How to Block an Email: A Comprehensive Guide
Emails are an integral part of our daily routine, whether it’s for official communication or personal use. However, the constant influx of spam emails can be extremely frustrating and harmful to our online safety. Fortunately, email clients such as Gmail, Outlook and Mac Mail have their own built-in spam filters and blocking features to help minimize the menace of unwanted emails.
Blocking Emails Using Gmail’s Built-In Spam Filter
Gmail’s spam filter is a powerful tool that allows users to automatically filter out spam emails and block senders. Follow these simple steps to eliminate unwanted emails:
Step 1: Open the spam folder in Gmail that contains all the emails marked as spam by the filter.
Step 2: Find the email that you want to block and click the “Report spam” or “Mark as spam” button. This will inform Gmail to mark the selected email as spam and move it to the Spam folder automatically.
Step 3: To block a specific email address, open the email you wish to block. Click the ‘more’ button (represented by three vertical dots on the top right-hand corner of the email).
Step 4: From the dropdown menu, select “Block [sender’s name]” and click “Block” on the confirmation pop-up message.
Blocking Emails Using Microsoft Outlook
Outlook provides different options for blocking emails including the sender’s email address, domain or subject. Follow these steps to block an email in Outlook:
Step 1: Open the email that you want to block.
Step 2: Right-click on the email sender’s email address or subject and select “Junk” and “Block Sender” or “Block Senders Domain.”
Step 3: If you want to remove any previously blocked email addresses, click “Junk Email Options” and select the “Blocked Sender List” to manage blocked email addresses and domains.
Note: Blocking emails in Outlook may not work in some cases as spammers frequently use different email addresses to send junk mail.
Blocking Emails Using Mac Mail
Mac Mail provides customisable filtering rules that allow users to block emails based on the sender’s domain, subject or other criteria. Follow these steps to block an email in Mac Mail:
Step 1: Open the email from the sender that you want to block in Mac Mail.
Step 2: Click on “Mail” and select “Preferences”.
Step 3: From the next menu, select “Rules”.
Step 4: Click on “Add Rule” and define the criteria for blocking a particular email.
Step 5: After defining the criteria, select “Move message” to the “Junk” mailbox to automatically filter out spam emails.
Blocking Emails on Mobile Email Apps
Blocking emails on mobile email apps works similarly to blocking emails on a desktop email client. The process may vary depending on the email client.
iOS: Open the email from the sender that you want to block. Click on the sender name to open up the contact list. Click on “Block this Contact” to block the email.
Android: Open the email from the sender that you want to block. Click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the screen to open the settings menu. Click on “Block [sender’s name]”.
Keeping Your Email Inbox Spam-Free
Blocking emails is just one step towards keeping your inbox clutter-free. Here are some recommended steps to follow:
1. Unsubscribe: If you frequently receive emails from mailing lists that you don’t need, unsubscribe from them.
2. Filter: Use custom filters to automatically move emails with certain subjects or senders to another folder besides your inbox.
3. Install a Reliable Spam Filter: It’s important to install a trustworthy anti-spam software that can eliminate spam emails before they reach your inbox.
Consequences of Not Blocking Emails
Email scams, or more commonly known as phishing attacks, pose a significant risk to our online safety. If users are not careful, they can easily fall victim to such attacks resulting in financial loss or identity theft. Not blocking emails from unknown sources can also lead to a vast amount of clutter in your inbox, making it almost impossible to efficiently manage emails.
Conclusion
Emails are an essential part of our daily communication, but the influx of spam emails can be extremely frustrating and harmful. While email clients provide built-in spam filters and blocking features, it’s essential to educate yourself on how to use them efficiently to avoid online threats. By following the steps detailed in this article, you can keep your inbox clutter-free, and protect yourself from email scams and phishing attacks.
Call-to-action: Try out the blocking techniques that we have discussed in this article and enjoy a clutter-free inbox.
