How to block someone on Instagram
To block a user on Instagram, open their profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select Block from the menu. Confirm when Instagram asks you to verify. The person is now blocked — they cannot see your posts, stories, or profile, and cannot message you or find your account through search.
You can block someone from their profile, from a direct message conversation, or from a comment they left on your post. The result is the same regardless of where you start. Blocking is immediate and takes a few seconds.
Instagram does not notify the blocked person that you blocked them, but they will notice if they try to visit your profile or message you — they will see an error or a message saying the account cannot be found. If they know your username, they can create a new account and try to contact you again, so blocking is not a permanent barrier if someone is determined to reach you.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone removes their ability to see your profile, posts, stories, and direct messages, and prevents them from finding you through search.
- You can block a user from their profile, from a direct message, or from a comment by tapping the three dots and selecting Block.
- The blocked person is not notified by Instagram, but they will see an error if they try to visit your profile or message you.
- Blocking does not delete past messages or comments — those remain visible to you, but the blocked person cannot see your new activity.
- You can unblock someone at any time by visiting their profile and selecting Unblock, or by going to your blocked accounts list in Settings.
Block someone from their profile
Open Instagram and search for the person's username or navigate to their profile. Tap the three horizontal dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of their profile header. A menu will appear with several options.
Tap Block from the list. Instagram will ask you to confirm — tap Block again. The person is now blocked. Their profile will no longer appear in your search results, and you will not see their posts, stories, or comments on your account.
If you change your mind, you can unblock them by returning to their profile, tapping the three dots, and selecting Unblock. Unblocking restores their ability to see your profile and message you, but it does not restore deleted messages or undo any other actions you took while they were blocked.
Block someone from a direct message
Open your direct messages and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap and hold on their name at the top of the conversation, or tap the person's name to open their profile card. Look for the Block option and tap it.
On some versions of Instagram, you can also swipe left on the conversation (on iPhone) or press and hold (on Android) to reveal a block option. Confirm the block when prompted. The conversation will remain in your message list, but the person cannot send you new messages.
Block someone from a comment or post
If someone has left a comment on your post that you want to block them for, tap and hold on the comment. A menu will appear with options including Block. Tap it and confirm. You can also tap the three dots next to their username in the comment and select Block User from that menu.
Blocking from a comment works the same way as blocking from a profile — the person loses access to your account entirely. The comment they left will remain visible on your post, but they cannot leave new comments or see your future posts.
What happens when you block someone
When you block someone, they immediately lose the ability to see your profile, posts, stories, reels, and live videos. They cannot message you, and if they try to search for your username, your account will not appear in results. If they visit your profile directly (by typing your username into the URL bar, for example), they will see a message saying the user could not be found or that the content is not available.
Past direct messages between you and the blocked person remain in your message history, and you can still see them. However, the blocked person cannot see those messages — their message thread with you will appear empty or show an error. Comments or likes they left on your posts before the block remain visible on your account, but they cannot interact with your content going forward.
The blocked person can still see posts you made before the block if they are public and they view them through another account, a friend's profile, or a shared link. Blocking only prevents them from accessing your account directly.
Unblock someone on Instagram
To unblock someone, search for their username and open their profile. Tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Unblock. Confirm when prompted. They can now see your profile and message you again.
You can also unblock someone through your Settings. Tap your profile icon, then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), and go to Settings and privacy. Tap Blocking to see your full list of blocked accounts. Find the person you want to unblock and tap Unblock next to their name.
Unblocking does not automatically restore deleted messages or undo actions you took while they were blocked. If you want to message them again, you will need to start a new conversation. They will not be notified that you unblocked them.
Restrict instead of block
Instagram also offers a Restrict option, which is less severe than blocking. When you restrict someone, they can still see your profile and posts, but their comments on your posts go into a hidden folder that only you can see. They cannot see when you are online, and they cannot see when you have read their direct messages.
To restrict someone, open their profile, tap the three dots, and select Restrict. Restricting is useful if you want to limit someone's interaction with you without completely cutting off access. The person is not notified that they are restricted, but they may notice that their comments are not visible to others or that you are not responding to their messages.
You can restrict and block the same person — restricting does not prevent you from also blocking them. If you only want to hide their comments and limit their ability to see your activity, restrict is the better choice. If you want to prevent them from contacting you or seeing your account at all, block is the right option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Instagram does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they will notice if they try to visit your profile or message you — they will see an error message or be told the account cannot be found. If they suspect they are blocked, they can check by searching for your username or asking a mutual friend to visit your profile.
Can I block someone without them seeing my old messages?
No. Messages you sent before blocking remain in their message history, and they can read them. Blocking only prevents new messages from being sent or received. If you want to remove a message you sent, you can delete it from your end, but the other person may have already seen it.
What if someone blocks me on Instagram?
If someone blocks you, you will not be able to see their profile, posts, or stories. You cannot message them or find them through search. If you try to visit their profile directly, you will see a message saying the user could not be found. You can create a new account and try to contact them, but doing so may violate Instagram's terms of service if it is done to evade a block.
Can I block someone and still see their posts?
No. When you block someone, you cannot see their profile or any of their posts, stories, or reels. If you want to see their content without them seeing yours, use the Restrict option instead, which hides their comments and your online status but does not prevent you from viewing their profile.
Does blocking delete our past conversations?
No. Your past direct messages with the blocked person remain in your message list, and you can still read them. The blocked person cannot see those messages — their thread with you will appear empty or show an error. If you want to permanently remove the conversation, you can delete it from your message list, but this is separate from blocking.