How to Stop Spam and Junk Emails

Published 16 June 2026 · Home Users · by the 365 Techies team — Microsoft Partners & Dell specialists, looking after Dorset since 1995

There are two kinds of unwanted email: spam (annoying but harmless marketing) and scams (phishing that wants your money or passwords). The steps below tackle the junk — while keeping you safe from the dangerous stuff.

Train your inbox

Whenever junk arrives, mark it as Junk or Spam rather than just deleting it — that teaches the filter. Block senders who keep coming back, and set up a rule or filter to sort newsletters automatically. Over a few weeks your inbox gets noticeably quieter.

Unsubscribe — but carefully

It is fine to use the unsubscribe link on genuine senders you recognise. But never click unsubscribe (or any link) on an obvious scam — it just tells them your address is live. If something looks like a scam rather than marketing, see our guide to phishing and try the Spot the Scam quiz.

Key points

• Mark unwanted emails as Junk or Spam to train the filter
• Block senders who keep coming back
• Unsubscribe only from senders you genuinely recognise
• Create a rule or filter to auto-sort newsletters
• Never reply to, or click links in, obvious spam
• Use a separate email address for sign-ups and shopping
• Check your spam folder occasionally for genuine emails