Blocking stops a specific person from contacting you and seeing your uploads
When you block someone on YouTube, that person cannot send you messages, comment on your videos, or see your channel or uploads in their search results. They also cannot see your subscriptions, playlists, or activity. If they try to visit your channel directly by typing the URL, they will see a message saying the channel is not available.
Blocking is different from deleting a comment or removing a subscriber. Those actions remove one piece of content or one follower, but the person can still message you and interact with your channel. Blocking prevents all contact and visibility.
You can block someone from their channel page, from a comment they left, or from your messages. The process takes about 30 seconds and works the same way whether you use YouTube on a computer, phone, or tablet.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone prevents them from messaging you, commenting on your videos, and seeing your channel in search results.
- You can block a person from their channel page, from any comment they leave, or from your direct messages.
- The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them.
- You can unblock someone at any time by visiting your blocked users list in settings.
- Blocking is private — the blocked person cannot see that you blocked them, but they may notice they cannot find your channel or message you.
How to block someone from their channel page
Go to the channel of the person you want to block. Look for the three vertical dots (called a menu button) near the top right of their channel header, usually next to the Subscribe button. Click or tap those dots.
A small menu will appear with several options. Select "Block user" or "Report user" depending on what you see. If you choose "Block user," a confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure. Click "Block" to confirm. The person is now blocked.
On a phone or tablet, the three-dot menu is in the same location. Tap it, then tap "Block user" from the menu that appears.
How to block someone from a comment they left
If someone leaves a comment on one of your videos that you want to block them for, you do not have to visit their channel. You can block them directly from the comment.
Find the comment and look for the three vertical dots on the right side of it. Click or tap those dots. A menu will appear with options including "Block user." Click that option, and the person is blocked. All their comments will disappear from your videos.
How to block someone from direct messages
Open YouTube Messages (the envelope icon at the top of the page on a computer, or the Messages tab on a phone). Find the conversation with the person you want to block.
On a computer, click the three-dot menu at the top right of the conversation. On a phone, swipe left on the conversation or tap and hold it until a menu appears. Select "Block user." Confirm the block when prompted. That person can no longer send you messages.
What happens after you block someone
The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them. However, they may notice they cannot find your channel when they search for it, cannot see your videos in their recommendations, and cannot send you messages. If they try to visit your channel directly, they will see a message saying it is not available.
Any comments they left on your videos before you blocked them will remain visible to other viewers unless you delete those comments separately. Blocking only prevents future contact and visibility — it does not erase past interactions.
If the person tries to message you after being blocked, their message will not go through. They will see an error or a message saying they cannot contact you.
How to unblock someone
If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. On a computer, click your profile picture at the top right, then select "Settings." Click "Privacy" in the left menu, then scroll down to "Blocked users." You will see a list of everyone you have blocked.
Find the person you want to unblock and click the X next to their name. They are now unblocked and can message you, comment on your videos, and see your channel again.
On a phone or tablet, tap your profile picture, select "Settings," then "Privacy." Scroll to "Blocked users" and tap the X next to the person you want to unblock.
When to block versus report
Blocking is for people you do not want to interact with — someone who is annoying, someone whose content you do not want to see, or someone you simply prefer to avoid. Reporting is for people who are breaking YouTube's rules, such as posting spam, harassment, hate speech, or illegal content.
You can do both. If someone is harassing you and you want to stop seeing their messages, block them. If they are also breaking YouTube's rules, report them separately so YouTube's team can review the content. Reporting does not automatically block the person — you have to block them yourself if you want to prevent contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person I blocked see that I blocked them?
No. YouTube does not notify someone when you block them. However, they may figure it out if they notice they cannot find your channel, see your videos, or message you. There is no way for them to know for certain that you blocked them rather than deleted your account or changed your privacy settings.
If I block someone, will my old comments on their videos disappear?
No. Blocking only affects what they can see and do going forward. Your comments that you left on their videos before blocking them will still be visible on their channel. If you want to remove those comments, you have to delete them yourself.
Can I block someone without visiting their channel?
Yes. You can block someone from a comment they left on your video or from a direct message conversation. You do not need to go to their channel page. Look for the three-dot menu next to their comment or message and select "Block user."
What if I block someone and then they create a new account?
The block only applies to the specific account you blocked. If they create a new account, that new account is not automatically blocked. You would need to block the new account separately if they contact you or comment on your videos again.
Does blocking someone remove them from my subscribers list?
Yes. When you block someone, they are automatically removed from your subscribers list. They can no longer see your uploads or receive notifications about your new videos.