Blocking stops a person from contacting you and viewing your channel
When you block someone on YouTube, they cannot send you messages, comment on your videos, or see your channel, uploads, or playlists. They also cannot find your channel through search or see your activity on their subscriptions page. The block is one-way — you will not see their comments or channel either, but they will know they are blocked if they try to visit your channel and see a message saying the owner has blocked them.
YouTube does not notify the blocked person automatically. However, if they try to message you, comment on a video, or visit your channel, they will receive a notice that you have blocked them. You can block someone from their channel page, from a comment they made, or from your messages inbox.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking prevents someone from messaging you, commenting on your videos, and viewing your channel or activity.
- You can block someone from their channel page, from any comment they posted, or from your direct messages.
- The blocked person will see a message if they try to contact you or visit your channel, but YouTube does not send them a notification that you blocked them.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked users list in account settings.
- Blocking is different from reporting — reporting sends the content to YouTube's moderation team, while blocking only affects what that person can do on your account.
How to block someone from their channel page
Go to the channel of the person you want to block. Look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their channel header (next to the Subscribe button if they have one). Click the three dots and select Block user from the menu that appears.
A confirmation window will pop up asking if you are sure. Click Block to confirm. The person is now blocked and cannot message you, comment on your videos, or see your channel.
How to block someone from a comment they made
If someone has left a comment on one of your videos or on a video you are watching, you can block them directly from that comment. Hover over or tap the comment to reveal options. Click the three-dot menu icon next to the comment and select Block user.
This method is faster if you are already reading comments and do not want to visit the person's full channel. The block takes effect when ready.
How to block someone from your messages
Open YouTube and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select Create a channel or go to your channel if you already have one. Click the three horizontal lines (menu icon) and select Messages. Find the conversation with the person you want to block, click the three-dot menu next to their name, and select Block user.
This approach works best if you are managing unwanted messages. Once blocked, they cannot send you new messages, and you will not see their old ones in your inbox.
How to see who you have blocked and unblock them
Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select Settings. On the left side, click Community or Privacy (the exact name depends on your YouTube version). Scroll down to find Blocked users. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked.
To unblock someone, find their name in the list and click the X or Unblock button next to their name. They will when ready be able to message you, comment on your videos, and see your channel again. YouTube does not notify them that you unblocked them.
The difference between blocking and reporting
Blocking is a personal action that only affects your account. It stops one person from contacting you and viewing your channel, but it does not remove their content from YouTube or prevent them from uploading videos.
Reporting sends the person's content or behavior to YouTube's moderation team. If their content violates YouTube's Community Guidelines — such as harassment, hate speech, or spam — YouTube may remove it or suspend their account. Reporting is the right choice if someone is breaking YouTube's rules, not just annoying you personally.
You can do both: block someone to stop them from bothering you, and report them if their behavior violates the platform's rules. Blocking is when ready and affects only you. Reporting takes time and requires YouTube staff to review the content.
What happens when you block someone
The blocked person loses access to your channel and activity when ready. They cannot see your videos, playlists, subscriptions, or watch history. If they try to visit your channel directly by typing the URL, they will see a message saying the channel owner has blocked them.
Any comments they made on your videos before the block remain visible to other viewers, but they cannot make new comments. If they try to message you, they will see a message saying you have blocked them. They can still upload their own videos and interact with other channels normally — the block only affects their ability to interact with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
They will know if they try to visit your channel, message you, or comment on your videos and see a message saying you have blocked them. YouTube does not send a notification, so they will not know unless they attempt contact. If they suspect it, they can ask someone else to check your channel.
If I block someone, do their old comments disappear from my videos?
No. Comments they made before you blocked them stay visible on your videos. Other viewers can still see them. Blocking only prevents them from making new comments and seeing your future activity. If you want to remove their old comments, you can delete them manually from your video's comment section.
What if someone blocks me on YouTube?
You will not be able to message them, comment on their videos, or see their channel. If you try to visit their channel, you will see a message saying the owner has blocked you. You cannot unblock yourself, but you can contact them outside YouTube if you have another way to reach them.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes, in the sense that YouTube does not send them a notification. However, if they try to contact you or visit your channel, they will see a message indicating you have blocked them. If you want to avoid contact without them knowing, blocking is effective — they will only discover it if they attempt to reach you.
Does blocking someone delete our chat history?
No. Your message conversation with them remains in your inbox, but they cannot send you new messages. You can delete the conversation manually if you want to remove it from your messages list. Blocking only stops future contact, not past messages.