How to block a person on Instagram
To block someone on Instagram, open their profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select Block. Confirm when Instagram asks you to verify. The person will no longer see your posts, stories, or profile, and they cannot message you or find your account through search. You can unblock them the same way at any time.
The steps are the same whether you use the Instagram app on iPhone or Android, or the web version on a computer. If you have already blocked someone and want to reverse it, go to Settings, tap Blocking, find their name, and tap Unblock.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone prevents them from seeing your posts, stories, comments, and profile, and stops them from messaging you.
- The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they cannot find your profile.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a comment they made, or from a direct message conversation.
- Instagram does not tell you if someone tries to contact you after you block them — the messages simply do not arrive.
- You can unblock someone at any time through Settings, and doing so does not automatically restore old messages or follow relationships.
Block someone from their profile
Open the person's Instagram profile by searching for their username or finding them through a mutual friend's followers list. Tap the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of their profile header — the same menu where you would find options to report or mute them.
A menu will appear with several options. Select Block. Instagram will ask you to confirm by showing a popup that says "Block [username]?" with two buttons: Block and Cancel. Tap Block again to confirm. The block takes effect immediately.
Block someone from a comment or message
If someone has commented on your post and you want to block them without visiting their profile, long-press their comment until a menu appears. Tap Block from that menu. You can also block someone directly from a direct message conversation by opening the chat, tapping the person's name at the top, scrolling down, and selecting Block.
All three methods — from their profile, from a comment, or from a message — produce the same result. The person loses access to your account immediately, and any previous messages between you remain in your inbox but cannot be replied to.
What happens when you block someone
When you block someone, they cannot see your profile, posts, stories, or reels. If they search for your username, your account will not appear in results. They cannot like, comment on, or share your content. Any previous comments they made on your posts will remain visible to other people, but they will not be able to edit or delete them.
Direct messages do not work in either direction. If you send a message to someone you have blocked, it will not be delivered. If they try to message you, the message will not arrive in your inbox — they will see a blank chat screen with no indication that the message failed. They cannot add you to group chats or see your profile picture, bio, or follower list.
Whether the blocked person knows they are blocked
Instagram does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out by trying to visit your profile and seeing a message that says "No Posts Yet" or "User Not Found," depending on their Instagram version. If they search for your username and cannot find you, they may suspect they have been blocked.
The blocked person might also notice that they can no longer see your stories or that old comments they made on your posts have disappeared from their view. There is no official way for them to confirm the block through Instagram itself, but they can create a new account or ask a friend to check your profile to verify.
Unblock someone on Instagram
To unblock someone, go to your profile and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines). Select Settings, then tap Blocking. A list of all accounts you have blocked will appear. Find the person you want to unblock and tap Unblock next to their name. Confirm when Instagram asks you to verify.
Unblocking someone does not automatically re-follow them or restore your previous follow relationship. If you followed them before you blocked them, you will need to follow them again. Old direct messages will reappear in your chat history, but they will not be able to see messages you sent while they were blocked.
Block multiple accounts or a person with many accounts
If someone has created multiple accounts to contact you after you blocked them, you can block each account individually using the same steps. Go to their profile, tap the three dots, and select Block. Repeat for each account you want to block.
If you notice a pattern of harassment from multiple accounts, you can also report the accounts to Instagram. From any profile, tap the three dots and select Report. Choose the reason that best describes the problem — such as "It's spam" or "It's abusive or harmful" — and follow the prompts. Instagram reviews reports and may remove accounts that violate their community guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them on Instagram?
Instagram does not notify them, but they may figure it out by searching for your profile and not finding it, or by noticing they cannot see your stories or past comments. They can also ask a friend to check your profile to confirm.
What happens to old messages when I block someone?
Old direct messages stay in your chat history, but the blocked person cannot see them or send new ones. If you unblock them later, the old messages will reappear and they can message you again.
If I block someone, do they see my old comments on their posts?
Yes. Your comments remain visible on their posts to other people, but they cannot see your profile or any new activity from you. They also cannot reply to your old comments.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes. Instagram does not send a notification, though they may discover it by trying to find your profile or by asking someone else to check it for them.
Does blocking someone delete our conversation?
No. The conversation stays in your direct messages, but they cannot send new messages and you cannot reply. If you unblock them, the conversation becomes active again.