Blocking stops a person from contacting you and seeing your uploads

When you block someone on YouTube, they cannot send you messages, comment on your videos, or see your channel or uploads in their search results. The block is one-way — they may not know you have blocked them, and they can still watch your public videos if they find the link elsewhere. YouTube does not notify them of the block.

You can block someone from their channel page, from a comment they left, or from your messages. The process takes about 30 seconds and does not require you to delete anything or change your privacy settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking someone prevents them from messaging you, commenting on your videos, and finding your channel through search.
  • You can block a person from their channel page, from a comment they posted, or directly from your messages.
  • A blocked person can still watch your public videos if they have the direct link, but they cannot find you through YouTube search.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked users list in account settings.
  • Blocking is different from reporting — use reporting if someone is breaking YouTube's rules, and blocking if you straightforward do not want contact with them.

Block someone from their channel page

Go to the person's channel. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of their channel header, next to the Subscribe button. Click those dots and select "Block user" from the menu that appears.

YouTube will ask you to confirm. Click "Block" again, and the person is now blocked. You will no longer see their comments on your videos or their activity in your notifications.

Block someone from a comment they left

If someone has left a comment on one of your videos that you want to block them for, hover over or tap the comment. A menu icon (three dots) will appear to the right of the comment. Click it and select "Block user."

This blocks them from the comment itself, so you do not have to visit their channel first. It is the fastest route if you are already looking at a comment that bothers you.

Block someone from your direct messages

Open YouTube Messages by clicking the envelope icon at the top of the page. Find the conversation with the person you want to block. Click the three dots next to their name at the top of the chat window and select "Block user."

Once blocked, they cannot send you new messages. Any existing messages from them will stay in your inbox, but you will not see notifications when they try to contact you.

See your list of blocked users and unblock if needed

To view everyone you have blocked, go to your account settings. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Settings." In the left menu, click "User and channel" and then "Blocked users."

This page shows every person you have blocked. If you change your mind about someone, click the X next to their name to unblock them. They will regain the ability to message you and comment on your videos.

Blocking versus reporting — when to use each

Blocking stops contact with one person. Reporting tells YouTube that someone is breaking the platform's rules — like posting hate speech, spam, or threats. If someone is harassing you, blocking stops them from reaching you. If they are breaking YouTube's Community Guidelines, reporting helps YouTube take action against their account.

You can do both. Block them to stop the contact, and report them so YouTube knows about the violation. Reporting does not require you to be the target — you can report any video or comment that breaks the rules, whether it is directed at you or someone else.

What a blocked person can and cannot do

A blocked person cannot send you direct messages, comment on your videos, or see your channel when they search YouTube. However, they can still watch any of your videos if they have the direct link — for example, if someone shared the link with them before you blocked them, or if they find it through another website.

Blocking does not hide your videos from the internet. It only hides your channel from that specific person's YouTube search and prevents them from contacting you. If you want to make a video private or unlisted so fewer people can find it, that is a separate privacy setting in your video details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I have blocked them?

YouTube does not send a notification when you block someone. However, if they try to visit your channel or search for you and cannot find you, they may figure it out. There is no official way for them to confirm the block through YouTube itself.

If I block someone, will they see my old comments on their videos?

Yes. Blocking only affects future contact. Your past comments on their videos will still be visible to them and to other viewers. If you want to remove an old comment, you can delete it separately from your channel.

What happens if I unblock someone?

Unblocking restores their ability to message you, comment on your videos, and find your channel through search. It does not restore any messages or comments you deleted while they were blocked. They start fresh with the ability to contact you again.

Can I block someone without visiting their channel?

Yes. You can block them from a comment they left on your video or from a direct message conversation. You do not need to go to their channel page to block them.

Is blocking the same as unsubscribing from someone?

No. Unsubscribing removes their uploads from your subscription feed, but they can still message you and comment on your videos. Blocking prevents all contact and hides your channel from them. If you only want to stop seeing their videos, unsubscribe. If you want to stop contact entirely, block them.