How to Block Emails in Gmail, Outlook, & Spike

Email—we love it and hate it all at the same time. There are well over 4 billion users worldwide, making it arguably the most successful communication tool ever invented. However, there’s one thing we could all do with less of……SPAM! But what to do about the fact that nearly 50% of all e-mails sent worldwide are identified as spam?

Well, the answer, of course, is to start blocking those unwanted emails so you can clean up your inbox and focus on the things that matter! So, with blocking email in mind, this article will look at how you can do that in the most popular email clients, as well as explore the reasons why you should block mail and your alternative options if blocking is a little bit drastic. Read on to learn more.

Why It’s Important to Block Unwanted Email Senders

There are loads of reasons you might want to block emails, taking in everything from avoiding harmful phishing threats to simply keeping your inbox clean and focused. Here, we explore some of the most important reasons.

1. Security

• • Phishing emails pose a significant threat, often disguised as legitimate messages to trick users into revealing personal information or downloading malware.
  • Blocking suspicious senders can prevent falling victim to such scams and safeguard sensitive data.

2. Email Management

• • A cluttered inbox can hinder productivity and make it challenging to find important messages amidst the noise.
  • Blocking unwanted senders helps maintain a streamlined inbox, ensuring that important communications remain visible and accessible.

3. Marketing

• • Marketing emails inundate our inboxes with promotional content, sometimes overwhelming and distracting users from essential messages.
  • Blocking or filtering marketing emails allows users to regain control over their inbox and focus on relevant communications.

Block vs Filter vs Unsubscribe

Of course, you probably don’t want to block every single annoying email when you want to declutter your inbox, and different situations call for different approaches to managing unwanted email. Here we look at your options.

• Unsubscribe
  • Opting out of marketing emails from brands you still wish to hear from allows you to maintain communication while reducing clutter.

• Filter
  • Filtering emails categorizes them based on predefined criteria, diverting non-essential messages away from the main inbox without blocking them entirely.

• Block
  • Blocking email senders is necessary for security concerns or when repeated attempts to unsubscribe go unheeded, ensuring that unwanted emails are effectively barred from reaching your inbox.

How to Block Emails in Gmail

Blocking emails in Gmail is a straightforward process, whether you’re using the mobile app or the desktop version.

On Mobile

1. Open the Gmail app on your smartphone and navigate to the email you want to block.
2. Tap on the email to open it.
3. Tap on the three dots (more options) icon located at the top right corner of the screen.
4. From the menu that appears, select “Block [sender’s name].”
5. A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap on “Block” to confirm.
6. The sender will now be blocked, and their emails will be automatically sent to the spam folder.

On Desktop

1. Open your web browser and go to the Gmail website.
2. Log in to your Gmail account if you haven’t already.
3. Find the email from the sender you want to block.
4. Open the email by clicking on it.
5. Click on the three dots (More options) icon located at the top right corner of the email.
6. From the dropdown menu, select “Block [sender’s name].”
7. A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click on “Block” to confirm.
8. The sender will now be blocked, and their emails will be automatically sent to the spam folder.

How to Block Emails in Outlook

Blocking emails in Outlook can be done both on mobile devices and desktop computers. Here’s how:

On Mobile:

1. Open the Outlook app on your mobile device.
2. Navigate to the email from the sender you want to block.
3. Tap and hold the email to select it.
4. Once selected, tap on the three dots (More options) icon.
5. From the menu that appears, select “Block [sender’s email address].”
6. Confirm the action if prompted.
7. The sender will now be blocked, and their emails will be automatically moved to the Junk Email folder.

On Desktop

1. Open your web browser and go to the Outlook website or open the Outlook desktop application.
2. Log in to your Outlook account if necessary.
3. Find the email from the sender you want to block.
4. Right-click on the email to open the context menu.
5. From the options, select “Block [sender’s email address].”
6. Confirm the action if prompted.
7. The sender will now be blocked, and their emails will be automatically moved to the Junk Email folder.

How to Block Emails in Spike

Spike offers a user-friendly interface for blocking unwanted emails, whether you’re using it on your mobile device or desktop. On top of this, Priority Inbox sends all newsletters and promo offers to a separate inbox to make the whole process easier. Here’s how you can do it in just a few simple steps.

On Mobile

1. Open the Spike app on your smartphone.
2. When in your inbox, swipe left on the email you want to block.
3. Once selected, tap on the three dots (more options) icon.
4. From the menu that appears, select “Block.”
5. The sender will now be blocked, and their emails will no longer appear in your inbox.

On Desktop

1. Open Spike on your desktop browser or desktop application.
2. Find the email from the sender you want to block.
3. Right-click on the email to open the context menu.
4. From the options, select “Block.”
5. The sender will now be blocked, and their emails will no longer appear in your inbox.

Wrapping Up

Managing your inbox effectively is essential for productive and safe working, and blocking unwanted email senders is one tool you can use to achieve this goal. However, for a truly focused and streamlined inbox, check out Spike and our Priority Inbox features that help you sidestep the spam and keep your inbox clean.