How do I block email?

To block unwanted emails and spam in Outlook, you can use several methods:

1. Blocked Senders List: You can add specific email addresses to your Blocked Senders list. This will prevent emails from those addresses from reaching your inbox. For instructions, see Block or unblock senders in Outlook.
2. Anti-Spam Policies: If multiple users are affected by spam, consider using blocked sender lists or blocked domain lists in custom anti-spam policies. Messages from senders on these lists are marked as High confidence spam. For more information, refer to Configure anti-spam policies.
3. Mail Flow Rules: You can create mail flow rules to identify unwanted messages based on specific criteria and set their spam confidence level (SCL) to 9, marking them as High confidence spam. More details can be found in Use mail flow rules to set the SCL in messages.
4. Tenant Allow/Block List: You can also manage email at the tenant level by using the Tenant Allow/Block List in the Microsoft Defender portal. This allows you to block domains and addresses effectively. For more details, see Allow or block email using the Tenant Allow/Block List.

By implementing these methods, you can effectively reduce the amount of spam and unwanted emails you receive in your Outlook inbox.

References:

• Block or unblock senders in Outlook
• Configure anti-spam policies
• Use mail flow rules to set the SCL in messages
• Allow or block email using the Tenant Allow/Block List

Hi,

You can’t completely block all spam or unknown emails automatically because spammers constantly change addresses and wording, and aggressive filters risk hiding legitimate messages.

The most effective approach is:

Use your email provider’s junk filter settings.

Add blocked senders/domains.

Create custom rules for common spam phrases.

Enable safe senders only mode if you want to receive emails only from trusted contacts.

Happy to help!