Learn how to block a contact in Microsoft Outlook (formerly known as Hotmail) today. This action is more complicated than it sounds, because Outlook does not always filter emails, even if the email address is in your blocked senders list. However, if you delete the contact, add their name to the blocked recipients list, and mark their messages as spam, you will no longer receive messages from that address. Be aware that Outlook can take anywhere from an hour to several days before blocking messages from this person. However, it is not possible to block contacts from the Outlook mobile app.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: delete a contact
Step 1. Open Microsoft Outlook
Visit https://www.outlook.com/ from your computer's browser. If you have already logged in to the platform, it will open in your inbox.
- Otherwise, you should click To log in in the upper right corner of the page, then type your email address and password.
Step 2. Make sure you are using the beta version of Outlook
It uses slightly different options from those used in the standard version of the website. If you see a blue button Outlook beta at the top right of the page, it means you are using this version.
- On the other hand, if you are not using it yet, click on the gray button Try the beta version which is at the top right of the page and wait for the page to refresh.
Step 3. Click on the contacts icon
It is represented by a silhouette of people and is located in the lower left corner of the page. When you tap it, a contact list will open.
Step 4. Select a contact
Scroll down until you find the contact you want to block. Then click on its name.
Step 5. Click Remove
You will see this at the top of the page.
Step 6. Select Remove when prompted
This action will remove the contact from your list. This way, you are sure to stop receiving messages from this contact after blocking their address.
Technically, you can block a contact, even if they're on the list, but if you do it that way, you'll still receive their emails
Part 2 of 3: Add a contact to your blocked senders list
Step 1. Open the Settings menu
To do this, click on the gear icon located in the upper right corner of the page. This action will bring up a drop-down menu.
Step 2. Scroll down
Then select Show all Outlook settings. This is a link at the bottom of the drop-down menu. When you click on it, a window will open.
You may not need to scroll to see this link
Step 3. Click on the Mail tab
You will see this at the top left of the window.
Step 4. Choose Junk Mail
This is located in the middle column of options.
Step 5. Type a contact's email address
Click in the field Add a sender here at the top of the section Blocked senders, and then type the person's email address.
Step 6. Click Add
This button is located to the right of the input field.
Step 7. Select Save
You will see this button at the top of the page. When you tap it, your changes will take effect and the contact's email address will be added to your blocked senders list.
Part 3 of 3: Mark a message as spam
Step 1. Understand why you should be doing this
Although you should no longer receive emails from the person you have restricted Outlook sometimes won't block their messages unless you add their old messages to the folder first. Spam and block them from there.
If you have never received a message from this contact, you will not be able to perform this action at this time. In this case, you will probably receive an email from the blocked contact later. Once you receive it, you can mark it as spam to complete this process
Step 2. Return to the inbox
Click on Mail, represented by an envelope icon located at the bottom left of the page. This action will open your Outlook inbox in a new tab.
Step 3. Select a message from the contact
Click once on the email of the contact you want to block.
If he has sent you multiple messages, you can select them all by hovering the mouse cursor over his profile picture (or initials) that appears on the left side of the email. Then click on the box that appears and check the boxes of the remaining messages
Step 4. Click Junk Email
You will see this appear at the top of the page.
Step 5. Open the Junk Email folder
Click on this directory to the left of the inbox. This action will open a list of emails that you have marked as spam.
Step 6. Select the contact's message
To do this, click once on it.
Again, if you've marked multiple emails as spam, click the checkboxes on the far left of each message to select them all
Step 7. Click Block
You will see this button appear at the top of the page.
Step 8. Choose OK when prompted
In doing so, the action will be confirmed and the contact's email address will be added to the blocked senders list. You will no longer receive emails from this contact.
You should wait a few hours (or days) for messages from that person to stop reaching you
Advice
- After deleting the contact, adding their address to the blocked senders list, marking their existing messages as spam, and blocking their emails, they will no longer be able to communicate with you through this means.
- If you do not select the option To block for emails from the contact on file Spam, his next messages will simply be sent to this folder instead of being automatically deleted. This is a great option if you want to see what this contact has to say to you without their messages appearing in your inbox.
