How to block unwanted emails in Microsoft Outlook

Outlook has been the go-to email app on Windows for several years now. After first debuting in 1997 with Office 97, Outlook is now part of Microsoft 365, the company’s productivity suite. You can send and receive emails with multiple accounts, and take advantage of features like Focused Inbox or Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant, to help craft an email with your preferred tone and content.




However, there are still some aspects of our inbox that we wish could be different. If you’re like most people, there are probably times when you get too many emails from certain recipients, or maybe a recurring message or spam that can cause your inbox to get out of hand. With this in mind, here’s how to permanently block the emails you don’t need when using Microsoft Outlook.

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How to block emails in Microsoft Outlook

In this example, we used Outlook on a Windows PC with an active Microsoft 365 subscription to block emails with the following steps. However, the same feature is available on Outlook for iOS and Android with just a slightly different method (which we’ll cover below).

  1. Launch Outlook.
  2. Go to Home the tab.
  3. Click on Junk Mail icon, and then select Junk Email Settings.
    Spam option in Microsoft Outlook on Windows

  4. Click on Blocked senders tab to enter the email addresses you want to block.
    Using the Blocked Senders window in Microsoft Outlook on Windows

  5. Click OK and confirm.


How to quickly block an email in Microsoft Outlook

If you prefer to quickly block an email while you sort through your inbox, here’s how to do it.

  1. Launch Outlook.
  2. Click on the unwelcome email in your inbox.
  3. Go to Home tab, and then click Junk icon and Block sender.
    Blocking a sender in Microsoft Outlook on Windows

How to block emails in Microsoft Outlook for iOS and Android

As mentioned, you can block emails with the Outlook app available on iOS and Android. It’s a straightforward process that only takes a few steps.

  1. Launch Outlook.
  2. Find the unwanted email in your inbox.
  3. Once found, pressure on three dots displayed at the top right of the email, then select Report junk.
  4. Press on Block sender and confirm it.


That’s all you have to do. Managing emails can be a hassle, and it doesn’t help when you receive emails that aren’t even relevant to you. If you follow these steps, you will never see these unwanted emails again.

Think it’s time to switch mail apps?

Microsoft Outlook isn’t the only mail app on Windows that lets you manage your inbox and block unwanted emails. There are some great alternatives out there that may be a better fit for your workflow. If you’re curious about other apps that can help manage your inbox, take a look at our handy guide to five other email apps you can use right now on your Windows PC.

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