How to unblock emails in Outlook

1. Select the Blocked Senders tab.
2. Find the email address or domain you want to unblock.
3. Click Remove → Apply → OK.

Once removed, messages from that sender will go to your inbox again instead of Junk. Outlook will also learn from your choice, helping it recognize similar emails as safe in the future.

Add trusted senders in desktop Outlook

If you often miss messages from people you trust, adding them to your Safe Senders list keeps their emails exactly where they belong: your inbox.

1. Open Junk E-mail Options → Safe Senders.
2. Click Add → enter the email address or domain → OK.
3. Check “Also trust e-mail from my Contacts” for added reliability.

How to unblock emails in Outlook web (Outlook.com)

If you use the web version of Outlook, unblocking is just as easy through the settings menu.

1. Sign in to Outlook.com.
2. Click the Settings (⚙) icon → View all Outlook settings.
3. Select Mail → Junk email.

1. Under Blocked senders and domains, find the address you want to unblock.
2. Click the trash bin icon to remove it from the list.
3. Click Save to confirm.

After you remove a blocked sender, their emails should begin appearing in your inbox again. If you don’t see new messages right away, refresh the page or check your Junk folder for recently filtered mail.

Adding safe senders on Outlook web

Keep future emails from key contacts front and center by marking them as safe in your Outlook web settings.

1. From the same Junk email settings menu, scroll to Safe senders and domains.
2. Click Add.
3. Enter the email address or domain.
4. Select Save to confirm.

If you’re using Outlook on multiple devices, these changes may take a few minutes to sync across all platforms. This ensures consistency between your desktop, web, and mobile inboxes.

How to unblock emails in the Outlook mobile app

If you’re managing email on the go, you can quickly unblock senders right from the Outlook mobile app (Android and iOS) in just a few taps.

1. Open the Outlook app.
2. Tap the sender’s name in a blocked message.
3. Tap the three dots (⋮) or More options in the corner.
4. Select Unblock sender if the option appears.
5. If not, open Settings → Mail → Blocked senders.
6. Remove the address manually from the list.

Your Outlook app should now accept messages from that address. If emails still go to Junk, double-check your web or desktop settings to make sure the change has synced.

Tip: Mobile and desktop settings share data, but depending on your Outlook version, you might need to refresh or restart the app for changes to apply.

Troubleshooting: Why Outlook blocks some emails

Outlook’s spam filters are powered by Microsoft’s SmartScreen technology, which uses pattern recognition and global data to identify unwanted messages. While it catches the vast majority of spam, occasional false positives are inevitable.

Here are some of the most common reasons legitimate emails get blocked:

• Spam-like formatting such as excessive links, caps, or images.
• Reputation issues from the sender’s domain or mail server.
• User error, such as marking a sender as Junk by mistake.
• Company-wide security policies that flag unknown senders or attachments.
• Expired Safe Sender entries that no longer sync across accounts.

According to Statista, spam still makes up over 45% of all global email traffic. It’s no surprise that filters err on the side of caution. But when that caution hides something important, manual unblocking is the fix.

Related read: How to archive emails in Outlook

How to prevent future blocked contacts in Outlook

The best way to manage your inbox is to keep control of what Outlook considers “safe.” Here are a few habits that help reduce future issues:

• Regularly check your Junk folder: Review it once a week for messages that shouldn’t be there.
• Add known contacts to Safe Senders: This is especially useful for clients or vendors who send attachments.
• Avoid unnecessary “Report junk” clicks: Each time you do, Outlook becomes more aggressive.
• Create rules for trusted domains: Automatically route messages from key clients to specific folders.
• Keep your app and browser updated: Outdated versions sometimes fail to sync settings properly.

If you manage a shared mailbox or use Outlook in an organization, check with your IT team. They may have centralized spam filters that override personal settings.

Unblock what matters and simplify the rest

Unblocking emails in Outlook takes just a few minutes but can save hours of missed messages and back-and-forths. Whether you’re on desktop, web, or mobile, the fix is simple: review your Blocked Senders, move trusted contacts to Safe Senders, and make sure everything syncs across devices. A quick check now keeps your inbox running smoothly later.

If you’d rather spend less time managing your inbox altogether, Fyxer can help. It organizes messages, prioritizes what matters, and drafts replies so you can focus on the work that really moves things forward.

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Unblocking emails in Outlook FAQs

How do I see blocked senders in Outlook?

Go to Junk Email Options (desktop) or Mail → Junk email (web) and open your Blocked Senders list. All blocked addresses and domains will appear there.

Why are emails from safe senders still going to Junk?

Even safe senders can end up in Junk if their messages include flagged content like attachments, large images, or suspicious links.

How long does it take for unblocked emails to appear?

Usually, changes take effect immediately. In some cases, syncing between Outlook versions or devices can take several minutes.

What’s the difference between blocking and reporting spam?

Blocking stops one specific sender. Reporting spam helps Microsoft improve its filters for all users by analyzing message patterns.

Where is the block sender button in Outlook?

You can find it by selecting a message, then clicking Home → Junk → Block Sender on desktop, or by tapping More Options → Block Sender in the Outlook web and mobile apps.

When you block a sender in Outlook, do they know?

No, blocked senders aren’t notified. Their messages are quietly redirected to your Junk folder.

How many senders can you block in Outlook?

You can have up to 10,000 addresses or domains across your blocked and safe sender lists. If you need more, block full domains instead of individual email addresses.