How To Get Archived Emails In Gmail

How to block emails in Gmail

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If you're getting messages you'd rather not receive, it's pretty easy to block email senders in Gmail. This works for both emails from private addresses and from commercial mailing lists, so feel free to block liberally — though with the latter it's worth trying the 'unsubscribe' route first.

If all else fails, though, here's how to block emails in Gmail.

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First off, you need to open Gmail. I'm doing this on PC, but the process is very similar on the iOS and Android apps.

Step 1: How to block emails in Gmail — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

2. Find an offending email

Next, you need to find an email from the person/company you want to block. For the purposes of this tutorial, I've sent myself a mean email from another account, and will now proceed to block this imaginary troll (rather than interact via Gmail's useful suggested replies).

Step 2: How to block emails in Gmail — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

Next to the time and date and the top of the email, there are three vertical dots that Google calls 'more'. Press this to open up additional options.

Step 3: How to block emails in Gmail — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

4. Block the sender

The sixth option in the drop-down menu that appears is to "Block 'Sender Name'". Click this.

Step 4: How to block emails in Gmail — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

5. Confirm the block

A warning will pop up informing you that all future emails from the sender will be marked as spam messages. Press "Block" to confirm or "Cancel" if you have a change of heart.

Step 5: How to block emails in Gmail — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

6. You're done — but it's easy to undo if you've made a mistake

All future emails from the blocked sender will go to your spam folder. But if you've made a huge mistake, just tap the "Unblock sender" button and things will return to normal.

If you want to unlock at a later date and don't have the email to hand, you can find a list of all the email addresses you've blocked under Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses.

Just press "unblock" next to the person you want to remove from your banned senders list and they will be able to email as normal.

Step 6: How to block emails in Gmail — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

More Gmail tips

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How to create a new Gmail account
How to delete your Gmail account
How to log out of Gmail
How to change your name in Gmail
How to block emails in Gmail
How to recall email in Gmail
How to mark all as read in Gmail
How to delete all emails in Gmail
How to create folders in Gmail
How to empty trash in Gmail
How to change your password in Gmail
How to archive email in Gmail
How to activate Gmail dark mode
How to turn on Gmail's two-factor authentication on your desktop
How to set up Gmail two-factor authentication (2FA) on your phone

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.