What blocking actually does
When you block a contact, you stop that person from reaching you through a specific app or service. They cannot call you, text you, or see your messages on that platform. On most services, they also cannot see your profile, your status updates, or whether you are online.
Blocking is not the same as deleting a contact. The person's number or account still exists in your records — you are just preventing them from communicating with you through that particular channel. If you block someone on text message but not on email, they can still email you. If you block them on one social media platform, they can still message you on another.
The blocked person usually knows they have been blocked, either because their message fails to send or because they notice they cannot see your profile anymore. Some services hide this information, but most do not.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking stops someone from contacting you on one specific app or service, but does not prevent them from reaching you through other platforms.
- The person you block can usually tell they have been blocked because their messages fail or your profile becomes invisible to them.
- You can unblock someone at any time, and blocking does not delete your conversation history with that person.
- If someone is harassing you across multiple platforms, you may need to block them separately on each one.
How to block on text message and phone calls
On an iPhone, open the Messages app or Phone app, find the contact you want to block, swipe left on their name, and tap the trash or delete icon. A menu will appear with the option to "Block this Caller" or "Block this Contact." Tap it, and confirm. You can also go to Settings, scroll to Messages or Phone, find Blocked Contacts, and add someone there.
On an Android phone, the steps vary slightly by manufacturer and operating system version. In most cases, open Messages or Phone, find the contact, press and hold their name, and look for a "Block" option in the menu that appears. If you do not see it, tap the three dots (menu icon) at the top right of the conversation and select "Block." You can also go to Settings, find the Calls or Messages app settings, look for Blocked Numbers or Blocked Contacts, and add someone there.
Once you block someone, their calls go to voicemail and their text messages do not appear in your message list. If they call you, they will hear a message saying the call cannot be completed, or the call will ring once and fail. On some carriers, they may hear a busy signal instead.
How to block on social media and messaging apps
On Facebook, go to the person's profile, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block." On Instagram, go to their profile, tap the three dots, and choose "Block." On WhatsApp, open the chat with that person, swipe left (iPhone) or press and hold (Android), and tap "Block." On Snapchat, press and hold their name in your friends list and select "Block."
When you block someone on social media, they cannot see your posts, your profile picture, your status, or your story. They cannot message you, and any existing messages between you may disappear from their view (though this depends on the platform). If they search for you, they will not find your profile, or they will see a message saying the account does not exist or the user has blocked them.
Different apps handle blocking differently. Some delete your conversation history with that person; others keep it on your end but hide it from theirs. Check the app's settings or help section if you need to know exactly what happens to your message history.
How to block on email
In Gmail, open an email from the person you want to block, click the three dots in the top right corner of the email, and select "Block [person's name]." Their future emails will go straight to your spam folder. You can also go to Settings, click Filters and Blocked Addresses, and add an email address there.
In Outlook, right-click an email from the person, select "Junk," and then "Block Sender." In Apple Mail, select the email and click Mail in the menu bar, then Junk Mail, then "Block Sender." In most email services, blocked senders' messages go to spam or a blocked folder, and you will not see a notification when they email you.
Email blocking is less complete than blocking on text or social media. The person can still send you messages — they just go to your spam folder instead of your inbox. If you need to prevent someone from contacting you entirely, email blocking alone may not be enough.
What happens when you unblock someone
You can unblock a contact at any time by going back to your blocked list and removing their name. Once you unblock them, they can contact you again, and they can see your profile and posts (depending on the platform). On most services, they will not be notified that you have unblocked them.
Unblocking does not restore deleted messages. If you blocked someone on Instagram and their messages disappeared, unblocking them will not bring those messages back. However, on platforms like text message and email, your conversation history usually remains intact even after blocking, and unblocking reveals it again.
When blocking is not enough
If someone is harassing you across multiple platforms, you may need to block them on each one separately. Blocking on text message does not block them on Instagram, and blocking on Facebook does not block them on email. Go through each service you use and block them individually.
If someone creates a new account to contact you after being blocked, that is called evading a block, and most platforms consider it a violation of their terms of service. You can report the new account to the platform and ask them to take action. If the harassment is severe or involves threats, you can also contact local law enforcement.
Some services offer stronger tools than blocking. On Instagram and Facebook, you can restrict someone instead, which hides their comments and messages from you without them knowing. On Twitter (now X), you can mute someone, which hides their posts from your feed without blocking them entirely. These options give you more control over what you see without cutting off contact completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
Usually yes. On text message, their messages will fail to send or they will see a message saying the call cannot be completed. On social media, they will notice they cannot find your profile or see your posts. Some platforms are less obvious, but most people figure it out eventually.
If I block someone, can they still see old messages I sent them?
It depends on the platform. On text message and email, they can usually still see old messages. On social media like Instagram and Facebook, old messages often disappear from their view when you block them, though this varies by app. Check the platform's help section if you need to know for certain.
What is the difference between blocking and muting?
Blocking stops someone from contacting you and hides your profile from them. Muting (available on platforms like Twitter and Instagram) hides their posts from your feed without them knowing you have muted them. They can still see your posts and message you; you just will not see their content.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Not reliably. On most platforms, they will eventually notice they cannot reach you or cannot see your profile. On some services like Instagram's restrict feature, you can limit what they see without a clear notification, but true invisible blocking is rare.
What should I do if someone keeps contacting me from different accounts?
Block each new account as it appears. Report the accounts to the platform for harassment or evading a previous block. If the behavior is threatening or does not stop, contact local law enforcement or your phone carrier, who may be able to help with repeated calls or texts.