Why you might block someone on PayPal
Blocking someone on PayPal stops them from sending you money requests, viewing your profile, or contacting you through the app. You cannot see their profile either once they are blocked. The block stays in place until you manually remove it — PayPal does not unblock people automatically.
You might block someone because they are sending unwanted payment requests, harassing you through the app's messaging, or you straightforward do not want them to have access to your PayPal account information. Blocking is different from reporting: a block affects only your relationship with that person, while reporting tells PayPal about fraud or abuse that may affect other users too.
Key Takeaways
- You can block someone from your PayPal contacts list or from their profile, and the process takes less than one minute on either mobile or desktop.
- A blocked person cannot send you money requests, see your profile, or message you, but they can still send you money if they have your email address or phone number.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked contacts list in Settings and removing their name.
- If someone is threatening you or committing fraud, report them to PayPal separately — blocking alone does not stop them from using the platform or contacting you outside PayPal.
How to block someone from your contacts
Open PayPal on your phone or computer and go to your contacts list. Find the person you want to block. On mobile, tap and hold their name until a menu appears, then select "Block." On desktop, click the three dots next to their name and choose "Block this contact."
PayPal will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, that person is blocked when ready. You will not see them in your contacts anymore, and they will not be able to see you in theirs. If you had any previous transaction history with them, those records remain in your account — blocking does not erase past payments.
How to block someone from their profile
If someone sends you a payment request or message and you want to block them without going through your contacts, you can block them directly from their profile. Open the message or request, then look for the three dots or menu icon on their name or profile card.
Tap or click "Block," then confirm. This method is faster if you do not have the person saved as a contact yet. You can also block someone by searching for their name or email, opening their profile, and selecting the block option from there.
What happens when you block someone
Once blocked, that person cannot send you payment requests through PayPal. They cannot see your profile, your transaction history, or your profile picture. They also cannot message you through the app. If they try to look you up, your profile will not appear in their search results.
However, a blocked person can still send you money directly if they know your email address or phone number associated with your PayPal account — blocking only prevents them from using PayPal's request and messaging features to contact you. If you want to stop receiving money from someone entirely, you would need to refuse the transaction when it arrives or report them to PayPal for repeated unwanted behavior.
How to unblock someone
Go to your PayPal settings and find the "Blocked contacts" or "Privacy" section. The exact location varies slightly between the mobile app and desktop version. On mobile, tap the menu icon, then "Settings," then look for "Blocked contacts." On desktop, click the gear icon for settings, then find "Privacy" or "Blocked users."
Find the person you want to unblock and tap or click "Unblock." They will be removed from your blocked list when ready, and you will be able to see their profile and receive requests from them again. Unblocking does not send them a notification.
When to report instead of just blocking
If someone is threatening you, committing fraud, or sending you repeated unwanted requests after you have asked them to stop, report them to PayPal in addition to blocking them. Blocking protects only you; reporting helps PayPal investigate whether the person is breaking the platform's rules and may prevent them from doing the same to others.
To report someone, go to the Resolution Center on PayPal's website or open a dispute about a specific transaction. You can also contact PayPal's customer service directly and describe the behavior. Keep screenshots of messages or requests as evidence. PayPal takes fraud and harassment seriously and may suspend or close accounts that violate their terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a blocked person still send me money?
Yes. Blocking prevents them from sending you a payment request or messaging you, but if they know your email or phone number, they can still send you money directly. You would then see the payment in your account and can choose to accept or refuse it.
Will a blocked person know they are blocked?
PayPal does not notify them, but they may figure it out if they try to send you a request or message and see an error. There is no way for them to see a list of people who have blocked them.
Can I block someone temporarily?
No. Blocking is permanent until you unblock them. If you want to stop seeing requests from someone for a short time, you would need to unblock and reblock them later, which is not practical. Consider reporting them instead if the behavior is temporary or ongoing.
What if I block someone by mistake?
Go to your blocked contacts list and unblock them. The process is when ready, and they will be able to contact you and send requests again right away. There is no waiting period or confirmation needed from them.
Does blocking someone on PayPal block them on Venmo or other apps?
No. PayPal, Venmo, and other payment apps are separate platforms with separate blocking systems. You would need to block someone individually on each app if you use more than one.