Blocking stops a specific person from contacting you, watching your stream, and seeing your messages

When you block someone on Twitch, they cannot follow your channel, send you whispers (direct messages), or see your messages in chat. They also cannot see your profile page or any streams you host. If they try to visit your channel directly, they will see a message saying the channel is unavailable to them. Blocking is one-way — they will not be notified that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to access your channel and cannot.

Blocking is different from timing out or banning a user from your chat. A timeout is temporary and only prevents someone from sending messages in your channel for a set period. A ban is permanent for your channel but does not prevent them from messaging you privately or viewing your profile. A block affects all interaction across the platform.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block someone from their profile page, from a message they sent you, or from your blocked users list in settings.
  • A blocked person cannot message you, see your profile, follow your channel, or view your streams, but they will not receive a notification that you blocked them.
  • Blocking someone does not remove their past messages from your chat history — you will still see what they wrote before the block took effect.
  • If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time from your blocked users list in account settings.

How to block someone from their profile or a message

The fastest way to block someone is from their profile page. Search for their username in the search bar at the top of Twitch, click on their name, and you will land on their profile. In the upper right corner of their profile, you will see three dots (the menu icon). Click it and select "Block User" from the dropdown menu.

If someone has sent you a whisper (direct message) that you want to block them over, open the message. At the top of the conversation, you will see their username. Click the three dots next to their name and select "Block User." This blocks them when ready and closes the conversation.

How to block someone from your chat

If someone is being disruptive in your chat during a stream, you can block them directly from the message. Hover over or click on their message in chat. A menu will appear with options including a block icon (usually shown as a circle with a line through it, or labeled "Block"). Click it, and Twitch will confirm the block.

Blocking from chat is useful because you can act quickly without leaving the stream. The person's message will remain visible in your chat history, but they will no longer be able to send new messages to you or see your channel.

Managing your blocked users list

You can see everyone you have blocked and unblock them at any time. Go to your account settings by clicking your profile icon in the upper right corner of Twitch. Select "Settings," then find "Privacy and Safety" or "Blocked Users" (the exact name varies slightly by device and app version). This page shows a list of every account you have blocked.

To unblock someone, find their name in the list and click "Unblock." They will when ready regain the ability to message you, follow your channel, and see your profile. Unblocking does not send them a notification, but if they try to message you again, they will know the block has been lifted.

What happens to messages and chat history after you block

When you block someone, their past messages in your chat remain visible to you and to other viewers. Blocking only prevents future contact — it does not erase what they said before. If you want to remove their messages from your chat, you will need to delete them manually or ask a moderator to do so.

If someone sent you whispers before you blocked them, those messages stay in your conversation history. You can still read them, but they cannot send new ones. If you want to delete the entire conversation, you can clear it from your messages list, though this is separate from blocking.

Blocking versus banning or timing out

Blocking is a personal action that affects only your own experience. Banning and timing out are moderation tools that affect a user's ability to participate in your channel. A timeout temporarily silences someone in your chat — they cannot send messages for a duration you set (usually 10 seconds to 2 weeks), but they can still watch and follow. A ban removes someone from your chat permanently, but they can still view your profile and streams if they log out or use another account.

Use timeout for minor disruptions or first warnings. Use ban for repeated violations or serious behavior. Use block when you want to cut off all contact with someone, including private messages. You can ban or timeout someone without blocking them, and you can block someone without banning them — they serve different purposes.

Blocking on mobile versus desktop

The blocking process is nearly identical on the Twitch mobile app and the desktop website. On mobile, tap the three dots on someone's profile or next to their message and select "Block User." On desktop, click the three dots and do the same. Both will sync to your account, so if you block someone on mobile, they will be blocked on desktop as well.

The main difference is that on mobile, the menu options are sometimes harder to find if you are not familiar with where the three-dot icon appears. On a profile, it is in the upper right. In a message, it is at the top of the conversation. If you cannot find it, try tapping different areas of the screen to reveal the menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will someone know I blocked them?

Twitch does not send a notification when you block someone. However, if they try to visit your profile or send you a message and cannot, they may realize you blocked them. There is no way to block someone invisibly — they can figure it out by testing whether they can access your channel.

Can I block someone who is not following me?

Yes. You can block anyone on Twitch, whether they follow you or not. You do not need to be a follower or subscriber to block someone, and they do not need to be either. Blocking works the same way regardless of your relationship to the person.

What if someone blocks me?

If someone blocks you, you will not see a notification. You will only discover it if you try to visit their profile, send them a message, or search for their channel and find it unavailable to you. You cannot unblock yourself — only the person who blocked you can remove the block by unblocking you.

Does blocking someone remove them from my followers list?

No. Blocking does not automatically unfollow someone or remove them from your followers. If you want them off your followers list, you will need to remove them separately. Go to your channel, find the followers section, and remove them manually if that option is available.

Can I block someone and still watch their streams?

Yes. Blocking prevents them from contacting you and seeing your content, but it does not prevent you from watching theirs. You can block someone and still view their channel, though they will not know you are watching.