When you block someone on Snapchat, they can no longer send you messages, see your stories, or find your profile in search
Blocking on Snapchat is when ready and one-way. The person you block cannot message you, call you, view your Stories, or see your Snap Map location. They also cannot find your username if they search for you. However, blocking does not delete past conversations — those remain on your account unless you manually delete them. The blocked person may eventually realize they are blocked when their messages do not deliver or when they cannot find your profile, but Snapchat does not send them a notification that says "you have been blocked."
The block stays in place until you unblock them. You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, selecting Blocked, finding their name, and tapping the X next to it. Once you unblock them, they can message you and see your Stories again, but the conversation history does not automatically reappear — they will see an empty chat.
Key Takeaways
- A blocked person cannot message you, call you, view your Stories, or find your profile through search on Snapchat.
- Snapchat does not notify the blocked person that they have been blocked, though they may figure it out when their messages do not deliver.
- Past conversations with a blocked person remain on your account and are visible only to you unless you delete them manually.
- Unblocking someone restores their ability to message and see your Stories, but does not restore deleted conversation history.
- If someone blocks you, you will not see a notification, but you may notice you cannot find their profile or that your messages say "pending."
How to block someone on Snapchat
Open Snapchat and go to your profile by tapping the icon in the top left corner. Tap the Settings gear icon. Scroll down and tap Blocked. Tap the plus sign (+) to add a new block. Search for the person's username and tap their name when it appears. Tap Block next to their profile.
You can also block someone directly from a conversation. Open the chat with that person, press and hold their name at the top of the screen, and tap Block from the menu that appears. Either method takes a few seconds and blocks them when ready.
What the blocked person experiences
If someone tries to message you after you block them, their message will show a "pending" status on their end — it will not say "blocked," but the message will not deliver. If they try to call you, the call will not go through. If they search for your username, your profile will not appear in results. If they had you added as a friend before the block, you will disappear from their friends list.
The blocked person can still see any Stories you posted before the block if they screenshotted them or if those Stories are still visible elsewhere (such as on a group chat or a shared story). However, they cannot see any new Stories you post after the block takes effect.
Whether blocking is visible to other people
Snapchat does not show other users that you have blocked someone. If you and the blocked person have mutual friends, those friends will not be notified or see any indication that you blocked them. The block is private to your account.
However, if the blocked person asks your mutual friends whether they can find your profile or send you a message, your friends may be able to figure out that you blocked them. The block itself is invisible, but the effect of it — not being able to reach you or find you — is something the blocked person will eventually notice.
Difference between blocking and removing a friend
Removing a friend on Snapchat is different from blocking. When you remove a friend, they can still see your public Stories and search for your profile — they just cannot message you or see your private content. When you block someone, they cannot do any of those things.
If you want to stop seeing someone's Stories without completely cutting off contact, removing them is the softer option. If you want to prevent someone from contacting you or finding you at all, blocking is the right choice. You can remove a friend by opening their profile, tapping the three dots, and selecting Remove Friend.
What to do if someone blocks you
If you suspect someone has blocked you, try searching for their username. If their profile does not appear and you know the exact spelling of their username, they may have blocked you or deleted their account. Try sending them a message — if it stays in "pending" status for more than a few hours, blocking is likely the reason.
You cannot unblock yourself if someone blocks you. The only way to contact them again is to ask a mutual friend to pass along a message, or to reach out through a different platform. If the person who blocked you later unblocks you, you will be able to message them again, but you will not receive a notification about the unblock.
Keeping your block list organized
If you block many people over time, you may want to review your block list occasionally. Go to Settings, tap Blocked, and you will see everyone you have blocked. If you no longer need to block someone, you can unblock them from this screen by tapping the X next to their name.
Snapchat does not limit how many people you can block, so you can block as many accounts as you need to. There is no public record of your block list — only you can see it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
Snapchat does not send a notification saying you blocked them. However, they may figure it out if their messages stay in "pending" status, if they cannot find your profile, or if you disappear from their friends list. The block itself is not announced, but its effects are noticeable.
If I block someone, can they still see old messages we sent?
No. Once you block someone, they cannot see any of your past messages or conversations with you. The conversation history remains on your account, visible only to you, unless you delete it. They cannot access it from their end.
What happens if I block someone and then unblock them?
Once you unblock them, they can message you and see your Stories again. However, the conversation history does not automatically reappear on their screen — they will see an empty chat. You will still have the old messages on your account unless you deleted them.
Can I block someone without them knowing my username?
Yes. You can block someone even if they have never added you or messaged you. If you search for their username and block them from their profile, they will not be notified. They may only realize the block exists if they try to message you later.
Does blocking someone on Snapchat block them on other platforms?
No. Blocking on Snapchat only affects Snapchat. The person can still message you on Instagram, text you, email you, or contact you through any other platform. You would need to block them separately on each service if you want to prevent contact everywhere.