Blocking stops someone from contacting you and viewing your channel

When you block a user on YouTube, that person cannot send you messages, comment on your videos, or see your channel in their search results. They also cannot view your uploads, playlists, or subscriptions — though if they log out or use a different account, they can still find your public videos. Blocking is not the same as reporting: it is a personal boundary tool, not a moderation action that YouTube enforces across the platform.

You block users one at a time through your YouTube settings. The process takes less than a minute and does not require the blocked person to know it happened. You can unblock someone later if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a user prevents them from messaging you, commenting on your videos, and seeing your channel — but does not remove their existing comments or prevent them from viewing your public videos while logged out.
  • You can block someone from their channel page, from a comment they left, or from your blocked users list in settings.
  • Blocking is different from reporting: blocking is private and personal, while reporting flags content to YouTube for review.
  • YouTube does not notify the blocked user that you have blocked them.
  • You can see your full list of blocked users and unblock anyone at any time from your settings.

How to block someone from their YouTube channel

Go to the channel of the person you want to block. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of their channel header, next to the Subscribe button. Click those dots and select "Block user" from the dropdown menu. YouTube will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again and the action is complete.

The blocked user's channel will no longer appear in your recommendations, search results, or notifications. If they had already subscribed to your channel, that subscription is removed.

How to block someone from their comment

If someone has left a comment on one of your videos that bothers you, you can block them directly from that comment. Hover over or tap the comment, then click the three vertical dots that appear. Select "Block user" from the menu. This removes their comment from your video and blocks their account from interacting with you further.

This method is often faster than visiting their full channel, especially if you do not recognize the person's name and just want to stop seeing their comments.

How to block someone from your messages

If someone has sent you a direct message you do not want to receive, open that message conversation. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the message window and select "Block user." The conversation will disappear from your inbox, and that person can no longer send you new messages.

Any messages they sent before you blocked them will be deleted from your view, but blocking does not erase the message history on their end.

What happens when you block someone

The blocked user cannot see your channel page, your videos, your playlists, your subscriptions, or your uploads in their feed. They cannot comment on your videos, send you messages, or add you as a contact. If they search for your channel by name, your channel will not appear in their results.

However, blocking does not prevent them from watching your public videos if they are logged out of their account or using a different account. It also does not remove comments they left before you blocked them — you have to delete those separately if you want them gone. Blocking is a privacy boundary, not a content removal tool.

How to see and manage your blocked users list

To view everyone you have blocked, go to your YouTube settings. Click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Settings." On the left menu, click "Community" and then "Blocked users." You will see a list of every account you have blocked.

From this list, you can unblock anyone by clicking the X next to their name. Unblocking restores their ability to message you, comment on your videos, and see your channel. You can block and unblock the same person as many times as you need to.

Blocking versus reporting: when to use each

Blocking is personal — it affects only what that user can see and do on your account. Reporting is a flag to YouTube that content breaks the platform's rules. If someone is harassing you, use both: block them to stop the when ready contact, and report their messages or comments so YouTube can review whether they violate the Community Guidelines.

Report spam, hate speech, threats, or sexual content by clicking the three dots on the message or comment and selecting "Report." Blocking alone does not remove their content from the platform or prevent them from contacting other users. If you feel unsafe, you can also contact YouTube's support team or local law enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the person I blocked see that I blocked them?

No. YouTube does not send a notification to blocked users. They will notice only if they try to visit your channel, send you a message, or comment on your video and see an error. Many people never realize they have been blocked.

If I block someone, are their old comments on my videos deleted?

No. Blocking removes their ability to comment going forward, but does not delete comments they left before you blocked them. You have to delete old comments manually by clicking the three dots on the comment and selecting "Delete."

Can a blocked user still watch my public videos?

Yes, if they are logged out or using a different account. Blocking prevents them from seeing your channel page and finding you through search, but your public videos are still public. If you want to restrict who sees a video, you can change its privacy settings to "Private" or "Unlisted."

What if I block someone by mistake?

Go to your blocked users list in Settings under Community, find their name, and click the X next to it. They are when ready unblocked and can message and comment on your videos again.

Does blocking someone on YouTube block them on other Google services?

No. Blocking on YouTube affects only YouTube. The person can still email you through Gmail, contact you on Google Meet, or interact with you on other Google products. YouTube blocking is separate from your Google account settings.