Blocking stops someone from contacting you and seeing your content
When you block someone on Snapchat, they can no longer send you messages, see your stories, or view your location if you share it. They cannot add you as a friend, and any existing conversation between you disappears from your chat list. The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they will notice they can no longer message you or find your profile.
Blocking is different from removing a friend. If you remove someone, they stay on your friends list but cannot see your stories or send you chats. If you block them, the connection is severed entirely. You can block someone whether they are currently your friend or a stranger trying to contact you.
Key Takeaways
- Open the conversation with the person you want to block, tap their username at the top, scroll down, and select "Block" from the menu.
- You can also block someone from their profile by tapping the three dots in the top right corner and choosing "Block" from the options.
- Blocking removes all existing messages between you and that person from your chat list.
- The blocked person will not see a notification, but they will be unable to message you, add you, or see your stories.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, selecting "Blocked," finding their name, and tapping "Unblock."
How to block someone from an open conversation
The fastest way to block someone is from a chat that is already open. Tap the person's username or display name at the very top of the conversation window. This opens their profile card.
Scroll down to the bottom of the profile card. You will see a "Block" button in red text. Tap it. Snapchat will ask you to confirm — tap "Block" again. The conversation will when ready disappear from your chat list, and that person can no longer reach you.
How to block someone from their profile
If you want to block someone but do not have an open conversation with them, you can block them from their profile. Search for their username using the search icon at the top of the screen, or find them in your friends list.
Once you have their profile open, tap the three dots (•••) in the top right corner. A menu will appear with several options. Select "Block" from this menu. Confirm the action when prompted. The person will be blocked when ready.
What happens when you block someone
Once you block someone, the conversation disappears from your chat list. Any messages you sent or received are deleted from your view. The blocked person cannot send you new messages, add you as a friend, or see your stories. If you had shared your location with them through Snapchat's location features, they will no longer be able to see it.
The blocked person will not receive a notification saying you blocked them. However, they will notice they cannot find you, message you, or add you. If they try to search for your username, your profile will not appear in their results.
How to unblock someone
You can unblock someone at any time. Open Snapchat and go to your profile by tapping your avatar in the top left corner. Tap the settings icon (the gear) in the top right. Scroll down and select "Blocked."
You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and tap their name. Select "Unblock" when prompted. They will be unblocked when ready, and you will be able to message them and see their stories again. They will not be notified that you unblocked them.
Blocking versus removing a friend
Removing a friend and blocking are two different actions with different results. When you remove a friend, they stay on your friends list but cannot see your stories or send you chats. You can still see their profile and stories if they are public. Removing is less permanent and is often used when you want distance from someone but not a complete cutoff.
Blocking is more complete. The person cannot see your profile, message you, or add you. Use blocking when you want no contact at all. If you are unsure whether to block or remove, start by removing. You can always block later if the person continues to try to contact you.
What to do if someone keeps trying to contact you after blocking
If someone creates a new account and tries to contact you after you have blocked them, you can block the new account as well. Snapchat does not prevent someone from making multiple accounts, but you can block each one individually as they appear.
If the person is harassing you across multiple accounts or through other means, take screenshots of the messages and report them to Snapchat. Open the conversation, tap the three dots, and select "Report." Provide details about the harassment. Snapchat reviews reports and can take action against accounts that violate their terms of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
They will not receive a notification, but they will realize it when they cannot message you, find your profile, or see your stories. If they try to add you, they will get a message saying the request could not be sent.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes. Snapchat does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they will eventually notice they cannot reach you or find your profile.
What happens to old messages when I block someone?
All messages between you and that person will be deleted from your chat list. You will not be able to see them anymore. The blocked person also cannot see the conversation history.
Can I block someone and then unblock them later?
Yes. You can unblock someone at any time through your Settings under "Blocked." Unblocking restores the ability to message and add each other, but it does not restore deleted messages.
What if I block someone by accident?
Go to Settings, select "Blocked," find the person's name, and tap "Unblock." They will be unblocked when ready, and you can message them again.