You can block someone on WhatsApp in three taps, and they won't know it happened

Open WhatsApp, find the person's name in your chats or contacts, swipe left on their name (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then tap Block. That person can no longer message you, call you, or see when you're online. They won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but they'll notice they can't reach you — your last seen status will be hidden from them, and any messages they send will sit in their chat with a single checkmark instead of the double checkmark that means delivered.

WhatsApp doesn't tell you when someone blocks you, so you won't get a notification if someone blocks you either. The only way to know is to try messaging them and see if your messages stay stuck on a single checkmark, or to notice they've stopped appearing in your contacts.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking someone on WhatsApp takes seconds and they won't receive a notification, but they'll realize it when their messages stop delivering.
  • A blocked person can still see your profile picture and status if they viewed them before you blocked them, but they can't see new updates.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, Account, Privacy, Blocked Contacts, and tapping Unblock next to their name.
  • Blocking is different from muting — a muted chat silences notifications but the person can still message you and see your status.

Step-by-step blocking on iPhone

Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab. Find the person you want to block — you can scroll through your chat list or use the search bar at the top. Once you find them, swipe left on their name with one finger. A red Block button will appear on the right side of their chat.

Tap Block, then confirm by tapping Block again in the popup that appears. The chat will stay in your list but you won't receive any new messages from that person. If you want to delete the chat history at the same time, swipe left again and tap Delete Chat before blocking, though blocking alone is enough to stop them from reaching you.

Step-by-step blocking on Android

Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab. Long-press (hold your finger down for a second) on the person's name until their chat is highlighted in green. A menu will appear at the top of the screen with several options. Tap the three dots (more options) on the right side of that menu.

A dropdown menu will appear with options including Block. Tap Block, then confirm in the popup. The chat will remain in your list but no new messages will come through. Like on iPhone, you can delete the chat history separately if you want, but blocking alone stops all contact.

What a blocked person can and cannot do

A blocked person cannot send you messages, make voice calls, or make video calls. Any messages they send will show a single checkmark on their end, meaning the message reached WhatsApp's servers but not your phone. They cannot see your last seen time, your online status, or your profile picture updates. They also cannot add you to groups.

However, a blocked person can still see your profile picture and status updates that you posted before you blocked them — WhatsApp doesn't erase old content from their view. If you want to prevent them from seeing even that, you can change your privacy settings to limit who sees your profile picture and status, though this affects everyone, not just the blocked person.

Unblocking someone if you change your mind

Go to Settings (the gear icon on Android, or tap Settings at the bottom right on iPhone). Tap Account, then Privacy, then Blocked Contacts. You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and tap their name, then tap Unblock.

Once you unblock someone, they can message you again immediately. Your chat history with them will still be there, and they'll be able to see your status and last seen time again. Unblocking doesn't send them a notification — they'll only know if they try to message you and it goes through.

Blocking versus muting a chat

Muting a chat is different from blocking. When you mute someone, they can still message you and call you, but you won't get notifications — their messages will arrive silently. You can mute a chat by long-pressing it (Android) or swiping left on it (iPhone) and tapping Mute. Muting is useful when you want to stay in contact but don't want constant notifications.

Blocking is the right choice when you don't want contact at all. Muting is the right choice when you want to reduce notifications from someone you still want to hear from occasionally. You can mute and block at the same time, though blocking alone already stops notifications since they can't message you.

What happens to group chats when you block someone

Blocking someone doesn't remove them from group chats you're both in. They can still see your messages in the group, and you can still see theirs. If you want to avoid seeing their messages, you can mute the group chat or leave it entirely. The blocked person also cannot add you to new groups, but they can remain in groups you're already part of together.

If you're in a group with someone you've blocked and you want to prevent them from seeing your messages, your only option is to leave the group. Blocking affects one-on-one contact only, not group conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

WhatsApp doesn't send a notification, but they'll figure it out. Their messages will show one checkmark instead of two, meaning they're not being delivered. After a while, they'll realize you're not responding and may try calling to see if that works — if the call won't go through, they'll know you've blocked them.

If I block someone, do they see my old messages?

Yes. Blocking only stops new messages from reaching you. Any messages they sent before you blocked them will still be visible in their chat with you on their phone. Blocking doesn't erase message history on their device.

What if someone blocks me on WhatsApp?

You won't get a notification. Your messages will show one checkmark and won't move to two. You can still see their profile picture and status if you viewed them before they blocked you, but you can't call them or send new messages. The only way to know for sure is to ask someone else or try calling them.

Can I block someone without deleting our chat history?

Yes. Blocking and deleting are separate actions. When you block someone, the chat stays in your list unless you delete it separately. You can unblock them later and the chat history will still be there.

If I unblock someone, will they know?

No. Unblocking sends no notification. They'll only know if they try to message you and it goes through, or if you message them first.