The fastest way to block someone on Snapchat
Open Snapchat and go to your Friends list. Find the person you want to block, press and hold their name, then tap Block from the menu that appears. Confirm the action when prompted. That person can no longer message you, see your stories, or add you as a friend.
You can also block someone from a conversation. Open the chat with that person, tap their name or Bitmoji at the top, scroll down, and select Block User. The result is the same either way — they're blocked immediately.
Blocking is one-way: the blocked person won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but they will notice they can't message you or find your profile anymore. You can unblock them at any time by going to Settings, selecting Blocked, finding their name, and tapping Unblock.
Key Takeaways
- You can block someone in two places: from your Friends list by holding their name, or from an open conversation by tapping their name at the top.
- A blocked person cannot message you, view your stories, or send you friend requests, but they won't see a notification that you blocked them.
- Blocking is reversible — you can unblock anyone from your Settings menu under Blocked at any time.
- If someone blocks you, you'll see that their profile can't be found and their messages will no longer deliver.
What happens when you block someone
Once you block someone, they lose access to your profile, stories, and messages. Any existing conversation with that person remains in your chat list, but they cannot send new messages — their messages will show as undelivered on their end. They also cannot add you as a friend, view your Snapcode, or see your location if you share it through Snapchat.
The blocked person will not see a message saying "you've been blocked." Instead, they'll gradually realize they can't reach you — their messages won't send, and your profile will appear not to exist when they search for you. Some people discover they're blocked when they try to add you and get an error.
Blocking does not delete your past conversations with that person from your own account. You can still see the chat history, but they cannot see it on their end.
Blocking vs. removing a friend
Removing a friend is different from blocking. When you remove someone, they're no longer on your Friends list and cannot see your stories unless your account is public. However, they can still message you, and you can message them back. A removed friend can also re-add you whenever they want.
Blocking is stronger: a blocked person cannot message you at all, and they cannot re-add you unless you unblock them first. Use blocking when you want to cut off all contact. Use removing when you simply want to clean up your Friends list or stop sharing stories with someone you're still on neutral terms with.
To remove a friend without blocking, hold their name in your Friends list and tap Remove Friend instead of Block.
How to block someone from a group chat
You cannot block someone from a group chat directly — blocking works on a one-to-one basis. However, you can leave the group chat, and the blocked person will not be able to add you back to it. If you block someone who is in a group with you, they remain in the group, but they cannot message you privately or see your individual profile.
If someone in a group chat is harassing you, blocking them prevents them from sending you direct messages. They can still see messages you post in the group, but they cannot contact you outside of it. If the group itself is the problem, you can leave it entirely by opening the chat, tapping the group name at the top, scrolling down, and selecting Leave Chat.
Unblocking someone and what they'll see
To unblock someone, open Snapchat and go to Settings (the gear icon). Tap Blocked to see your full list of blocked users. Find the person you want to unblock and tap the X or Unblock option next to their name.
Once you unblock someone, they can message you, add you as a friend, and view your stories again — but they won't receive a notification that you unblocked them. They'll simply notice that they can message you again or that your profile is searchable. You do not need to re-add them as a friend; unblocking alone restores their ability to contact you.
If you unblock someone and then want to block them again, you can do so immediately using the same steps.
Blocking someone who has already blocked you
If someone blocks you first, you won't be able to block them in return — their profile won't appear in your search results or Friends list. You can still see past conversations with them in your chat history, but you cannot send new messages or view their profile.
If you want to prevent them from unblocking you and contacting you later, there's no additional action you can take on Snapchat itself. Your best option is to delete the conversation from your chat list so you don't see it anymore. Open the chat, swipe left on it, and tap Delete.
Privacy settings that work alongside blocking
Blocking is one tool, but Snapchat also offers other privacy controls. You can limit who can message you by going to Settings, tapping Who Can Contact Me, and choosing Friends Only or My Friends. This prevents strangers from messaging you without blocking individuals by name.
You can also control who sees your stories. In Settings, tap Who Can View My Story and select Friends Only, Custom (to pick specific people), or Private (only you). Custom lets you hide your story from certain people without blocking them entirely.
If someone is sending you unwanted snaps or messages, blocking is the most direct solution. But if you want to manage privacy more broadly — like keeping your stories away from acquaintances — the privacy settings give you finer control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will someone know if I block them on Snapchat?
They won't get a notification, but they'll figure it out when they realize they can't message you or find your profile. Their messages will show as undelivered, and searching for your username will return no results. Some people realize they're blocked right away; others notice over time.
Can I block someone without them seeing our old messages?
No. Blocking doesn't delete your conversation history from either account. The messages stay in your chat list, and if they had screenshots of your old conversations, those remain on their phone. Blocking only prevents future contact.
What if I block someone by accident?
Go to Settings, tap Blocked, find their name, and tap Unblock. They'll be able to message and add you again immediately. They won't see a notification about being unblocked.
Can I block someone on Snapchat if they're not my friend?
Yes. You can block someone even if they're not on your Friends list. If they're messaging you or you found their profile, hold their name or tap their profile and select Block. This prevents them from contacting you going forward.
Does blocking on Snapchat block them on other platforms?
No. Blocking on Snapchat only affects Snapchat. They can still message you on Instagram, text you, call you, or contact you through other apps. You would need to block them separately on those platforms if you want to prevent contact everywhere.