That behavior changed in classic Outlook starting with Version 2407 Build 17827.15010, when the Outlook team removed the junk filtering options from Junk Email Options. Microsoft later marked this issue as fixed on October 18, 2024, and said the original junk filtering options were made available again in classic Outlook.
What can still be done depends on which Outlook version is in use:
- Classic Outlook
- If the junk options are missing, this matches the known issue Microsoft documented.
- Microsoft states the service change restored the original Junk Email Options in classic Outlook.
- Blocking a sender in classic Outlook moves future messages to Junk Email or End-User Quarantine if enabled by an administrator; it does not stop delivery to the mailbox.
- New Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web
- Go to Settings > Mail > Junk email.
- Add addresses under Blocked senders or domains under Blocked domains.
- Select Save.
- To remove a block later, go back to Settings > Mail > Junk email, select the address or domain, and remove it.
- If blocked mail is still piling up in Junk
- Blocking in Outlook/Outlook.com mainly moves mail to Junk Email; it does not fully prevent mail from arriving.
- For Outlook.com, Microsoft notes that blocking someone does not stop the email from coming to the mailbox; it automatically moves the message to Junk Email.
- If the goal is deletion instead of keeping mail in Junk
- A supported workaround is to create a rule in Outlook on the web or Outlook.com:
- Go to Settings > Mail > Rules > Add new rule.
- Add a condition such as From.
- Add the sender address.
- Set the action to Delete.
- This moves matching messages to Deleted Items instead of leaving them in Junk Email.
If this is new Outlook with a third-party account such as Gmail, Yahoo, or iCloud, blocking senders is not supported there; blocking must be configured with that email provider instead.