Can I Block Someone from Emailing Me on Gmail?

If you’re getting emails you don’t want in your Gmail inbox, can you block someone? Yes, you absolutely can! Gmail offers several ways to manage unwanted messages, including blocking a sender, reporting messages as spam, or even reporting phishing attempts.

How to Block Someone from Emailing You in Gmail

When you block someone from emailing you in Gmail, their future messages will automatically be directed to your Spam folder. This helps keep your primary inbox free from unwanted correspondence.

If you've blocked someone by mistake and wish for them to be able to email you again, you can unblock them by following these same steps and selecting "Unblock [sender's name]".

Reporting Spam in Gmail

Another way to manage unwanted emails and help Gmail learn about undesirable senders is by reporting messages as spam. When you click "Report spam," the message will go to your Spam folder, and Gmail will use this information to improve its spam detection.

Reporting Phishing Emails in Gmail

Beyond simply blocking someone or reporting spam, you can also report emails that appear to be phishing attempts. Phishing messages are a serious security concern, as they often try to trick you into revealing sensitive information by impersonating trusted entities.

Phishing messages often appear to come from a reputable source such as a government agency or a financial institution. An example is a message that claims to be from your bank asking you to click a link and enter your account number or other personal details. Reporting these helps protect both you and other users.

For more information on reporting abusive content or policy violations in Gmail, you can refer to Gmail's Program Policies.

It's important to distinguish between digital email and physical mail. In the United States, there's no direct way to block physical mailings because the sender has paid for its delivery. However, when it comes to your Gmail inbox, you have robust tools to manage who can email you.