What blocking a tag actually does
When you block a tag on Tumblr, posts with that tag stop showing up in your main feed and search results. The posts still exist — the person who made them can still see them, and other people can still find them. You're just telling Tumblr's algorithm not to send that content to you.
This is different from blocking a person. Blocking a tag is purely about filtering your own experience. It's useful when a tag keeps showing up in your feed and you don't want to see that topic anymore, whether it's spoilers for a show you haven't watched, content that upsets you, or just something you're tired of scrolling past.
Key Takeaways
- You block tags through your account settings, not by clicking on the tag itself — go to Settings, then Filtering, then add the tag name without the # symbol.
- Blocked tags disappear from your main feed, search results, and tag pages, but the posts themselves remain visible to everyone else.
- You can block as many tags as you want, and you can unblock them anytime by removing them from your blocked tags list.
- Blocking a tag does not notify the person who posted it, and it does not prevent them from seeing your posts.
How to block a tag on desktop
Open Tumblr in your browser and click the account icon in the top right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. On the Settings page, look for the Filtering section on the left sidebar and click it.
In the Filtering section, you'll see a field labeled Blocked tags. Type the tag name you want to block — without the # symbol — and press Enter or click Add. Tumblr will add it to your list. You can add multiple tags one at a time. Once a tag is blocked, posts with that tag will stop appearing in your feed within a few minutes.
How to block a tag on the Tumblr app
Open the Tumblr app and tap the account icon at the bottom right (it looks like a person's head). Tap Settings and privacy. Scroll down and tap Filtering.
Tap the field next to Blocked tags and type the tag name without the #. Tap Add or Done, depending on your phone's operating system. The tag will be blocked when ready. You can manage your blocked tags list anytime by going back to this same screen.
What happens when you block a tag
Posts with that tag will no longer appear when you scroll your main feed. If you search for that tag directly, the search results will be empty for you. If you visit a tag page (by clicking on a tag in someone's post), you won't see any posts there either.
However, if a post has multiple tags and only one of them is blocked, you might still see the post — it depends on Tumblr's filtering system. If you want to avoid a topic completely, blocking multiple related tags (like "spoilers," "show name spoilers," and "show name") gives you better coverage.
Unblocking a tag you no longer want to filter
Go back to Settings > Filtering on desktop, or Settings and privacy > Filtering on the app. Find the tag in your Blocked tags list and click or tap the X next to it. The tag will be unblocked when ready, and posts with that tag will start appearing in your feed again.
There's no limit to how many times you can block and unblock tags, so you can adjust your filters as your interests change or as you finish watching a show and no longer need spoiler protection.
When blocking a tag doesn't work the way you expect
Sometimes you'll block a tag and still see posts about that topic. This usually happens because the topic has multiple tag variations. For example, if you block "game of thrones spoilers" but someone tags a post as "got spoilers" or just "got," you'll still see it. You may need to block several related tags to fully filter a topic.
Another reason is that Tumblr's filtering system sometimes takes a few minutes to update. If you just blocked a tag and you're still seeing old posts in your feed, refresh the page or close and reopen the app. If posts keep appearing after that, the poster may not be using the tag you blocked — they might be using a different variation of it.
The difference between blocking tags and blocking people
Blocking a tag filters content by subject matter. Blocking a person prevents them from seeing your posts, removes their posts from your feed, and stops them from messaging you. If you want to avoid one specific person's posts, blocking the person is more effective than blocking tags, because it blocks everything they post regardless of what tags they use.
If you want to avoid a topic but don't mind seeing it from certain people, blocking the tag is the right choice. If you want to avoid a specific person entirely, use the block person feature instead. You can do both at the same time if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person I'm blocking a tag from see that I blocked it?
No. Blocking a tag is completely private. The person who posted the content has no way of knowing you blocked that tag. They can still see your posts and interact with you normally.
Will blocking a tag stop me from seeing reblogs of that content?
Yes. If someone reblogs a post that has a blocked tag, you won't see the reblog either. Tumblr filters based on the tags attached to the post, whether it's the original or a reblog.
Can I block tags on my phone if I don't have the app?
Yes. Open Tumblr in your phone's web browser, go to Settings > Filtering, and add blocked tags the same way you would on desktop. The mobile website works the same as the app for this feature.
What if I block a tag by accident?
Go back to Settings > Filtering and remove it from your blocked tags list by clicking or tapping the X. Your feed will update within a few minutes and you'll start seeing that tag again.