What blocking does on Instagram
When you block someone on Instagram, that person can no longer see your profile, posts, stories, or reels. They cannot find you through search, visit your account, or message you. If they try to visit your profile directly, they will see a message saying the account is not available. You remain blocked until you unblock them — blocking is not temporary.
Blocking is different from muting. When you mute someone, their posts and stories still appear in your feed, but you do not see notifications about their activity. They do not know they are muted. Blocking is visible to the person blocked if they try to contact you or search for you, so use it when you want a clear boundary, not when you want to quietly step back from someone's content.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Instagram removes their ability to see your profile, posts, stories, and messages, and they cannot find you through search.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a comment or message they sent you, or from your blocked list in settings.
- The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they will see the block if they try to visit your profile or search for you.
- You can unblock someone at any time through your blocked accounts list in settings, and they will then be able to see your profile again.
- If someone blocks you, you cannot see their profile, and any messages you sent before the block remain in your chat history but they cannot reply.
How to block someone from their profile
Open Instagram and navigate to the person's profile. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of their profile (on mobile) or click the three dots (on desktop). A menu will appear with several options. Select "Block" from that menu.
Instagram will ask you to confirm. You will see options to block the person and optionally report them as well. If you only want to block without reporting, tap "Block" alone. The block takes effect when ready.
How to block someone from a message or comment
If someone has messaged you and you want to block them, open the direct message thread. Tap the person's name at the top of the conversation. A profile preview will appear. Tap "Block" at the bottom of that preview.
You can also block someone directly from a comment they left on your post. Find the comment, tap the three dots next to it, and select "Block [username]" from the menu. This method is faster than visiting their full profile.
How to block someone using your blocked list
If you want to block someone but do not want to visit their profile, you can search for them from your settings. Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Blocked Accounts. Tap "Block accounts." A search box will appear. Type the person's username and tap their profile when it appears. Then tap "Block" to confirm.
This route is useful if you want to block someone without them potentially seeing that you visited their profile (though Instagram does not notify people when you view their profile, some people check who has visited them using third-party tools).
What happens after you block someone
The person you blocked will not receive a notification that you blocked them. However, if they try to visit your profile, search for you, or message you, they will see that your account is not available or that they cannot message you. If they had previously followed you, the follow is removed. Any messages you sent them before the block remain in their chat history, but they cannot reply to you.
If you had liked or commented on their posts before blocking them, those likes and comments are removed from their posts. Your past activity on their account disappears from their view.
How to unblock someone
Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Blocked Accounts. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and tap "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when Instagram asks you to verify.
Once you unblock someone, they can see your profile and posts again. They do not receive a notification that you unblocked them. If they want to follow you again, they will need to send a follow request (if your account is private) or straightforward follow you (if your account is public).
When blocking is not enough
If someone is harassing you, threatening you, or posting content that violates Instagram's rules, blocking alone may not be sufficient. You can report the person or their content to Instagram at the same time you block them. When you tap "Block," Instagram offers you the option to "Also report this account." Tap that option if the behavior is abusive.
If someone is creating fake accounts to contact you after you block them, report each fake account and block it as well. If the harassment continues, take screenshots of the messages or posts and report them to Instagram with context about the pattern. You can also report the behavior to local law enforcement if it involves threats or illegal activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
They will not receive a notification, but they can figure it out by trying to visit your profile or search for you. If your profile suddenly becomes unavailable to them, they will know they are blocked. Some people also use third-party apps to check if they are blocked, though Instagram does not officially support these tools.
If I block someone, do they see my old comments and likes?
No. Any likes, comments, or follows you made before blocking them are removed from their view. Your past activity on their posts and profile disappears. However, they may have screenshots of your comments or likes taken before the block.
What if someone blocks me?
You will not receive a notification, but you will notice you cannot find their profile, see their posts, or message them. If you try to visit their profile directly, you will see a message saying the account is not available. You cannot unblock yourself — only they can unblock you.
Can I block someone without them knowing I visited their profile?
Instagram does not notify people when you view their profile, so visiting their profile to block them does not alert them. However, if you use the search method from your blocked accounts list, you avoid visiting their profile entirely, which may feel safer if you are concerned about third-party tracking tools.
If I unblock someone, will they know?
No. Instagram does not send a notification when you unblock someone. They will only know if they try to visit your profile and suddenly can see it again, or if they search for you and find you.