> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.alvahq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Email Block List

> Stop BDR agents contacting specific people or whole companies.

The Email Block List is your do-not-contact list. Anyone on it never receives outreach from your [BDR agents](https://docs.alvahq.com/bdr-agents/overview.md). Use it for existing customers, competitors, partners, or anyone who has asked not to be contacted.

Go to **Settings → Email Block List**. The list applies to your account only.

## Addresses and domains

Each entry is either a full email address or a bare domain:

| Entry | What it blocks |
| - | - |
| `jane@acme.com` | Jane only. Other people at Acme can still be contacted. |
| `acme.com` | Everyone with an `@acme.com` address. |

Each entry is labelled as an **Address** or a **Domain** in the list. Company pages also flag any company email address that's blocked, whether directly or because its domain is blocked.

## Block one entry

1. Click **Block entry**
2. Enter an **Email address or domain** — Alva works out which it is
3. Optionally add a **Reason**, such as "Existing client" or "Asked not to be contacted"
4. Click **Block address**

## Import a list

To block many people at once — for example your customer list or a do-not-contact file:

1. Click **Import list**
2. Paste addresses and domains, one per line, or click **Upload CSV/TXT**. In a spreadsheet, Alva finds the email column for you
3. Check the summary of how many addresses and domains were found
4. Optionally turn on **Also block domains from these email addresses**
5. Add a **Reason** if you like, then click **Import**

You can import up to 10,000 entries at a time. Entries already on the list are skipped.

> [!TIP]
>
> **Also block domains from these email addresses** is off by default. Uploading `jane@acme.com` blocks only Jane. Turn the option on to block everyone at every company in the file — useful for a customer list, where you don't want agents emailing anyone at those companies.

## Removing an entry

Find the entry using the search box, then remove it. Agents can contact that address or domain again straight away.

## Blocked automatically

You don't need to add these yourself — Alva blocks them from future outreach on its own:

* **Bounced addresses** — any address where an email permanently failed to deliver
* **Remove-me replies** — anyone who replies asking to be removed, to unsubscribe, or not to be contacted again

These are handled separately and don't appear on your Email Block List page.

## Block list or ignore list?

Alva has two lists that sound alike but do different jobs:

| | **Email Block List** | **Email Ignore List** |
| - | - | - |
| **Where** | **Settings → Email Block List** | **Settings → AI Settings** |
| **What it stops** | Outreach *to* these people | Analysis of email *from* these senders |
| **Use it for** | Customers, competitors, do-not-contact requests | Newsletters, personal contacts, automated senders you don't want analysed |

The Email Ignore List doesn't stop outreach, and the Email Block List doesn't stop analysis. See [Understanding email analysis](https://docs.alvahq.com/email/understanding-email-analysis.md#ignoring-senders).

## Ask Alva

Alva can add, remove or check a handful of entries for you:

* "Block acme.com — they're an existing client"
* "Add [jane@example.com](mailto:jane@example.com) to the block list"
* "Is globex.com on our block list?"
* "Unblock [john@initech.com](mailto:john@initech.com)"

For a CSV or a longer list, Alva takes you to **Settings → Email Block List** and asks you to use **Import list**.

> [!NOTE]
>
> To pause outreach to a company that said "not now" rather than "never", ask Alva to put it on hold instead. Outreach to that company pauses and starts again after the time you choose.


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