How to Block an Email Address on iPhone

Last Updated: June 24, 2020 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to block an email address on your iPhone or iPad. Blocking an email address sends further emails from an email address to your spam folder. You can block emails from Gmail using the Gmail app. For other email services, you need to block an email address using the desktop website. You can view the desktop website on your computer, or by requesting the desktop website in the Safari app for iPhone and iPad.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:
Using Microsoft Outlook

1
Go to https://www.outlook.com/ in Safari. This will open your Microsoft Outlook inbox if you're logged into your account.
- If you aren't logged in, first click Sign in and then enter your email address and password.
Note: Outlook is now the default name for Hotmail and Live accounts.
2
Tap
. The Share button is the icon that resembles a square with an arrow pointing up. It's in the upper-right corner of the Safari web browser. This displays the Share menu.

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3
Tap Request Desktop Site. It's in the list of options in the bottom line of the share menu. It's below an icon that resembles a desktop computer. This displays the website as it would appear on your desktop computer.
4
Tap Settings
. The gear-shaped icon is in the top-right corner of the Outlook window. This displays a dropdown menu. You may need to scroll to the right to see this option on your iPhone or iPad.
5
Scroll down and tap View full settings. It's a link at the bottom of the drop-down menu. This will open the Settings window.
6
Tap the Mail tab. You'll find this on the left side of the window.
7
Tap Junk email. It's in the middle column of the Settings window.
8
Enter an email address. In the text box that's at the top of the "Blocked senders" section of the window, type in an email address which you want to block.
9
Tap Add. It's a blue button to the right of the email address' text box. This adds the email address to the block list.
10
Tap Save. This blue button is at the top of the Settings window. Doing so saves your changes and prevents any future emails from the blocked email address from reaching any of your Outlook inboxes, including the one on your iPhone.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:
Using Gmail

1
Open the Gmail app. The Gmail app has an icon that resembles an envelope with a red "M". Tap the Gmail icon to open Gmail on your homescreen. This opens your primary inbox in Gmail.
2
Tap an email from an user you want to block. This opens the email message, with the email sender displayed at the top of the email message.
3
Tap … across from the sender. The button with three dots displays a pop-up menu with more options. It's on the right side of the email message across from the sender's name at the top of the page.
4
Tap Block "Sender". It's the last option in the pop-up menu. This adds the sender to your blocked list. Any further messages from the sender are sent to your spam folder.

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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:
Using iCloud Mail

1
Go to https://www.icloud.com/#mail in Safari. Safari is the default web browser on iPhone and iPad. It's the app that has an icon that resembles a blue compass. It's in the Dock at the bottom of the screen.
2
Tap
. The Share button is the icon that resembles a square with an arrow pointing up. It's in the upper-right corner of the Safari web browser. This displays the Share menu.
3
Tap Request Desktop Site. It's in the list of options in the bottom line of the share menu. Swipe left on the line to view all options. It's below an icon that resembles a desktop computer screen. This displays the website as it would appear on your desktop computer.
- If you aren't logged in, enter your Apple ID email address and password before proceeding.
4
Open Settings
. The gear-shaped icon is in the lower-left corner of the page. This displays a pop-up menu.
5
Tap Rules…. It's in the pop-up menu. Doing so opens the Rules window.
6
Tap Add a Rule…. This blue link is in the upper-right side of the window.
- If you don't see this option, first make sure that you're on the Rules tab in the top-right corner of the window.
7
Enter an email address. In the text box below the "is from" heading, type in the email address that you want to block.
- If the heading above this text box says anything else, tap the heading and then tap is from in the resulting drop-down menu.
8
Tap the "Then" drop-down box. It's near the bottom of the menu. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu.
9
Tap Move to Trash and Mark as Read. This option is in the drop-down menu.
10
Tap Done. It's at the bottom of the menu. This will create your rule, which will move any emails from your blocked email address directly into the Trash when they're received. This setting will extend to your iPhone as well.

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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:
Using Yahoo Mail

1
Go to https://mail.yahoo.com/ in Safari. Safari is the default web browser on iPhone and iPad. It's the app that has an icon that resembles a blue compass. It's in the Dock at the bottom of the screen.
2
Tap Continue to mobile site. The first time you go to the Yahoo Mail website in the Safari web browser, it asks if you want to download the Yahoo Mail app. To view Yahoo Mail in Safari, tap Continue to mobile site.
3
Tap
. The Share button is the icon that resembles a square with an arrow pointing up. It's in the upper-right corner of the Safari web browser. This displays the Share menu.
4
Tap Request Desktop Site. It's in the list of options in the bottom line of the share menu. It's below an icon that resembles a desktop computer. This displays the website as it would appear on your desktop computer.
- If you aren't logged into Yahoo, enter your email address and password before proceeding.
5
Tap Settings. It's next to a gear-shaped icon in the upper-right side of the inbox. To see this option on your iPhone or iPad, scroll to the right. Swipe left to scroll to the right. Tapping this option prompts a drop-down menu to appear.
- If you aren't yet using the new version of the Yahoo inbox, first tap the blue One click away from your upgraded mailbox button on the left side of the page.
6
Tap More Settings. You'll see this option at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Doing so will open the Settings page.
7
Tap Security and Privacy. This tab is on the left side of the page.
8
Tap ＋ Add. It's to the right of the "Blocked addresses" heading in the middle of the "Security and Privacy" section.
9
Enter an email address. Type the email address that you want to block into the "Address" text box in the upper-right side of the page.
10
Tap Save. It's a blue button below the email address field. Doing so will add the email address to your Yahoo inbox's block list, which will prevent future messages from the email address from reaching your Yahoo inbox on any platform (including your iPhone).

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Community Q&A

Question

Can I email one of my blocked contacts?

Community Answer

Yes. The email addresses are only blocked for incoming messages. You can still send them messages from any device.
Question

What about on an iPad?

Community Answer

The same procedure would apply.
Question

Why is there no "cog" anywhere?

Community Answer

You can't find it on your home screen. You have to put your finger on the top of the screen, slide your finger down and tap on the search bar. There should be something below the search bar after you tap it called "Siri Suggestions". You can find the cog there.
Question

What if I can't see the email address?

Community Answer

You need better email security if this occurs. Those emails should be caught by your spam filter.

Warnings

While you can block things like phone numbers and contacts on your iPhone, there isn't a way to block a specific email address in the iPhone Mail app or in any mobile app versions of common email services (e.g., Gmail).

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