YouTube's block feature stops someone from finding your channel, watching your uploads, and contacting you

When you block someone on YouTube, they cannot search for your channel by name, see your videos in their recommendations or search results, comment on your videos, or send you messages through YouTube's messaging system. The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but if they try to visit your channel directly using a saved link, they will see a message saying the channel is not available.

Blocking is different from removing a comment or banning someone from your channel's comment section. A block is permanent until you choose to unblock the person. It applies across all of YouTube — not just one video or one comment thread.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block someone by visiting their channel or profile and clicking the three-dot menu, then selecting "Block user".
  • A blocked person cannot find your channel through search, see your videos in recommendations, comment on your videos, or message you.
  • Blocking does not delete past comments from that person on your videos — you have to remove those separately.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to your channel settings, finding the blocked users list, and clicking "Unblock".

How to block someone from their channel or profile

The fastest way to block someone is to visit their YouTube channel or profile page. Look for the three-dot menu icon (sometimes called the "more options" menu) near the top right of their channel header or next to their username. Click it and select "Block user" from the dropdown menu.

If you are on a mobile device, the three-dot menu appears in the same location. Tap it, then tap "Block user". The block takes effect when ready.

How to block someone who commented on your video

If someone leaves a comment you want to block, you do not have to visit their channel. Hover over their comment and click the three-dot menu that appears on the right side of the comment. Select "Block user" from that menu.

Keep in mind that blocking removes the person's ability to comment on future videos, but their past comments will still be visible on your channel unless you delete them manually. If you want to remove the comment itself, click the trash icon in that same three-dot menu before or after blocking.

How to block someone who messaged you

YouTube's direct messaging system (called YouTube Messages) allows you to block someone from a conversation. Open the message thread from that person, click the three-dot menu at the top of the conversation, and select "Block user".

Blocking someone from messages prevents them from sending you new messages, but it does not delete the conversation history. You can still see past messages from that person in your inbox unless you choose to delete the entire conversation.

How to see your list of blocked users

To view everyone you have blocked, go to your YouTube channel settings. Click your profile icon in the top right corner, select "Settings", then go to "Community" or "Moderation" (the exact name depends on whether you have a channel or a personal account). Look for "Blocked users" in that section.

From this list, you can see the usernames of everyone you have blocked. You can unblock any of them by clicking the "Unblock" button next to their name.

How to unblock someone

If you change your mind about blocking someone, you can unblock them at any time. Go to your channel settings, find the "Blocked users" section, locate the person's name, and click "Unblock". Once you unblock them, they can search for your channel again, see your videos in recommendations, and comment on your uploads.

Unblocking does not automatically restore any comments you deleted while they were blocked. If you want them to see a comment they made before, you would have to ask them to post it again.

What blocking does not do

Blocking someone on YouTube does not prevent them from watching your videos if they use a different account, log out of YouTube, or use an incognito window. It also does not hide your videos from the general public — only from that specific person's search and recommendations.

If someone is harassing you across multiple accounts, you may need to report them to YouTube instead of or in addition to blocking. Blocking handles one account at a time, while a report can lead to YouTube taking action against a person's entire presence on the platform if they are violating YouTube's community guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. YouTube does not notify someone when you block them. However, if they try to visit your channel using a direct link they saved, they will see a message that the channel is unavailable. They may figure out they were blocked, but YouTube does not tell them directly.

Can I block someone without visiting their channel?

Yes. If they commented on your video or sent you a message, you can block them from the comment or message itself using the three-dot menu. You do not need to go to their profile.

Does blocking remove their old comments from my videos?

No. Blocking only stops them from commenting in the future. Their past comments stay on your videos unless you delete them manually. You can delete old comments by clicking the trash icon next to each one.

Can I block someone on YouTube if I do not have a channel?

Yes. Even if you only have a personal YouTube account and do not run a channel, you can block users who message you or whose channels you visit. The blocking process is the same.

What should I do if someone is harassing me across multiple accounts?

Report them to YouTube using the flag icon on their channel or in the comment. Explain that they are using multiple accounts to harass you. YouTube can investigate and take action against the person's accounts if they are breaking community guidelines. Blocking handles one account, but reporting can address a pattern of behavior.