How to know if your email is blocked? An In-Depth Review

Ever feel like your emails are vanishing into thin air? ✨ It’s frustrating, especially when every message counts. But could your email actually be blocked on Gmail or another email platform?

Blocked emails are a common yet often unnoticed issue. You send a message, but instead of a reply, there’s silence. No bounce-back notifications, no clues—just a puzzling lack of response. 😕

Sometimes, the problem isn’t obvious. Gmail blocking, Spam filters, server settings, or even human error could be at play. Recognizing the signs early can save you time and effort.

Wondering how to know if someone blocked your email? 🧐 Watch for red flags like undelivered messages, no replies, or strange delays. These hints can guide you.

In this article, we’ll uncover the signs of a blocked email, explain how to check if the email is blocked, and share practical solutions to keep your communication seamless.

Let’s get started and ensure your messages never go unheard! 📬

What is a Blocked Email?

A blocked email refers to a message from a specific sender that gets prevented from reaching the recipient’s inbox. Typically, when someone blocks your email on Gmail, the sender’s messages are automatically deleted or sent to the recipient’s spam folder, or the sender might receive a rejection message from the email service. Sometimes, the recipient could still find the message if they actively seek it out or check their spam folder, but it’s much more likely it’s never seen or opened. 

In Gmail blocking, the most common way emails are blocked is by sending them directly to spam, but there are a few other blocking methods to be aware of

• Deletion: Blocked emails may be set to automatically deleted upon arrival, sending them directly to the trash or archive folder.
• Flagging: Some emails might be flagged as spam but still end up in the recipient’s inbox.
• Filtering: Gmail allows users to filter blocked emails into specific folders. These emails may have tags or notifications attached to help the recipient identify them.

How to know if your email is blocked on a different device?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to know if your email is blocked on Android, iPhone, PC, and Mac:

1. On Android (Gmail or other apps):

Step 1: Check the Sent Folder

• Open your email app (e.g., Gmail, Outlook).
• Go to the Sent folder.
• Ensure the email shows as “sent” and hasn’t been returned as undeliverable.

Step 2: Look for Bounce-back Messages

• If your email wasn’t delivered, you may receive an automated response bounce-back email.
• This email will state the reason for non-delivery, such as the recipient’s inbox being full or your email being blocked on Gmail.

Step 3: Check Spam Folder

• Go to the Spam or Junk folder.
• Look for your sent email in case it was mistakenly marked as spam by the recipient’s email provider.

Step 4: Send a Test Email

• Send a new email from a different email account to the same recipient.
• If the email is delivered, your original email may have been blocked.

2. On iPhone (Mail app or Gmail):

Step 1: Check the Sent Folder

• Open your Mail app or the email app you’re using (e.g., Gmail).
• Go to the Sent folder and confirm the email shows as “sent.”

Step 2: Look for Bounce-back Messages

• If your email is blocked or undeliverable, you’ll likely receive an automated response or bounce-back message.
• Check for an email stating your message could not be delivered.

Step 3: Check Spam Folder

• Open the Junk or Spam folder in your email app.
• Look for your email in case it was filtered into spam.

Step 4: Send a Test Email

• Send a test email from a different email account to the same recipient.
• If this email goes through, it suggests your email might have been blocked.

3. On PC (Windows) – Using Outlook, Gmail, or other clients:

Step 1: Check the Sent Folder

• Open your email client (e.g., Outlook, Gmail) and go to the Sent folder.
• Ensure that the email is marked as “sent” successfully.

Step 2: Look for Bounce-back Notifications

• If the email was blocked, you may receive a bounce-back message.
• These messages typically contain information about why the email was blocked, such as “Recipient address rejected” or “Blocked by the recipient’s server.”

Step 3: Check Spam or Junk Folder

• Navigate to the Spam or Junk folder.
• Check if your email was mistakenly flagged as spam and moved there.

Step 4: Send a Test Email

• Send a test email from another account (e.g., a friend’s account or a secondary email).
• If it goes through while your email doesn’t, your email might be blocked.

4. On Mac (Mail app or other clients):

Step 1: Check the Sent Folder

• Open the Mail app or your email client.
• Go to the Sent folder and verify that the email is marked as “sent.”

Step 2: Look for Bounce-back Messages

• If your email was blocked, you should receive a bounce-back message.
• These messages will indicate why your email wasn’t delivered.

Step 3: Check Spam Folder

• Check the Spam or Junk folder in your email client.
• If your email was filtered as spam, it would appear here

Step 4: Send a Test Email

• Send a test email from a different account to the recipient.
• If the test email is delivered successfully, your original email might be blocked.

General Tips for All Devices:

• No reply or delayed responses: If you’re not getting responses from the recipient, it could indicate your emails are being blocked on Gmail or another service.
• Bounce-back messages: These will provide the clearest indication if your email is blocked, including reasons for undelivered messages.
• Check spam folders: If emails are sent to the spam folder, they may not be blocked but just filtered out.
• Test email: Send a test email from another account. If it’s delivered, but your original email isn’t, this suggests your email is being blocked.

Common Reasons for Email Blocking

Email blocking happens for several reasons, many of which can be prevented with proper practices. Here are some of the most common reasons for email blocking:

1. Spammy content

Your email’s content can affect whether it gets sent to the spam folder. Spam filters check various parts of your email, and if it goes over certain limits, it gets flagged. Here are things that can cause an email to be marked as spam:

• Using all capital letters in the email
• Randomly capitalizing words
• Overusing punctuation marks like “$” or “!”
• Too much blank space or odd spacing
• Poor spelling or grammar
• Using different text colors or font sizes too often
• Subject lines that look like scams

2. Unauthenticated email

When a receiving server checks an email, it looks at several factors to verify if the email is legitimate. It checks:

• Whether the server that sent the email matches what it claims
• Whether the email address matches the sender, it claims to be
• Whether the domain in the email matches the claimed sender’s domain
• Whether the server is authorized to send emails on behalf of the domain or email address

If any of these details are mismatched, suspicious, or fake, the server may treat the email as a security threat. In such cases, the email may be either rejected or sent straight to the spam/junk folder.

3. IP Reputation Issues

The reputation of your IP address significantly affects the ability to deliver emails. If your IP address has been linked to spamming activities, there is a chance it may be listed as blacklisted by email providers. Monitoring your IP reputation and using a dedicated IP address to send emails can help improve email deliverability.

4. Blocks by an inbox provider

Inbox providers view each spam complaint as an official issue raised by their users. If a significant number of recipients mark your email as spam, the provider may take action by blocking your future emails. This is done to protect their users from unwanted messages and maintain the quality of their service.

5. Custom spam filters

Many inbox providers use advanced “smart” filters to identify unwanted emails. These filters adapt based on factors like past emails, the sender, and how the recipient engaged with them. As a result, one recipient might see your email in their inbox, while another could find it in their spam folder.

Additionally, some organizations or individual recipients may set up their own custom filters. For example, someone who wants to reduce clutter in their work inbox might create a rule to automatically send any email containing the word “sale” to the spam folder.

6. Technical Issues

Errors in header formatting or missing DNS records can cause problems with email delivery. Check that all parts of your email setup are correct to ensure smooth delivery.

By fixing these common issues, you can enhance your email deliverability and maintain good communication with your audience.

How to Verify if Your Email Is Blocked?

If you’re wondering whether your emails are being blocked, here’s a simple guide to help you verify it.

1. Check for Bounce-Back Messages

When your email is blocked, you’ll often get a bounce-back message. These messages tell you that your email couldn’t be delivered. Look for phrases like “email rejected” or “blocked by recipient’s server.” These indicate that your email didn’t reach the inbox because it was blocked. If Gmail blocked you, you’ll see a specific message stating your email was blocked.

2. Use Email Tracking Tools

Email tracking tools like Mailtrack or Yesware can help you see if your email was opened. If you don’t see any opens or clicks, it might mean your email is blocked or sent straight to spam. These tools give you real-time feedback on the status of your email. If you’re getting blocked, these tools can show you if your emails were ignored or sent to spam.

3. Try Sending from a Different Account

Another easy way to check if your email is blocked is to send the same message from a different email address. If it goes through, but your original email didn’t, it means the original email was blocked by the recipient’s server or email provider.

4. Ask the Recipient Directly

If you can, ask the recipient directly whether they received your email. If they didn’t get it, your email might have been blocked or flagged as spam. You can also ask if your email landed in their spam folder.  If you use Google Hangouts or Google Chat, you can ask directly whether you’ve been blocked on Gmail or another platform.

How to Fix a Blocked Email?

If you’re facing the frustration of a blocked email, don’t worry! There are simple steps you can follow to fix the issue and ensure your emails get delivered.

Step 1: Check Your Spam Folder

The first step is to check your spam or junk folder. It’s common for emails to be mistakenly filtered there. If you find the email, mark it as “Not Spam” or “Safe Sender” to avoid this issue in the future.

Step 2: Whitelist the Sender

Add the sender’s email address to your approved list. This means your email will recognize messages from this address as safe and will not block them. The steps to whitelist a sender depend on your email provider, such as Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo.

Step 3: Update Your Filters

Check your email filters to make sure they are not too strict. Sometimes, filters can block real emails if they have certain words or phrases. Change or remove any filters that are too strict.

Step 4: Contact Your Email Provider

If you’ve tried the previous steps and are still having trouble, contact your email provider’s customer support. They can help you troubleshoot the issue and identify any specific problems with your account.

Step 5: Check for Email Server Issues

Occasionally, temporary issues with your email server can cause delivery problems. If you suspect a server issue, wait a short while and try sending the email again later.

Step 6: Verify Sender’s Email Address

Double-check the sender’s email address to make sure there are no typos. Even a small mistake can prevent an email from reaching your inbox and could lead to it being blocked.

Final Words 

Email blocking can be frustrating, but knowing the signs and causes can help you solve the problem quickly. Regularly check your inbox, spam folder, and any bounce-back messages to see if your emails are being blocked. If you notice ongoing delivery issues, follow the troubleshooting steps to fix the problem. 

By improving your email practices and making sure your settings are correct, you can boost the chances of your emails reaching the right people. Keeping good email habits is important to avoid blocking and ensure smooth communication with your contacts.

Take action now—check your email settings and hygiene to keep your communication smooth and effective! 📧✅

FAQs

What happens when your email is blocked?

When your email is blocked, it won’t reach the recipient’s inbox or spam folder. You’ll receive a bounce-back message explaining the issue, or your email may silently fail to deliver.

Will the email bounce back if blocked?

If your email server is flagged for suspicious activity, your IP address may be blocked. This can stop your messages from being delivered, triggering a bounce-back notification explaining the issue.

How to check if an email address is blocked?

To check if an email address is blocked, try sending an email and look for a bounce-back message. You can also use email tracking tools to see if the message is delivered or contact the recipient through another method to verify.

How can I check if my IP is blacklisted?

To verify if your IP address is blacklisted, you can use services like MXToolbox. Here’s how:

• Simply visit their site
•  Enter your IP address in the provided field
•  click “Blacklist Check” to see if your IP is listed

Can email blocking affect my business or marketing campaigns?

Yes, email blocking can significantly impact your business or marketing campaigns. If your emails are blocked, your messages won’t reach potential customers or clients, resulting in lost opportunities, decreased engagement, and a damaged sender reputation.

 Does Outlook notify you when someone blocks your email?

No, Outlook doesn’t directly notify senders when their emails are blocked. However, you may receive a bounce-back message indicating that your email was blocked or rejected.

What is the role of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC in email blocking?

SPF verifies the sender’s IP address to authenticate the email, DKIM adds a digital signature to ensure the message’s integrity, and DMARC directs receiving servers on how to handle emails if SPF or DKIM checks fail.

How can I tell if my email is blocked without a bounce-back message?

If you don’t get a bounce-back message, try using email tracking tools to see if your email was delivered. You can also send a test email from a different account or reach out to the recipient directly to check if they’re receiving your emails.

Can recipients block emails without notifying the sender?

Yes, recipients can block emails without notifying the sender. Email platforms typically allow users to block senders silently, meaning the sender won’t be alerted if their emails are blocked.

What’s the difference between email rejection and email blocking?

Here’s a simple table outlining the difference between email rejection and email blocking:

How do you know if someone has blocked your email?

If someone has blocked your email, your messages will likely not appear in their inbox or spam folder. You may also notice that your emails aren’t getting opened or replied to, and sometimes, you might receive a bounce-back message indicating the block.

How do I know if my Gmail account is blocked?

If your Gmail account is blocked, you may experience issues sending or receiving emails. You might also receive error messages when trying to send emails, or your messages may not be delivered at all.