How to Stop Spam Emails in Gmail

Unwanted emails can quickly fill your Gmail inbox. You might receive advertising you never asked for, repeated messages from unfamiliar senders, or suspicious emails pretending to be from companies you know.

The good news is that Gmail includes tools to help reduce these messages. If you want to stop spam emails in Gmail, you can report unwanted messages, block particular senders, and unsubscribe from legitimate mailing lists. This guide explains which option to use and how to avoid making a scam problem worse.

What you’ll need

• Access to your Gmail account on a computer, phone, or tablet.
• The Gmail app or a web browser.
• A little time to review unwanted messages before deciding what to do with them.

Step 1: Report unwanted messages as spam

Reporting a message as spam tells Gmail that you do not want similar messages in your inbox. It also helps Gmail improve its spam filtering.

On a computer:

1. Open Gmail in your web browser.
2. Sign in if needed.
3. Open the message you want to report, or select its checkbox in your inbox.
4. Click Report spam. It usually looks like an exclamation mark inside a stop-sign shape near the top of the message list.
5. If Gmail asks you to confirm, follow the on-screen prompt.

On an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone:

1. Open the Gmail app.
2. Find the unwanted message.
3. Open it, or select it from the message list.
4. Tap the three-dot More menu.
5. Choose Report spam.

The message is moved to the Spam folder. Gmail may use your report to help identify similar messages in the future.

Tip: If a message is clearly unwanted or suspicious, use Report spam rather than simply deleting it. Reporting helps Gmail learn what you consider spam.

Step 2: Block a sender who keeps emailing you

Blocking is useful when a particular sender repeatedly contacts you. Gmail sends future messages from that address to your Spam folder.

On a computer:

1. Open the message from the sender.
2. Click the three-dot More menu beside the sender’s details.
3. Choose Block [sender’s name]. The wording includes the sender’s name or email address.
4. Confirm if Gmail asks you to.

In the Gmail app:

1. Open the message.
2. Tap the three-dot More menu beside the sender’s name.
3. Tap Block [sender’s name].

Blocking does not usually stop the sender from sending messages. It tells Gmail where to put future messages from that address. If the sender uses a different address, you may need to report those messages separately.

Good to know: Blocking and reporting spam are different. Block a particular sender whose messages you no longer want; report a message as spam when it is unwanted or suspicious.

Step 3: Unsubscribe from legitimate mailing lists

Some unwanted email is not spam in the strict sense. It may be a newsletter, store promotion, or mailing list you signed up for in the past.

For messages from legitimate organizations, unsubscribing is usually the best way to stop the emails.

1. Open the newsletter or promotional email.
2. Look near the sender’s name at the top for Unsubscribe. Gmail may display this as a link beside the sender details.
3. If you recognize the organization and expected its emails, select Unsubscribe.
4. Follow any confirmation steps shown by Gmail or the sender.
5. Allow a little time for the messages to stop.

You may also find an unsubscribe link near the bottom of a legitimate newsletter. Use Gmail’s built-in unsubscribe option when it is available and the sender is familiar.

Do not click unsubscribe links in suspicious messages. A scammer may use them to confirm that your email address is active or lead you to an unsafe website. Report suspicious messages as spam instead.

Step 4: Check your Spam folder and mark genuine messages as not spam

Gmail sometimes puts a genuine message in Spam by mistake. It is worth checking the folder occasionally, especially if you are expecting an important email.

1. Open Gmail.
2. On a computer, look for More in the left-hand menu and click it if the Spam folder is hidden.
3. Select Spam.
4. Review the messages to see whether any are genuine.
5. Open a message that should have reached your inbox.
6. Click or tap Report not spam.

Gmail moves the message back to your inbox. It may also use this feedback to improve future filtering.

On the Gmail app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and choose Spam. Open the genuine message and look for Report not spam.

Step 5: Reduce unwanted subscriptions and protect your address

A busy inbox can be caused by many mailing lists rather than one spammer. A little inbox housekeeping can help.

1. Search Gmail for terms such as unsubscribe, newsletter, or the name of a store.
2. Review the results and identify mailing lists you no longer read.
3. Unsubscribe from familiar, legitimate senders using Gmail’s unsubscribe option.
4. Report unexpected or suspicious messages as spam.
5. Avoid posting your email address publicly on websites or social media when it is not necessary.

You can also use Gmail’s search bar to find messages from a particular sender. For example, searching for the sender’s email address can help you review repeated messages before deciding whether to block them.

Troubleshooting: Why am I still getting spam?

Spam filtering cannot catch every unwanted message. Scammers and bulk senders may use new addresses, so a message can still reach your inbox.

The sender keeps changing addresses. Report each suspicious message as spam. Blocking one address will not automatically block every address used by the same person or organization.

A message you need is in Spam. Open the Spam folder and choose Report not spam for genuine messages. If you are expecting a particular email, check this folder before assuming it was never sent.

You cannot find the Spam folder. On the Gmail website, click More in the left-hand menu. In the app, open the three-line menu and scroll to Spam.

You are receiving many messages after entering details on a suspicious website. Do not reply or click links in those messages. If you shared a password, change it on the genuine service’s website and enable two-step verification. If you shared financial details, contact your bank using its official app or phone number.

Spam appears to come from your own address. Sender details can be forged, so this does not necessarily mean someone has accessed your account. Check your Google Account security activity and change your password if you see unfamiliar sign-ins or other signs of unauthorized access.

Keep your Gmail inbox under control

You may not be able to prevent every unwanted message, but Gmail gives you practical ways to manage them. Report suspicious emails as spam, block persistent senders, and unsubscribe from newsletters you recognize. With a little regular attention, your inbox can become much easier to manage.