlook handles later messages that match the blocked address. You can still open a blocked message if it appears in Junk, and you can unblock the address later.
Blocking one address may not catch a person or company that sends from several addresses. For example, blocking newsletter@shop.example may not block offers sent from deals@shop.example. Some Outlook versions let you add a whole domain to a blocked list, but doing so can also divert wanted messages from that domain. Check the available list options in your version before using a domain-wide entry.
Block a sender in new Outlook for Windows
In new Outlook for Windows, start with a message from the sender you want to block. The message can be in your Inbox or another mail folder. Depending on the version and window size, the block command may appear on the ribbon or in the message’s More actions menu.
- Select the message, or open it.
- Choose Block or open the More actions menu, shown as an ellipsis, and look for Block or Block sender.
- Confirm the action if Outlook asks you to.
After blocking, Outlook may show a confirmation or move the message to Junk Email. If you cannot find the command, check the message’s context menu by right-clicking it, or use Outlook on the web to manage the blocked-sender list. Microsoft changes layouts over time, and commands can move between the ribbon and the message menu.
Block a sender in classic Outlook for Windows
Classic Outlook has a dedicated Junk menu. In the message list, right-click a message from the unwanted sender, point to Junk, and select Block Sender. You can also select the message and use Home > Junk > Block Sender. The email address is added to Outlook’s Blocked Senders list.
To review or edit that list, use Home > Junk > Junk E-mail Options, then open the Blocked Senders tab. From there, you can add an address, select an entry and remove it, or review other junk-mail settings. Menu names can vary slightly in older Outlook releases, but Junk E-mail Options is the classic Outlook control for this list.
Classic Outlook also offers other junk-mail controls, such as Safe Senders. Those settings help identify messages Outlook should treat as trusted, but they do not make every message from a familiar-looking display name safe. Check the full sender address, particularly when a message asks for payment details, a password, or an urgent account change.
Block a sender in Outlook on the web
Outlook on the web includes Outlook.com for personal accounts and the web version of Outlook used with many work or school accounts. Open the message or select it in the message list, then open the More actions menu (the ellipsis). Choose Block or Block sender, and confirm if prompted. In some layouts, a Block command is visible directly in the toolbar.
You can also manage blocked addresses in settings. In Outlook.com, open Settings (the gear), select Mail > Junk email, and review the Blocked senders and domains list. Add an address or domain there, or remove an entry to stop blocking it. Work and school accounts may have different settings, and an organization’s mail administrator can apply filtering policies that users cannot change.
If the web interface does not show a block option for a selected message, check that you have selected an actual email rather than a conversation heading or a message in a restricted shared mailbox. You can also open Settings and manage the list directly, if your account exposes that control.
Outlook for Mac and the mobile app
Outlook for Mac has changed as Microsoft has introduced new Outlook for Mac alongside older layouts. In many current layouts, select or open the message, then use the message actions or Junk menu and choose the block-sender command if it is offered. To manage the list, check Outlook’s settings for Junk Mail or Blocked Senders. The exact route can depend on the Outlook version and account type.
In Outlook for iOS or Android, open the message and tap the three-dot More menu. Look for a block or junk-mail action. Mobile commands can differ by app version and account, so if Block is not available, use the web version of the same mailbox to add the sender to the blocked list. Reporting a message as junk from the app can also help sort it, but reporting and blocking are not always the same action.
For a work or school mailbox, your organization may manage spam protection centrally. If you cannot block a sender, or blocked messages continue appearing in the Inbox, ask your IT administrator whether a policy or mail rule is affecting delivery.
Manage, check, or unblock an address
To undo a block, remove the sender from the blocked list in the Outlook version where you manage that account. In Outlook.com, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email, find the address under Blocked senders and domains, and remove it. In classic Outlook for Windows, open Home > Junk > Junk E-mail Options > Blocked Senders, select the entry, and choose Remove.
Removing an address does not usually restore messages already in the Junk Email folder. If you want to keep a particular message, open Junk Email and move it to your Inbox or another folder. If Outlook has incorrectly treated a wanted message as junk, use the message’s Not junk option when available and review your blocked list, rules, and safe-sender settings.
When checking the list, compare the complete email address, not just the display name. A sender may show a familiar name while using a different address. Likewise, a company may send legitimate receipts and promotional mail from separate addresses, so remove only the entry that is causing the unwanted filtering.
Blocking, junk reporting, phishing reports, and rules
These actions solve related but different problems:
- Block sender: directs future mail from a particular address toward Junk Email.
- Report as junk: marks a message as unwanted and may help the service’s filtering systems. It does not necessarily add the sender to your personal blocked list.
- Report phishing: flags a message that appears designed to steal information or money. Use this for suspicious impersonation or credential requests rather than ordinary unwanted advertising.
- Create a rule: automatically moves, deletes, or otherwise handles messages matching conditions you choose, such as a subject phrase or sender address. Rules can be useful when mail comes from several addresses, but review them carefully so they do not hide wanted messages.
For a single unwanted sender, blocking is usually the simplest option. For a legitimate mailing list, use its unsubscribe link if you trust the message and recognize the organization. For a suspicious message, do not click its links or attachments just to unsubscribe; report it as phishing or junk instead. A sender can change addresses, so blocking alone is not a complete defense against spam or scams.
Why a blocked sender’s email may still appear
A block does not always mean that no message from that person will be visible anywhere. Outlook may place new mail in Junk Email, where it remains viewable until you delete it or the service removes it according to its retention behavior. Blocking also does not erase messages that arrived before the block. Check Junk Email before concluding that the setting had no effect.
Other common reasons include a changed sending address, a message sent through a different mailing service, a rule that moves mail elsewhere, or a work account policy. Display names are not reliable identifiers: two different addresses can use the same name, and a scammer may imitate a real person. Inspect the actual address and, when appropriate, report the message rather than trusting its displayed name.
If mail from the exact blocked address continues to land in your Inbox, check that you changed the list for the correct mailbox. A person may have both a personal Outlook.com account and a work account open at once. Also check whether a Safe Senders entry or an organizational rule is affecting the result. For persistent problems in a managed account, contact the administrator instead of repeatedly blocking the same address.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does blocking someone in Outlook notify them?
No. Outlook does not generally send a notification telling someone that you blocked them. They can still send messages, but Outlook handles those messages according to your blocked-sender settings.
Does blocking a sender delete their old emails?
No. Blocking mainly affects how later messages are handled. Existing messages remain in their folders unless you delete or move them yourself. Look in Inbox, Junk Email, and any folders affected by your rules.
Can I block an entire email domain in Outlook?
Some Outlook blocked-sender lists, including the Outlook.com list, allow domains as well as individual addresses. A domain block can catch multiple addresses, but may also send wanted messages from that domain to Junk. Availability can vary for work or school accounts.
What is the difference between blocking and unsubscribing?
Blocking changes how Outlook handles messages from an address. Unsubscribing asks a legitimate mailing list to stop sending messages, which may take time and applies to that list’s subscription. Avoid using unsubscribe links in suspicious messages.
How do I unblock someone in Outlook?
Remove their address from the Blocked Senders list in Outlook settings. In Outlook.com, check Settings > Mail > Junk email; in classic Outlook for Windows, use Home > Junk > Junk E-mail Options > Blocked Senders.