How to Block Emails on Gmail

You’re not alone if your inbox sometimes feels like it's controlling you. Between spam, unsolicited promotions, and persistent senders, it’s easy to get buried. 

Every day, an average professional receives about 121 emails, with nearly half of employees admitting they have at least 50 unread messages lurking in their inbox. This overload eats up roughly 23% of the workday just checking messages.

Imagine starting your morning already behind.

The good news is that blocking emails in Gmail is straightforward and a powerful first step in reclaiming your inbox. And yes, whether you’re on desktop or mobile, Gmail blocks unwanted senders just a few taps away so you can stop distractions wherever you go.

Gmail Terminology: Blocking, Reporting Spam, and Unsubscribing

Think of Gmail’s tools as a three-part defense system for your inbox. Each option tackles unwanted emails in a different way:

• Block: Stops a specific sender. Any future emails from them will automatically land in your Spam folder.

• Report Spam: Flags the email as junk. It goes to your Spam folder, and Google uses your report to improve its spam filters. Unless you also block the sender, their messages could still reach your inbox in the future.

• Unsubscribe: Choose you out of recurring newsletters, updates, or marketing emails. Best for legitimate senders, not suspicious or harmful ones.

Pro tip: Use block for persistent senders, report spam for malicious or irrelevant junk, and unsubscribe for newsletters you no longer want.

Why You Might Want to Block Emails

Not every email deserves your attention. Here are the most common reasons professionals choose to block senders in Gmail:

• Spam and Promotional Clutter: Sales pitches, random offers, and mass promotions can overwhelm your inbox, burying important messages.

• Irrelevant Newsletters or Marketing Campaigns: Even from brands you once engaged with, too-frequent updates can feel distracting.

• Persistent Unwanted Senders: Sometimes a contact doesn’t take the hint. Blocking ensures their messages won’t keep interrupting your day.

• Staying Productive: By cutting out noise, you reduce decision fatigue and focus on the emails that actually move your work forward.

Blocking isn’t just about spam. It’s about protecting your mental bandwidth and keeping email a tool, not a burden.

Also Read: How to Organize Gmail Inbox by Sender Name

How to Block Emails in Gmail on Desktop

If you’re working on your laptop or desktop, Gmail makes it simple to block unwanted senders in just a few clicks. Here’s how:

1. Open Gmail and log in to your account.

2. Select the email from the sender you want to block.

3. In the top-right corner of the message, click the three-dot menu (⋮).

4. From the dropdown, choose “Block [Sender’s Name]”.

5. Confirm the action when Gmail asks you to verify.

Once blocked, all future emails from that sender will be sent directly to your Spam folder so you don’t have to see them in your primary inbox again.

Pro tip: You can always review your Spam folder occasionally to make sure nothing important is caught there by mistake.

How to Block Emails in Gmail on Mobile (iOS & Android)

Blocking emails isn’t limited to your computer. You can also stop unwanted senders right from your phone. The process is nearly identical in the Gmail app for both iOS and Android.

1. Open the Gmail app on your phone or tablet.

2. Tap the email from the sender you’d like to block.

3. In the upper-right corner of the message, tap the three-dot menu (⋮).

4. Select “Block [Sender’s Name]” from the options.

5. Confirm the action when prompted.

Just like on desktop, future emails from that sender will automatically move to your Spam folder. You won’t see them in your main inbox, but you can still check Spam if you ever need to.

Pro tip: If you use multiple Gmail accounts on your phone, you’ll need to repeat this process for each account separately.

Also Read: How to Create a Personal Email Signature in Gmail (+5 Templates)

How to Unblock an Email Address in Gmail

Changed your mind about blocking someone? Gmail makes it just as easy to reverse the action and allow their messages back into your inbox.

1. In Gmail, click the Settings icon in the top-right corner.

2. Choose “See all settings.”

3. Go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.

4. Scroll to find the email address you want to unblock.

5. Click “Unblock” next to that address.

6. Confirm the action when Gmail asks.

Once unblocked, emails from that sender will start appearing in your inbox again. Any messages that were previously sent to Spam will stay there, but new ones will arrive normally.

Pro tip: If you’re not sure whether to block or filter someone, Gmail filters can be a softer option, letting you skip or label emails without cutting them off entirely.

Review Your Blocked Sender List

Over time, it’s easy to forget who you’ve blocked. Reviewing your blocked sender list helps you make sure important contacts aren’t being filtered out by mistake.

1. Click the Settings icon in the top-right corner of Gmail.

2. Select “See all settings.”

3. Go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.

4. Scroll down to view all email addresses you’ve blocked.

From here, you can:

• Unblock senders you want to start hearing from again.

• Confirm the block list to ensure only unwanted senders remain there.

Pro tip: Make it a habit to review your blocked list every few months, especially if you notice you’re missing emails you expected to receive.

Also Read: How to Recover Deleted Emails in Gmail and Outlook

How to Report Spam on Gmail

Sometimes blocking isn’t enough, especially if you’re dealing with suspicious or mass junk emails. In those cases, Gmail’s Report spam option helps you protect your inbox while also improving Google’s spam filters.

On Desktop

1. Open Gmail and log in.

2. Select the email you believe is spam.

3. In the top menu, click the “Report spam” button (looks like a stop sign with an exclamation mark).

4. Gmail will move the email to your Spam folder immediately.

On Mobile (iOS & Android)

1. Open the Gmail app.

2. Tap the email you want to mark as spam.

3. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.

4. Select “Report spam” (or “Report spam & unsubscribe” if available).

After this, the email is moved into your Spam folder. A copy of the report is sent to Google, helping them identify similar spam messages for other users. Unless you also block the sender, there’s a chance you may still see future emails from them in your inbox.

Alternatives to Blocking

Blocking is effective, but it’s not always the only, or best, solution. Depending on the situation, Gmail offers other ways to manage unwanted emails:

• Unsubscribe: For newsletters, promotions, or updates you no longer want, look for the “Unsubscribe” link (often at the top next to the sender’s address or at the bottom of the email). This stops future emails without sending them to Spam.

• Report as Spam or Phishing: If an email looks suspicious, contains scams, or is clearly unwanted, click the “Report spam” or “Report phishing” option. This not only moves the email to Spam but also helps Gmail’s algorithms protect you and other users.

• Create Filters: For less urgent emails, set up rules to automatically archive, label, or delete messages based on sender, subject line, or keywords. This gives you more control without cutting off communication entirely.

Pro tip: Filters are especially useful if you want to declutter without missing something important. For example, archiving promotions while keeping client emails front and center.

Best Practices for Inbox Management

Blocking unwanted senders is just one piece of the puzzle. To keep your inbox consistently manageable, consider these proven strategies:

• Regularly Clear Spam and Trash: Gmail deletes these automatically after 30 days, but reviewing them occasionally ensures nothing important gets lost.

• Use Labels and Filters for Categorization: Tag emails by project, client, or priority so you can find them faster and reduce clutter.

• Limit Sign-ups With Your Primary Email: Use a secondary email for newsletters, promotions, or trials to protect your main inbox from unnecessary noise.

• Use AI-powered Tools: Platforms like NewMail AI go beyond blocking by automatically prioritizing important messages, generating smart drafts, and even giving you daily briefings, helping you focus on high-impact work instead of inbox triage.

Conclusion

Taking control of your Gmail inbox doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Blocking emails is a quick and effective way to stop distractions, whether it’s spam, promotions, or persistent senders. When combined with Gmail’s other tools, like filters and unsubscribing, you can create a more focused, clutter-free email experience.

But blocking is only part of the bigger picture. For professionals managing high volumes of communication, the real win comes from automation and intelligent prioritization.

Want an inbox that organizes itself? Try NewMail AI. It automatically sorts what matters, drafts responses in your tone, and delivers daily briefings so you can silence distractions and focus on impact. Start for free today!