The fastest way to block someone on YouTube

You can block a specific person on YouTube in two taps. Go to their channel, tap the three dots next to their name, and select "Block user". That person can no longer comment on your videos, see your uploads in their recommendations, or message you if you have YouTube messaging turned on. They will not be notified that you blocked them.

If someone is harassing you in the comments on one of your videos, you do not have to visit their channel first. Click the three dots on their comment itself and choose "Block user" from that menu. The same restrictions apply.

On a computer, the steps are identical: find the three-dot menu next to their channel name or comment, and select "Block user". The block takes effect immediately.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking someone prevents them from commenting on your videos, messaging you, and seeing your channel in their recommendations.
  • You can block from their channel page or directly from a comment they left on your video.
  • Blocked users are not told they have been blocked and cannot see that you blocked them.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by visiting their channel and selecting "Unblock user" from the three-dot menu.
  • Blocking is different from reporting: reporting sends the comment or channel to YouTube staff for review, while blocking only affects what that person can see from you.

What blocking actually prevents

When you block someone, they lose access to specific things related to your account. They cannot comment on any of your videos, reply to your community posts, or send you direct messages through YouTube. If you have a public channel, they can still see it exists and can still watch your videos — blocking does not hide your channel from them entirely.

Blocked users will not see your uploads appear in their recommendations or search results. YouTube's algorithm stops showing them your content. However, if they search your name directly or type your channel URL into the address bar, they can still find and watch your videos. Blocking is not the same as making your channel private.

The block is one-way. You will not see comments from blocked users, and you will not see their channel in your recommendations or search results either. But if they are subscribed to you, that subscription remains active on their end — they just cannot interact with you.

When to block versus when to report

Blocking is the right choice when someone is annoying you personally but is not breaking YouTube's rules. This includes people who repeatedly comment in ways you do not want to engage with, or who message you too often. Blocking stops the behavior from reaching you without involving YouTube staff.

Reporting is the right choice when someone is breaking YouTube's Community Guidelines — for example, posting hate speech, threats, spam, or sexual content in your comments. When you report, YouTube staff review the content and may remove it or suspend the person's account. Reporting takes longer than blocking, but it protects other creators too.

You can do both. Block someone to stop seeing their comments immediately, and report the comment itself so YouTube can review whether it violates the rules. The two actions do not interfere with each other.

How to see who you have blocked

On a computer, go to YouTube Studio and click "Settings" in the left menu. Select "Community" and then "Blocked users". You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Next to each name is an "Unblock" button if you change your mind.

On the YouTube app for phone or tablet, tap your profile picture, then "Settings". Go to "Notifications and privacy" and tap "Blocked users". The list works the same way — you can unblock anyone from this screen.

YouTube does not tell you how many people you have blocked or send you notifications when someone tries to interact with you after being blocked. The list is only visible to you.

Unblocking someone

If you want to unblock someone, visit their channel and tap the three dots next to their name. Select "Unblock user". You can also unblock from the "Blocked users" list in your settings — find their name and tap "Unblock".

Once you unblock someone, they can comment on your videos again, see your uploads in recommendations, and message you if messaging is turned on. They will not be notified that you unblocked them. There is no waiting period — the unblock takes effect right away.

Blocking does not stop harassment from other accounts

If someone is harassing you, they can create a new YouTube account and continue. Blocking only affects the specific account you blocked. If the same person keeps coming back with new accounts to comment on your videos or message you, that is a sign to report the behavior to YouTube rather than just blocking.

When you report repeated harassment from multiple accounts, include details about the pattern — mention that these are the same person using different accounts. YouTube staff can investigate and take action against the person rather than just the individual accounts. You can also block each new account as it appears, but reporting the pattern is more effective.

Privacy settings that work alongside blocking

Blocking handles one person at a time. If you want to reduce unwanted comments or messages more broadly, YouTube's privacy settings let you control who can comment on your videos and who can message you.

In YouTube Studio, go to "Settings" and then "Community". You can choose to hold all comments for review before they appear, block comments from accounts without a profile picture, or block comments containing certain words. You can also turn off messaging entirely so no one can send you direct messages, whether they are blocked or not.

These settings affect everyone, not just one person. They are useful if you are getting a lot of unwanted interaction but do not want to block individuals one by one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

No. YouTube does not notify users when they are blocked. A blocked person cannot see that you blocked them, though they may notice they cannot comment on your videos or see your uploads in their feed. There is no way for them to know for certain that you blocked them rather than deleting your account or changing your privacy settings.

If I block someone, can they still watch my videos?

Yes. Blocking prevents them from commenting, messaging, and seeing your content in recommendations, but they can still find and watch your videos if they search for you directly or type your channel URL. If you want to prevent someone from watching your videos entirely, you would need to make your channel private, which affects everyone.

What happens to their comments after I block them?

Comments from blocked users remain on your videos, but you will not see them. Other viewers can still see those comments unless you delete them manually. If you want to remove a comment before blocking, delete it first, then block the person.

Can I block someone without visiting their channel?

Yes. If they commented on one of your videos, click the three dots on their comment and select "Block user". You do not need to go to their channel page.

Does blocking someone unsubscribe them from my channel?

No. If a blocked person was subscribed to you, they remain subscribed on their end. They just cannot interact with you through comments or messages. Their subscription does not give them any special access or visibility into your account.