Where to find blocked contacts on your phone or computer

Block contacts are people you have prevented from calling, texting, or messaging you. Most devices keep a separate list of these blocked numbers so you can see who you have blocked and unblock them if you change your mind. The location of this list depends on what device you use — iPhone, Android phone, or computer — but the idea is the same on all of them.

On an iPhone, open the Phone app, tap Contacts at the bottom, then scroll to the very top and look for a section called Blocked. On an Android phone, open the Phone app, tap the three dots in the top right corner, select Settings, then look for Blocked numbers or Blocked contacts. On a Mac, open Contacts, click the person's name, then look in the right panel for a Block Contacts option. On a Windows computer, the process varies by which messaging app you use — we cover the main ones below.

If you do not see a Blocked section where we describe it, your device may use a different name for the feature. Try searching your device's settings for the word "block" — most phones and computers have a search function that will take you straight to the right place.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone, your blocked contacts appear in a dedicated section at the top of your Contacts app.
  • On Android, blocked numbers are found in the Phone app settings under Blocked numbers or Blocked contacts.
  • On Mac, you can see blocked contacts in the Contacts app by clicking a person's name and checking the right panel.
  • On Windows, the location depends on which app you use — Outlook, Teams, or your phone's messaging app — but each has a settings menu where blocked contacts live.
  • If you cannot find the blocked list, search your device's settings for the word "block" to jump straight there.

Finding blocked contacts on iPhone

Open the Phone app — the green icon with a white phone symbol. Tap the Contacts tab at the bottom of the screen. Scroll all the way to the top of your contact list. You should see a section labeled Blocked with a small circle and slash symbol next to it. Tap Blocked to see everyone you have blocked.

If you do not see a Blocked section, it means you have not blocked anyone yet. Once you block your first contact, the section will appear. If you want to unblock someone, tap Edit in the top right corner of the Blocked section, then tap the red minus sign next to their name and confirm.

Finding blocked contacts on Android

Open the Phone app — usually a green or blue icon with a phone symbol. Tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) or the three dots in the top right corner. Look for an option called Settings. Tap it. Scroll down and look for Blocked numbers, Blocked contacts, or Block list. The exact name varies by phone brand and Android version.

If you cannot find it in the Phone app settings, try opening your Messages app instead and looking for a similar option there — some Android phones keep blocked numbers in the messaging app rather than the phone app. Once you find the list, you can tap any blocked contact to unblock them.

Finding blocked contacts on Mac

Open the Contacts app — it looks like a brown address book. Find the person you want to check on by scrolling or searching. Click their name to open their contact card. Look at the right side of the screen. If you have blocked this person, you will see a message that says Block this contact or Unblock this contact, depending on whether they are currently blocked.

If you want to see all your blocked contacts at once rather than checking them one by one, there is no single list view on Mac the way there is on iPhone. Instead, you can use Spotlight search — press Command and Space, type "blocked", and your Mac will show you any blocked contact information it finds. This method is less reliable than checking individual contacts, so if you need to know exactly who is blocked, checking them one by one is more certain.

Finding blocked contacts on Windows

Windows does not have one central place for blocked contacts the way iPhones do. Instead, the location depends on which app you use to communicate. If you use Outlook for email, open Outlook, click Settings in the bottom left, then select View all Outlook settings. Search for "blocked" and you will see your blocked senders list. If you use Microsoft Teams, open Teams, click your profile picture in the top right, select Settings, then look for Privacy or Blocked contacts.

If you use the default Messages app or a third-party messaging app, open that app and look in its settings menu — usually found in a menu icon or gear symbol. Search within that app's settings for "block" or "blocked". Different apps store this information in different places, so the exact steps vary, but every messaging app has a way to view and manage blocked contacts somewhere in its settings.

What happens when you block someone

When you block a contact, they cannot call you, text you, or reach you through most messaging apps. On iPhone, blocked callers go straight to voicemail, but they will not hear a busy signal — the call straightforward fails silently on their end. On Android, blocked calls are usually rejected outright. On computers, blocked contacts cannot send you messages through the app where you blocked them, but they may still be able to reach you through other apps or email if you have not blocked them there separately.

Blocking someone does not delete their contact information from your phone or computer — it just prevents them from contacting you. You can unblock them at any time by going back to the blocked list and selecting unblock. The person you blocked will not receive a notification that you have blocked or unblocked them, though they may figure it out if their calls and messages stop going through.

Unblocking a contact

To unblock someone on iPhone, go to Phone > Contacts, scroll to the top, tap Blocked, then tap Edit and the red minus sign next to their name. On Android, open Phone > Settings > Blocked numbers, find the person, and tap Unblock. On Mac, click their contact, then click Unblock this contact in the right panel. On Windows, the process depends on your app — in Outlook, go to Settings and remove them from your blocked senders list; in Teams, go to Settings and find the option to unblock.

Once you unblock someone, they can call, text, or message you again when ready. Any messages they sent while they were blocked will not suddenly appear — those messages are usually deleted by your phone or app. If you want to restore contact with someone, unblocking them is the only step you need to take.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked contact tell that I have blocked them?

They cannot receive a notification, but they may figure it out if their calls go unanswered and their messages do not deliver. On iPhone, their calls go to voicemail silently. On Android, calls are usually rejected. They will not see a message saying "you are blocked" — the call or message straightforward fails.

What if I block someone but they contact me through a different app?

Blocking works within a single app or service. If you block someone in your Phone app, they can still text you through WhatsApp, email you, or message you on social media. You have to block them separately in each app where you want to prevent contact.

Will unblocking someone restore old messages?

No. Messages sent while someone was blocked are usually deleted and cannot be recovered by unblocking them. Unblocking only allows future contact — it does not restore past conversations.

Where do I find blocked contacts if my device is very old?

Older phones and computers may not have a dedicated blocked contacts list. If your device does not show a Blocked section, try searching your settings for "block" or "spam". Some older devices combined blocking with spam filtering, so blocked contacts might appear under a spam or junk folder instead.

Can I block someone without them being in my contacts?

Yes. You can block a phone number or contact even if you have never saved them to your address book. On iPhone, you can block from the recent calls list. On Android, you can block from your call history. The blocked number will not appear in your regular contacts, but it will appear in your blocked list.