If your inbox is filled with emails you don't want to read, and you'd rather not see them at all, we have a step-by-step tutorial that shows how to block unwanted emails in Gmail. This will make sure that those messages won't show up in your inbox anymore.
Gmail terminology: Block vs. Report spam vs. Unsubscribe
Below are some Gmail features that help keep your inbox organized and secure. The following are the differences between each of them.
Block: Block works on the sender level. If you block someone from sending you emails, any future emails you receive from them will be marked as spam and sent to a special folder where you can find all your spam emails.
Report spam: Reporting spam works at the email level and affects the sender's email reputation. But you will still get their messages in your main inbox. If you label an email as spam, it will be moved to your spam folder automatically, and a copy will be sent to Google to identify similar spam messages in the future.
Unsubscribe: You won't get any more emails from this person. This is to help you manage emails that keep coming that you don't want. But, it's not for getting rid of bad emails. When you unsubscribe, you can choose to not get certain kinds of emails or to stop getting all of their emails.
Please note that blocking, reporting spam, or unsubscribing only works for future emails. For the current and all previous unwanted emails, you can mass delete emails from your Gmail account.
If you have experienced frequent emails from a sender even after requesting them to stop, you can block their messages on Gmail to prevent further correspondence.
Block works on the sender level. Any future emails you receive from a blocked sender will be automatically marked as spam and sent directly to your spam folder.
How to block emails on the Gmail mobile iOS and Android app
1. Open a message from an email sender you want to block.
2. Click the three dots next to the reply button on the top right corner of the email. See screenshots below.
3. Tap Block "[sender]".
4. You did it! You’ll never see emails from this annoying sender.
How to report spam and phishing on Gmail
If you report something as spam, it will go to your spam folder, but you might still get emails from the same person. To make sure you never see any of their messages in the future, you need to block them.
You can report spam using the Gmail mobile app, but you can only report phishing on a desktop Gmail app.
How to report spam on Gmail on a computer
1. Open a spam email.
2. Click the Report Spam icon (an octagon with an exclamation point).
3. The message will then be sent to your spam folder.
How to report spam on the Gmail mobile iOS and Android app
Open a spam email.
Tap the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Tap Report spam.
How to report phishing on Gmail
Spam is just stuff you don't want, but phishing is when someone online pretends to be someone you trust to trick you. If someone sends you an email pretending to be someone else, here's how to report it as phishing.
Open an email that you think might be trying to trick you.
Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the email.
Click Report phishing.
In the popup window, click "Report Phishing Message".
How to unsubscribe from mass emails on Gmail
If you're like me, you may have signed up for lots of marketing emails in the past just to get a promo code, but then never actually bought anything from that company.
Now, instead of having to search for the tiny "unsubscribe" option at the bottom of the email, Gmail makes it easy to unsubscribe right from the top of the message.
Note that unsubscribing is not the same as blocking or reporting spam. You just don't want to receive these messages anymore, but you don't think they're harmful. This won't harm the email sender's reputation.
Open an email from a sender you want to stop receiving messages from.
Click on Unsubscribe next to the sender's name..
Unsubscribe from mass emails on Gmail
When you unsubscribe, you can choose to stop getting certain kinds of emails or all emails from this sender. Normally, when you "manage your preferences," you can unsubscribe from everything.
How to block someone on Gmail: FAQ
If you need help blocking someone in Gmail, check out these frequently asked questions. They'll show you how to keep unwanted people out of your inbox.
How do I unblock someone on Gmail?
Accidentally blocked your ex? Here's how to unblock someone on Gmail:
1. Click the Settings icon.
2. Click See all settings.
3. Click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
4. Click Unblock next to the address(es) you want to unblock.
5. Click Unblock again to confirm.
Why am I still getting emails from blocked addresses on Gmail?
You may still be getting emails from blocked addresses if it's only been a few days since you blocked the address. It takes a few days to go into effect.
How do I mass delete emails from my Gmail account?
If you want to delete all of your emails in a certain Gmail account, follow these steps: 1. Check the box at the top of your inbox, to the left of the refresh button. This will select all the emails displayed on the first page.
2. Click the blue text that reads, Select all X conversations in Primary.
3. Click the delete button, which looks like a trash can.
4. To hide emails and still be able to access them, you can also click on the archive button (a folder with a down arrow).
SOC 2 Type II, GDPR and CASA Tier 2 and 3 certified — so you can automate with confidence at any scale.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bardeen?
Bardeen is an automation and workflow platform designed to help GTM teams eliminate manual tasks and streamline processes. It connects and integrates with your favorite tools, enabling you to automate repetitive workflows, manage data across systems, and enhance collaboration.
What tools does Bardeen replace for me?
Bardeen acts as a bridge to enhance and automate workflows. It can reduce your reliance on tools focused on data entry and CRM updating, lead generation and outreach, reporting and analytics, and communication and follow-ups.
Who benefits the most from using Bardeen?
Bardeen is ideal for GTM teams across various roles including Sales (SDRs, AEs), Customer Success (CSMs), Revenue Operations, Sales Engineering, and Sales Leadership.
How does Bardeen integrate with existing tools and systems?
Bardeen integrates broadly with CRMs, communication platforms, lead generation tools, project and task management tools, and customer success tools. These integrations connect workflows and ensure data flows smoothly across systems.
What are common use cases I can accomplish with Bardeen?
Bardeen supports a wide variety of use cases across different teams, such as:
Sales: Automating lead discovery, enrichment and outreach sequences. Tracking account activity and nurturing target accounts.
Customer Success: Preparing for customer meetings, analyzing engagement metrics, and managing renewals.
Revenue Operations: Monitoring lead status, ensuring data accuracy, and generating detailed activity summaries.
Sales Leadership: Creating competitive analysis reports, monitoring pipeline health, and generating daily/weekly team performance summaries.