Blocking stops someone from contacting you on WhatsApp

When you block a contact on WhatsApp, that person can no longer send you messages, make calls, or see when you are online. They cannot see your profile photo, status updates, or "last seen" timestamp. However, blocking is not invisible — if they try to message you, they will see that their message was sent, but you will never receive it. They may eventually realize they have been blocked, especially if they try calling and the call does not go through.

Blocking happens on your phone only. The person is not blocked from WhatsApp itself, only from reaching you. If you unblock them later, old messages do not reappear — the conversation history remains deleted if you chose to delete it when blocking.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking a contact takes one tap on Android or iPhone and prevents them from messaging, calling, or seeing your online status.
  • The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if their messages do not deliver.
  • You can block someone from their contact card, from a conversation thread, or from a group chat without leaving the group.
  • Unblocking is just as simple as blocking and restores the ability to message and call, though old deleted messages do not come back.

How to block someone on iPhone

Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab. Find the conversation with the person you want to block, swipe left on their name (or long-press if swiping does not work), and tap the trash or delete icon. A menu will appear — select "Block" from the options. On some versions, you may see "Block Contact" instead.

Alternatively, open the person's contact card by tapping their name at the top of a conversation, scroll down, and tap "Block This Contact." You can also block someone you have never messaged by opening Contacts, finding their name, tapping "Block This Caller," and confirming.

How to block someone on Android

Open WhatsApp and tap the Chats tab. Long-press on the conversation with the person you want to block until it highlights, then tap the three-dot menu icon at the top and select "Block." Alternatively, open the conversation, tap their name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Block [Name]."

You can also block from your phone's Contacts app: find the person's name, open their contact card, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Block Number." This blocks them across WhatsApp and your phone's messaging and calling apps.

Blocking someone in a group chat

You can block a group member without leaving the group. Open the group conversation, tap the group name at the top, scroll down to the member list, find the person, tap their name, and select "Block." The person remains in the group, but they cannot message you directly, and you will not see their messages in the group chat.

If you want to remove someone from a group entirely, you must be the group admin. Tap the group name, find the member, tap their name, and select "Remove." They will be notified that they were removed.

What the blocked person sees

When someone is blocked, their messages to you will show a single checkmark (sent) but never a double checkmark (delivered). If they call you, the call will ring on their end but will not reach your phone. They cannot see your profile photo, status, or last seen time — your profile will appear blank to them.

WhatsApp does not send a notification saying "You have been blocked." However, if the person tries to call you multiple times and the calls never connect, or if they message you and never see a delivery confirmation, they may suspect they have been blocked.

How to unblock someone

On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Privacy, then Blocked, and swipe left on the person's name. Tap "Unblock" to confirm. On Android, go to Settings, tap Account, then Privacy, then Blocked Contacts, long-press the person's name, and tap "Unblock."

Once you unblock someone, they can message and call you again immediately. Any messages they sent while blocked will not appear — those are permanently deleted. If you want to see old messages from before the block, you will need to ask them to resend them or check if you have a backup of your chats.

Blocking versus muting and reporting

Blocking is different from muting a conversation. When you mute someone, you still receive their messages and calls, but you do not get notifications. You can still see their messages if you open the chat. Muting is useful if you want to reduce interruptions from someone without cutting off contact entirely.

Reporting is a separate action for spam or harassment. If someone is sending unwanted messages, you can block them and also report them to WhatsApp by opening the conversation, tapping the three-dot menu, and selecting "Report." WhatsApp reviews reports of spam and abuse but does not notify the person that you reported them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp does not send a notification, but someone may figure it out if their messages show only one checkmark for a long time or if calls do not connect. They could also check by asking a mutual friend or by trying to view your profile photo and status, which will appear blank if you have blocked them.

What happens to old messages after I block someone?

If you block someone without deleting the chat, the old messages stay in your conversation history and you can still read them. If you delete the chat before or after blocking, those messages are gone permanently. Unblocking does not restore deleted messages.

Can I block someone without them knowing I read their last message?

If you have read receipts turned on, the person will see that you read their message before you blocked them. To avoid this, turn off read receipts in Settings before blocking, though this affects all your conversations, not just that person's.

If I block someone, can they still see my profile picture or status?

No. Once blocked, they cannot see your profile photo, status updates, or last seen time. Your profile appears blank to them. However, if they are in a group chat with you, they can still see your messages in the group.

Can I block someone temporarily and then unblock them later?

Yes. Blocking and unblocking can be done at any time. When you unblock, the person can message and call you again, but any messages they sent while blocked will not appear in your chat history.