Do you get a lot of junk emails? Do you know how to block spam emails, the ones you don’t want, like ads or random messages? It can be too annoying to see your inbox full of them when you’re just trying to check important emails. Been there and dreaded that!
Let’s say you’re checking your email, but all you see is spam, spam, and spam. No matter how hard you try, there’s always more junk. You’ve probably tried deleting them, but they keep coming back. What can you do to stop this? Take it from your expert!
In 2023, about 45% of emails were spam. That means almost half of the emails people get are junk! But don’t worry – you can easily block these spam emails and keep your inbox nice and clean.
In just five minutes, we’ll show you how to set up filters to prevent junk emails from bothering you everywhere. Besides, if you send emails yourself and don’t want them to land in the spam folder, we have some free tips from email warmup so your important emails reach the intended inbox.
The 5-Minute Fix – How To Block Spam Emails Generally?
Blocking spam emails seems time-consuming, but not now when you have this 5-minute hack. Go step by step, and voila! You will block all those pesky emails,
Step 1. Look For Spam Emails (1 Minute)
Quickly scan your inbox for spam emails. Look for:
- Unfamiliar senders.
- Messages with generic subject lines like “You’ve Won!” or “Urgent Update.”
- Poor grammar or suspicious links.
Step 2. Use The “Block” Option (2 Minutes)
Gmail:
- Open the email → Click the three dots in the top-right corner → Select “Block [Sender Name].”
Outlook:
- Right-click on the email → Select “Junk” → Choose “Block Sender.”
Yahoo Mail:
- Open the email → Click “More” → Select “Block Sender.”
Step 3. Report Spam (1 Minute)
- Select spam emails and click the “Report Spam” or “Mark as Junk” button.
- This trains your email provider to filter similar emails automatically.
- Avoid opening suspicious emails to prevent triggering tracking pixels.
Step 4. Create A Quick Filter (1 Minute)
For persistent spam, set up a filter:
Gmail:
- Go to Settings → Filters and Blocked Addresses → “Create a New Filter.”
- Add keywords, senders, or domains → Select “Delete It” or “Skip Inbox.”
Outlook:
- Go to Settings → “Rules” → Add New Rule.
- Define criteria like specific phrases or sender → Select “Delete” or “Move to Junk.”
The 5-Minute Fix To Block Spam Emails On Gmail
- For Auto-Blocking. Go to Settings → Filters and Blocked Addresses → Create a New Filter. Add the email address or keywords and choose “Delete it” as the action.
- To Mark As Spam. Select the email → Click the Report Spam icon. This will automatically block similar emails in the future.
- For the Block (Sender) Option. Open the email → Click the three dots menu (top-right) → Select Block [Sender Name].
The 5 Minute Fix To Block Spam Emails On Yahoo Mail
- Do it with Block Addresses. Go to Settings → More Settings → Security and Privacy. Under “Blocked Addresses,” add the email address you want to block.
- For using the Mark as Spam option. Select the email → Click the Spam button. Yahoo will automatically move similar emails to the spam folder.
- To unsubscribe using Yahoo’s Smart View. Go to the Views tab → Select Subscriptions. Manage and unsubscribe from unwanted mailing lists directly.
The 5 Minute Fix To Block Spam Emails On Outlook
- To Block Senders Manually. Right-click on the email → Select Junk → Choose Block Sender.
- To Create Inbox Rules. Go to Settings → Rules → Add a rule. Define a condition like the Sender’s Email Address → Set the action to delete or move to junk.
- To Report Phishing. Highlight the spam email → Select Report Phishing under the Junk menu. This improves Microsoft’s spam detection.
The 5-Minute Fix To Block Spam Emails On Apple Mail
- For Mark as Junk option. Select the email → Click Mark as Junk from the toolbar. Apple Mail will learn and filter similar emails automatically.
- For using Rules to Block. Go to Mail Preferences → Rules → Add a new rule. Set conditions (e.g., “From contains [email]“) → Choose an action like “Move to Trash” or “Delete.”
- To use the Junk Mail Filtering. In Mail Preferences → Go to the Junk Mail tab → Enable “Filter junk mail.” Add specific senders to the blocked list if needed.
The 5-Minute Fix To Block Spam Emails On iCloud Mail
- To mark emails as Junk. Select the email → Click the Mark as Junk icon in the toolbar.
- To set Email Rules. Log into iCloud Mail on a browser → Go to Settings → Rules → Create a rule to move specific senders to Trash.
- For Blocked Sender options. In Settings, add email addresses to the Blocked List to prevent them from reaching your inbox.
How To Block Spam Emails Permanently?
You know the intensity of harm that spam emails can do to you and your business (Yikes!), it’s time to kick them out of your inbox. Don’t worry, it won’t take long. In fact, with this permanent solution, you can reduce the amount of spam invading your inbox, make your life less annoying, and protect your personal information from malicious threats.
Your Email Provider’s Built-In Spam Filter
Before going to other sources for help configure your very own email provider’s built-in spam filter, such as Bayesian Filter. You simply have to activate it. Email providers like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo can filter out known spam messages automatically. You just need to tweak it to work properly or the way you want.
Gmail:
Go to Settings > Filters and Blocked Addresses. You can add custom filters based on keywords, sender addresses, or specific subject lines that often lead to spam.
Outlook:
Go to Settings > Junk Email. You can adjust the settings to automatically move suspicious emails to the Junk folder.
Yahoo:
Yahoo offers a similar function where you can set up filters to block spam or unwanted messages based on specific criteria.
Mark Unwanted Emails as Spam
You have to build a pattern for email filters. Some spam emails slip from the first line of defense and land in your primary inbox. You must mark them as spam so that your filters get a signal. Next time, they will block them on their own. Your system will know the email is unwanted and should handle it accordingly.
Unsubscribe from Newsletters and Promotional Emails
You don’t want clutter, right? Some emails are from legitimate sources, but you don’t need them. So, for a clutter-free inbox, you want them gone. These are usually newsletters and promotional emails that you don’t remember subscribing to. Thankfully, getting rid of these is easy, as they usually come with an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click this link to remove you from their email list and stop future messages.
You Can Block Some Senders
Some domains or email addresses get on our nerves, so why not block them immediately? Blocking the sender will prevent their emails from reaching your inbox in the future. In Gmail, the method is simple. Open the message, click the three dots in the upper-right corner, and choose Block [Sender]. In Outlook, select the email, click Junk, then choose Block Sender. You won’t hear from them again!
A Third-Party Spam Filter
By now, you might have gotten rid of spam emails, but even if you don’t, you have third-party spam filters to the rescue. Sometimes, the built-in filters from your email provider aren’t enough, and third-party spam filtering can offer additional layers of protection and better filtering options to catch tricky spam.
No More Clicking On Suspicious Links Or Attachments
There is always this urge to click on a link as soon as you set your eyes on it. But for your own security, you need to fight that urge. Even if the email looks legitimate, always double-check the sender’s email address. If you don’t recognize it, don’t click any links or open attachments. This is especially true for emails that claim you’ve won something or ask for sensitive information.
Keep Reviewing Your Spam Folder
Even though spam filters work well, sometimes legitimate emails can be marked as spam by mistake. Regularly check your spam or junk folder to make sure important messages haven’t been misclassified. If you find any, mark them as “Not Spam” so they can land in your inbox. If you frequently find emails from a trusted source in your spam folder, you can create a custom filter to ensure they always make it to your inbox.
Secure Your Email With SPF and DKIM
This comes as a bonus tip if you have a business email. Maybe your own domain is being used to send spam emails. This is why businesses use SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) as email authentication protocols to help them protect the email domain from being used for spam or phishing attacks. You will need technical expertise to add these protocols to your DNS records in your domain settings.
If you need some professional help, you can always schedule a free call with an experienced email deliverability consultant who can help you reduce the chances of your email being spoofed and also improve your domain’s reputation.
Opt-Out of Data Broker Lists
Do you know? Data brokers collect and sell personal information, including email addresses, often obtained from public records, online registrations, and other sources to marketers, advertisers, and even spammers. If you don’t want it, you can simply request the removal of your email address from data broker directories.
Visit major data brokers such as Acxiom, Experian, Intelius, and PeopleFinder, and find the Opt-Out Form on their website and get yourself free. Another way to do this is to use services like DeleteMe or PrivacyDuck to handle these requests on your behalf. This can be time-consuming but can get you a permanent solution from these unwanted emails.
Conclusion
With the help of these tips, your email can easily bypass spam floods and reach your target audience. All you have to do is take care of the basic email hygiene. But what if your emails end up in the reader’s spam folders? As we said, we need to go beyond the basics and use advanced techniques to make your emails stand out in tough competition, i.e., build your email reputation gradually if you are a business using a free email warm up. It can send emails on your behalf and secure your email reputation to be trustworthy for the reader.
FAQs
Can Spam Emails Still Reach Me After I Block Them?
Yes, even after you block a spam email sender, there’s still a chance you may receive spam from different email addresses or new accounts that spammers create to bypass your block. That’s why you need to keep reviewing your inbox.
Why Do Some Legitimate Emails End Up In Spam?
Maybe they have suspicious keywords, poor sender reputation, filled with images and attachments, or simply came in bulk. When you find them in spam, mark them as “not spam” so the filters know, and they won’t mark them spam in future.
How Can I Report A Spam Email To Authorities?
You can report them to your email service provider or forward them to authorities like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), or Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG). They will take the necessary action against the spammer.
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