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Blocking Emails on Gmail: The Guide to Freeing Yourself from Spam.

Autore: Francesco Zinghinì | Data: 25 Dicembre 2025

The email inbox has become a central hub of our digital lives, a meeting point for personal and work communications, and unfortunately, unwanted messages as well. Every day, our inboxes are bombarded by promotional emails, newsletters we don’t remember subscribing to, and in the worst cases, phishing attempts. In a context like the Italian and European one, where sensitivity towards privacy and data protection is high, thanks in part to regulations like the GDPR, effectively managing this flow is fundamental. The tradition of written communication clashes with digital innovation, creating the need for simple yet powerful instruments to maintain order. Fortunately, Gmail offers a direct and effective solution: blocking unwanted senders.

Blocking a sender means regaining control of your inbox. It is a simple gesture that combines the need to defend one’s peace of mind—a value deeply rooted in Mediterranean culture—with the technology offered by Google. This complete guide will explore, step by step, how to use this function to create a cleaner and safer digital environment, transforming a daily chore into an opportunity to improve your personal and professional organization.

Why Block a Sender on Gmail

Blocking an email address on Gmail is a powerful action with immediate benefits. The most evident advantage is the reduction of clutter in the inbox. Insistent promotional emails or communications that are no longer relevant are automatically diverted, leaving room for the messages that truly matter. This not only improves efficiency but also reduces the stress associated with managing an overflowing inbox. Another fundamental reason is security. Phishing and spam are concrete threats; according to recent statistics, phishing attacks are constantly increasing and represent one of the main causes of security breaches in Italy. By blocking a suspicious sender, you prevent future scam attempts from reaching your attention. Finally, blocking is a way to exercise your right to privacy, actively deciding who can and cannot contact you, in line with the GDPR principles that protect European citizens.

How to Block a Sender on Gmail: The Desktop Procedure

The desktop version of Gmail offers a clear and intuitive interface for managing unwanted senders. The procedure is quick and requires only a few clicks, allowing you to act immediately on a message just received. This efficiency reflects Google’s innovative approach to simplifying complex operations.

Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Open the message: Log in to your Gmail account and locate an email from the sender you wish to block. Open the message to view its content and options.
  2. Access the “More” menu: At the top right of the message, next to the date and time, you will see an icon with three vertical dots. Click it to open a dropdown menu with various options.
  3. Select “Block”: Inside the menu, you will find the item “Block [Sender Name]”. Clicking on this option, Gmail will ask for confirmation.
  4. Confirm the operation: A dialog box will inform you that future messages from that address will be moved directly to the Spam folder. Click the “Block” button to confirm your decision.

Once this operation is completed, you will no longer receive notifications from that sender, and their emails will no longer crowd your inbox. This simple process is an excellent example of how technology can be put at the service of daily peace of mind.

Blocking a Contact from a Smartphone: The Guide for Android and iOS

Managing email on the go is a necessity for most people. Whether it’s responding to a colleague during a train trip or organizing your day over coffee, the smartphone is our portable office. Gmail has made the procedure for blocking a sender just as simple on its mobile apps for Android and iOS, ensuring consistency across platforms.

The Procedure on Android

If you use an Android device, blocking a sender via the official Gmail app is an immediate operation.

  1. Open the Gmail app on your device.
  2. Find and open a message from the sender you intend to block.
  3. Tap the icon with the three vertical dots located at the top right of the message.
  4. From the menu that appears, select the option Block “[Sender Name]”.

Future messages coming from this address will be automatically archived in the Spam folder, keeping your main inbox clean.

  1. Open the Gmail app on your device.
  2. Find and open a message from the sender you intend to block.
  3. Tap the icon with the three vertical dots located at the top right of the message.
  4. From the menu that appears, select the option Block “[Sender Name]”.

Future messages coming from this address will be automatically archived in the Spam folder, keeping your main inbox clean.

  1. Open the Gmail app on your device.
  2. Find and open a message from the sender you intend to block.
  3. Tap the icon with the three vertical dots located at the top right of the message.
  4. From the menu that appears, select the option Block “[Sender Name]”.

Future messages coming from this address will be automatically archived in the Spam folder, keeping your main inbox clean.

The Procedure on iPhone and iPad

For users of the Apple ecosystem as well, the procedure is very similar and equally intuitive, reflecting the philosophy of simplicity and efficiency.

  1. Launch the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Open an email sent by the person or company you want to block.
  3. Tap the three vertical dots icon in the top right corner of the screen.
  4. In the dropdown menu, tap the option Block “[Sender Name]”.

As with the desktop and Android versions, the operation is instant and guarantees that future communications from the same sender will no longer disturb you.

  1. Launch the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Open an email sent by the person or company you want to block.
  3. Tap the three vertical dots icon in the top right corner of the screen.
  4. In the dropdown menu, tap the option Block “[Sender Name]”.

As with the desktop and Android versions, the operation is instant and guarantees that future communications from the same sender will no longer disturb you.

  1. Launch the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Open an email sent by the person or company you want to block.
  3. Tap the three vertical dots icon in the top right corner of the screen.
  4. In the dropdown menu, tap the option Block “[Sender Name]”.

As with the desktop and Android versions, the operation is instant and guarantees that future communications from the same sender will no longer disturb you.

Blocking vs. Reporting as Spam: What Is the Difference?

Although both actions help clean up the inbox, blocking a sender and reporting them as spam have different purposes. Blocking is a personal and direct action: you tell Gmail that you no longer want to see emails from a specific address in your inbox. Future messages from that sender will automatically end up in the Spam folder, but your action does not affect other users. It is the perfect solution for unwanted newsletters or personal contacts with whom you no longer wish to communicate.

Reporting an email as spam, on the other hand, is an action with collective value. When you report a message, you not only move it to your Spam folder, but you also “instruct” Google’s algorithms. You are communicating that this type of message is, with high probability, unwanted mail for anyone. If enough users report similar emails, Gmail will learn to recognize them and automatically filter them for the entire user community. This is the right choice for obvious attempts at phishing, scams, or massive spam, contributing to making the email ecosystem safer for everyone. For even more effective defense, it is useful to enhance your knowledge on how the Gmail spam filter works.

How to Manage and Unblock Blocked Senders

Needs change, and a sender who is unwanted today might become important tomorrow. Fortunately, Gmail makes the process of unblocking an email address just as simple as blocking it. If you change your mind, there is no need to worry: you can review and modify your list of blocked contacts at any time. This flexibility is a sign of well-thought-out design that puts the user at the center of the experience.

To unblock a sender from the desktop version of Gmail, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the gear icon in the top right to open quick settings.
  2. Select “See all settings”.
  3. Go to the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab. Here you will find the list of all the addresses you have blocked.
  4. Scroll through the list to find the email address you wish to unblock.
  5. Select the address and click the “Unblock” button located to the right.

Alternatively, an even faster method is to find an old message from the sender in the Spam folder. Opening it, you will see a banner at the top with the option “Unblock sender”. Clicking it, the address will immediately return to being authorized. This granular management, combined with solid account security, guarantees total control over your inbox.

Conclusions

In an increasingly crowded digital world, knowing how to manage your email inbox has become essential. The function to block a sender in Gmail is a simple yet extremely effective tool to maintain order, protect your privacy, and improve security. Whether operating from a computer or a smartphone, the procedure is intuitive and accessible to everyone, reflecting a balance between communicative tradition and technological innovation. Understanding the difference between blocking and reporting as spam also allows you to use these tools more consciously, contributing not only to your own digital well-being but also to that of the online community. Regaining control of your inbox means dedicating less time to distractions and more energy to what truly matters, a small step towards a more organized and serene digital life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I block a specific sender on Gmail?

To block a sender, open an email from them and locate the icon with three vertical dots found near the top right corner of the message. From the dropdown menu, select the option labeled Block [Sender Name]. This process works similarly on the desktop interface as well as on the Android and iOS mobile apps, ensuring that future messages from that address are automatically diverted to your Spam folder.

What is the difference between blocking a sender and reporting spam?

Blocking is a personal action that prevents specific emails from reaching your inbox without affecting other users. In contrast, reporting a message as spam serves a collective purpose by training Google algorithms to recognize unwanted mail. While blocking manages your individual privacy, reporting spam helps filter out phishing and mass junk mail for the entire community.

Where do emails go after I block someone on Gmail?

Once you confirm a block, any future communications from that specific address are automatically moved directly to the Spam folder. They will no longer trigger notifications or clutter your primary inbox, allowing you to maintain a cleaner digital environment while keeping the messages technically accessible if you ever need to review them in the spam section.

How can I unblock an email address if I change my mind?

You can manage your blocked list by accessing the full settings menu on the desktop version and navigating to the tab named Filters and Blocked Addresses. From there, you can select the address and click Unblock. Alternatively, if you find an email from the sender in your Spam folder, you can use the banner option at the top of the message to immediately authorize the sender again.

Why is blocking emails important for online security?

Blocking senders offers immediate benefits regarding organization and security, specifically by reducing inbox clutter and preventing potential phishing attacks. It allows you to exercise your right to privacy and data protection, which is particularly relevant under regulations like the GDPR. By blocking suspicious sources, you proactively stop scam attempts before they demand your attention.