Tech Reference

How to block unwanted emails and spam on your iPhone with the Mail app

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Email has become an integral part of daily life for just about everyone. But sometimes there are senders that need to be blocked due to unsolicited spam or harassment. 

Whereas previously blocking these senders required third-party apps on your iPhone, you can now do it directly from Apple's Mail app on iOS devices. Here's how.

How to block emails in the Mail app on iPhone

1. Open the Mail app and locate an email from the sender you wish to block.

2. Tap on the sender's picture and then their name in the From field.

Screenshot of iOS Mail app From field.
Tap on the person's name.  Kyle Wilson/Insider

3. Tap Block this Contact and tap it again in the confirmation window that appears.

Screenshot of iOS Mail app with Block this Contact option highlighted.
Tap on Block this Contact twice.  Kyle Wilson/Insider

Blocking their contact will stop alerts from appearing when they send you a new email, but the emails will still come through. To prevent this and move them automatically to the trash can, do the following:

1. Open your iPhone's Settings app.

2. Scroll down until you see the Mail app option and tap on it.

3. Tap on Blocked Sender Options.

The Mail app settings page with Blocked Sender Options highlighted.
Move to Trash is located inside Blocked Sender Options.  Kyle Wilson/Insider

4. Select Move to Trash.

Screenshot of Blocked Sender Options screen with the Move to Trash option highlighted.
Under Actions, tap Move to Trash.  Kyle Wilson/Insider

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Kyle Wilson is a contributor to the Tech vertical on Business Insider's Reviews team, based in British Columbia, Canada. His work has also appeared in publications like The Verge, Vice, Kotaku, and more. He periodically guest co-hosts the Saturday tech show "Tech Talk" on the iHeartRadio station C-FAX 1070.Feel free to reach out to him on Twitter, where he can be found most of the time, @KWilsonMG.