How to Block Emails in Gmail

How to block emails automatically in Gmail so you never see them

What to Know

  • Open the sender's message, then select More (the three vertical dots) and choose Block sender.
  • To create a block list, set up a Gmail filter to send incoming emails from specified senders straight to the Trash folder.
  • Messages are deleted automatically, so you never see them. Blocking works across all devices connected to your account (using IMAP).

This article explains how to block emails in Gmail from any sender. You can block individual senders or create a block list using filters.

How to Block Email From a Sender in Gmail

To add a sender to your Gmail's list of blocked senders and have their messages go to the Spam folder automatically:

  1. Open a message from the sender you want to block.

  2. Select More (the three vertical dots next to the Reply button in the message's header).

    More (three dot menu) in a Gmail message
  3. Select Block sender from the drop-down menu.

    Block in the More menu in a Gmail message

    You will not have the option to block messages from some senders (like Google), but you can still employ a rule to block these senders using the instructions below.

  4. Select Block in the confirmation window. Now that sender is blocked.

    Block this email address confirmation dialog highlighting the Block button

    The sender won't know that they've been blocked. If you want them to know, use a Gmail filter to automatically trigger a response

How to Block Senders in Gmail Using Filters

You can create a block list in Gmail by setting up a rule to send all incoming email from any sender straight to the Trash folder as it arrives. To have Gmail send messages from specific senders to the Trash automatically using a Gmail filter:

  1. Select the Show search options triangle () in the Gmail search field.

    Search options triangle in Gmail
  2. In the From field, type the desired email address. To block more than one address, separate them with the vertical bar ( | ), which is typically above the backslash on the keyboard.

    For example, to block both user-a@example.com and user-b@example.com, type user-a@example.com|user-b@example.com.

    You can block an entire domain by entering just the sender's domain. For example, to block all mail from both user-a@example.com and user-b@example.com, type @example.com.

  3. Select Create filter.

    From field and Create filter in Gmail
  4. Select Delete it in the search filter dialog box that appears.

    To archive and label instead of deleting messages, choose Skip the Inbox (Archive it), and then choose Apply the label. Next to that, select Choose label to open a drop-down menu of all available filters. You also have the option to create a New Label.

  5. Select Create filter.

    Delete It and Create filter button in Gmail search options dialog

    Check Also apply filter to matching conversations to delete previously received messages.

  6. Future messages from the specified sender(s) will now go directly to the Trash.

    As an alternative, you can archive and label these messages for later review. If you're receiving mailer daemon spam, you can mark them as spam or junk.


Lifewire / Miguel Co

Add a New Address to Your Gmail Block List Rule

To add new senders to your block list, add them to an existing deletion filter by editing the filter and using a vertical bar ( | ), or create a new filter. To find the existing filters:

  1. Select the Settings gear.

    The Settings gear in Gmail
  2. Select See all settings.

    The "See All Settings" button in Gmail
  3. Go to the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab, then select edit next to the filter.

    Filters and Blocked Addresses tab and Edit in Gmail Settings
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