How to See Blocked Emails in Gmail (and Unblock Senders)

Blocking someone in Gmail doesn't bounce their emails or make them disappear. Google's help says that after you block a sender, all their future emails go to Spam. So blocked emails are sitting in your Spam folder, mixed in with everything else Gmail has filtered. Here's how to find them, review your blocked list and undo a block you regret.

Find blocked emails in the Spam folder

1. Open Gmail on your computer.
2. In the main menu on the left, click More, then Spam.
3. Look for the sender's name, or type their address in the search box while you're in Spam.

In the Gmail app on Android, tap Menu at the top left, then Spam. Google's Android help points there specifically when you're looking for a blocked sender's message.

Each email in Spam carries a warning at the top explaining why Gmail put it there. That's a handy way to tell a blocked sender apart from ordinary junk.

See your full blocked senders list

1. Open Gmail on a computer.
2. Click Settings at the top right, then See all settings.
3. Click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.
4. Scroll down to see every address you've blocked.

This list is the only place to see everyone at once. It's worth a look every so often, because it's easy to block a sender in a moment of irritation and forget all about it.

Block, unblock and Spam: what each one does

Action	What happens	Where to do it
Block a sender	All their future emails go to Spam	Open their email, More, Block
Unblock a sender	Their future emails go to your inbox	Open their email, More, Unblock, or the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab
Not spam	Moves one email out of the Spam folder	In Spam, tick the email, click Not spam
Delete forever	Removes selected emails for good	In Spam, select emails, click Delete forever

Unblock a sender

There are two ways. If you can find one of their emails, open it, click More next to Reply at the top right, and choose Unblock. If you can't find one, use the settings route: Settings, See all settings, Filters and Blocked Addresses, tick the box next to the sender and click Unblock selected addresses.

On Android, open their message, tap More, then Unblock.

Why Not spam isn't enough on its own

Here's the catch most people miss. Google says that when you block a sender, even if you remove their emails from Spam, Gmail still automatically identifies their emails as spam. So clicking Not spam on one email rescues that message, but the next one will land in Spam again. If you want a blocked person's emails back for good, you have to unblock them as well.

Unblocking only affects future emails. Anything that already went to Spam stays there until you move it, so after unblocking, go into Spam, tick their emails and click Not spam.

Don't empty Spam before you check it

Spam has a Delete all spam messages now button, and it's tempting to hit it. If you're hunting for a blocked email, check first, because deleted spam is gone. Google also notes that adding a sender to Google Contacts stops Gmail sending their messages to Spam, which helps for legitimate contacts who keep ending up there, as long as they're not blocked.

A blocked sender versus ordinary spam

Not everything in Spam is there because you blocked it. Gmail also filters suspicious emails automatically, and emails you've reported yourself land there too. If a client's emails keep going to Spam and they're not on your blocked list, Google suggests three fixes: move the email out of Spam, add the sender to Google Contacts, or create a filter that labels their email as important. Adding them as a contact is the simplest, and it's worth doing for every regular client or supplier.

If they're on the blocked list, none of those will stick until you unblock them. That's the order I'd follow: check the list first, then fix the Spam settings.

When blocking is the wrong tool

If the emails are newsletters or promotions you no longer want, Google suggests unsubscribing rather than blocking. Blocking is better for people you don't want to hear from at all. And if someone uses Gmail to harass or threaten you, Google says they're breaking Gmail's Program Policies; if you feel in danger, it advises contacting your local authorities.

If you'd like to block someone new, my guide on how to block someone on Gmail covers it step by step. And if your own emails are the ones landing in other people's Spam, read why emails get marked as spam.

What I'd do

When a client says they emailed and you never saw it, check Spam first, then the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. If they're on the blocked list by mistake, unblock them and move their emails out of Spam with Not spam. Both steps matter, because Not spam alone won't stop the next email going astray.

Frequently asked questions

Where do blocked emails go in Gmail?

To Spam. Google says all future emails from a blocked sender go to Spam.

How do I see who I've blocked in Gmail?

Settings, See all settings, then the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab.

Does the sender know they're blocked?

Google's help doesn't say Gmail notifies them. Their emails simply go to your Spam folder.

Can I see blocked emails on my phone?

Yes. In the Gmail app on Android, tap Menu, then Spam.

Why do a sender's emails still go to Spam after Not spam?

Because they're still blocked. Gmail keeps marking a blocked sender's emails as spam until you unblock them.