Blocking stops a person from contacting you on WhatsApp

When you block someone on WhatsApp, they can no longer send you messages, call you, or see when you are online. They cannot see your profile photo, status updates, or "last seen" timestamp. If they try to message you, the message will be delivered to their phone, but you will never receive it — they have no way to know they are blocked unless they try to contact you and notice the message never gets a response.

Blocking is permanent until you unblock the person. You can block someone from your contacts list, from an active chat, or from a call screen. The steps are slightly different depending on where you start, but the result is the same.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocked people cannot message, call, or see your online status, but their messages still deliver to their phone — they just do not reach you.
  • You can block someone from a chat by opening it, tapping their name at the top, scrolling down, and selecting "Block Contact."
  • On Android, open Settings, tap Account, then Privacy, then Blocked Contacts to see your full list of blocked people.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Privacy, then Blocked Contacts to view or unblock anyone.
  • Blocking someone does not delete your chat history with them — the conversation stays in your chat list unless you delete it separately.

How to block someone from an open chat on Android

Open the WhatsApp chat with the person you want to block. Tap their name at the very top of the screen where it shows their contact name. This opens their contact card.

Scroll down to the bottom of the contact card. You will see a red button that says "Block Contact." Tap it. WhatsApp will ask you to confirm — tap "Block" again in the popup window. The person is now blocked.

How to block someone from an open chat on iPhone

Open the WhatsApp chat with the person you want to block. Tap their name at the top of the screen. This opens their contact details.

Scroll all the way down. You will see a red option that says "Block this Contact." Tap it, then confirm by tapping "Block Contact" in the popup. The person is now blocked.

How to block someone from your contacts list

If you do not have an active chat with the person, you can block them directly from your phone's contacts. Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab. On Android, tap the three-dot menu at the top right and select "Settings." On iPhone, tap Settings at the bottom right.

On Android: Tap Account, then Privacy, then Blocked Contacts. Tap the plus sign (+) at the bottom right. Select the person from your contacts list and confirm. On iPhone: Tap Privacy, then Blocked Contacts. Tap "Add New" at the top right, then select the person from your contacts and confirm.

How to block someone who is calling you

When someone calls you on WhatsApp, you can block them without answering. Let the call come through and tap the red decline button. A menu will appear with options — one of them says "Block." Tap it to block the caller immediately.

This is the fastest way to block a spam caller or someone you do not want to hear from. The block takes effect right away.

What happens to your chat history when you block someone

Blocking someone does not automatically delete your conversation with them. The chat stays in your chat list, and you can still read the old messages. If you want to remove the conversation entirely, you need to delete it separately by swiping left on the chat (iPhone) or long-pressing it (Android) and selecting delete.

If you unblock the person later, the chat history will still be there. The person will not be able to see that you blocked them, and they will not know about the block unless they tried to contact you during that time and noticed their messages were not getting responses.

How to unblock someone

Go to WhatsApp Settings. On Android, tap Account, then Privacy, then Blocked Contacts. On iPhone, tap Privacy, then Blocked Contacts. Find the person you want to unblock and tap their name. Select "Unblock Contact" and confirm.

Once you unblock someone, they can message and call you again. They will not receive a notification that you unblocked them. Any messages they send after you unblock will come through normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked person see my profile picture or status?

No. Blocked people cannot see your profile photo, status updates, or when you were last online. They also cannot see your "about" section or any changes you make to your profile. However, they can still see your name in their contacts — you do not disappear from their phone.

Will a blocked person know I blocked them?

Not directly. WhatsApp does not send a notification saying you blocked someone. However, if they try to message you and never get a response, or if they try to call and it does not ring through, they may suspect they are blocked. There is no way for them to confirm it through WhatsApp itself.

What if I block someone but they are in a group chat with me?

Blocking someone does not remove them from group chats you are both in. They can still see your messages in the group and send messages to the group. However, they cannot send you direct messages or call you. If you want to avoid seeing their group messages, you can mute the group or leave it entirely.

Can I block someone without them knowing I have WhatsApp?

If you have never messaged or called the person, blocking them from your contacts list will not alert them. They will not know you have WhatsApp unless you contact them first or they see you in a mutual group chat.

Does blocking someone delete our chat on their phone?

No. Blocking only affects what they can do going forward — they cannot send new messages or calls. The old conversation stays on their phone. If you want to remove the conversation from your own phone, you must delete it separately.