How to block a profile on TikTok
To block someone on TikTok, open their profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block" from the menu. On desktop, click the three dots on their profile page and choose "Block user". Once you block them, that person cannot see your videos, find your profile through search, send you messages, or view your comments. They will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error message.
You can block someone whether or not you follow them. You can also block accounts before they follow you — useful if you notice someone repeatedly viewing your stories or leaving unwanted comments. The block takes effect immediately.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile, videos, comments, and messages, but does not delete past interactions they may have screenshotted.
- The person you block will not get a notification, but they can discover the block by trying to visit your profile.
- You can block accounts from their profile page, from comments on your videos, or from your direct messages.
- Blocking is different from muting — muting hides their content from your feed without preventing them from seeing you.
- You can unblock someone at any time by visiting their profile and tapping the three dots again.
Where to find the block option on different devices
On iPhone or Android, the fastest way is to go to the person's profile and tap the three dots (⋯) in the top right. A menu will appear with options including "Block". Tap it, and a confirmation screen will ask if you're sure — tap "Block" again to confirm.
On a computer or web browser, visit the person's TikTok profile. Click the three dots in the top right corner of their profile header. Select "Block user" from the dropdown menu. You'll see a confirmation message; click "Block" to finish.
You can also block someone directly from a comment they left on your video. Tap their username in the comment, go to their profile, and use the three-dot menu. Or block them right from the comment itself — long-press the comment (on mobile) or hover over it (on desktop) and select the block option if it appears.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block someone, they lose access to your account in several ways. They cannot find your profile by searching your username. They cannot see any of your videos, even ones you posted before the block. They cannot view your follower or following lists. If they try to send you a direct message, it will fail to deliver. Any messages you sent them before the block will still be visible in their chat history, but they cannot reply to you.
The blocked person may not know immediately that you blocked them. TikTok does not send a notification. However, if they try to visit your profile, they will see a message saying the account is unavailable or that the user cannot be found. This often tips them off that they have been blocked rather than unfollowed.
Blocking does not erase the past. If the person took screenshots of your videos, comments, or messages before you blocked them, they still have those images. Blocking only prevents future contact and visibility going forward.
The difference between blocking, muting, and unfollowing
Blocking, muting, and unfollowing are three separate actions, and each one does something different. Unfollowing means you stop seeing their videos in your feed, but they can still see your profile and videos if they search for you. They remain your follower unless they unfollow you back. Muting hides their content from your For You page and following feed without them knowing, but they can still see your profile and videos. You can mute someone and still follow them.
Blocking is the strongest action. It prevents them from seeing your profile at all and stops all contact. Use blocking when someone is harassing you, sending unwanted messages, or making you uncomfortable. Use muting when you simply don't want to see their content anymore but don't need to cut off contact. Use unfollowing when you want to stop following someone but remain open to them seeing your public videos.
How to unblock someone if you change your mind
If you block someone and later want to reverse it, go to your settings and find your blocked accounts list. On mobile, tap the profile icon at the bottom right, then tap the three lines (menu) at the top right. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy", then "Blocked accounts". You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Find the person and tap "Unblock" next to their name.
On desktop, click your profile icon in the top right corner, then click "Settings and privacy". Select "Blocked accounts" from the menu. Find the person in the list and click "Unblock". Once you unblock them, they can see your profile and videos again, and you can interact normally.
Unblocking does not automatically re-follow the person or restore old messages. You'll both start fresh — they can follow you again if they want, and you can message each other again, but your chat history may not fully restore depending on how long they were blocked.
When to block versus report
Blocking is a personal privacy tool — it stops one person from seeing you. Reporting is different. You report content or accounts to TikTok when someone is breaking the platform's rules: posting hate speech, harassment, sexual content involving minors, or threats of violence. Reporting sends the content to TikTok's moderation team, who may remove the content or suspend the account.
If someone is harassing you, you can do both: block them to stop them from contacting you, and report them so TikTok can review their behavior. Blocking is immediate and personal. Reporting takes time but can protect other users if TikTok removes the account or content. If someone is threatening you or posting illegal content, reporting is more important than blocking alone.
Protecting your privacy beyond blocking
Blocking one person is useful, but it's one tool among several. You can also change your account to private, which means only people you approve can follow you and see your videos. Go to Settings and privacy, tap "Privacy", and toggle "Private account" on. You can still choose to let specific people follow you even with a private account.
You can also control who can comment on your videos, who can message you, and who can see your liked videos. In Settings and privacy, look for "Who can comment on your videos" and "Who can send you direct messages" — you can limit these to friends only or turn them off entirely. These settings work alongside blocking to give you more control over who can interact with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
TikTok does not send a notification, so they won't get an alert. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you, they'll see an error message that usually makes it clear you've blocked them. Some people figure it out; others may not notice.
Can I block someone without them seeing my profile first?
Yes. You can block someone from their profile page even if you've never interacted with them. You don't have to follow them or have them follow you. You can also block accounts that are following you without them knowing until they try to visit your profile.
What if I block someone and they make a new account?
Blocking 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 someone is repeatedly creating accounts to contact you after you've blocked them, that behavior may violate TikTok's harassment policy — consider reporting it.
Does blocking delete messages between us?
No. Messages you sent before blocking will still appear in their chat history, and messages they sent you will still appear in yours. However, they cannot reply to you, and you cannot send them new messages. If you want to delete a specific message, you can do that separately from blocking.
Can I block someone and still see their public videos?
No. Once you block someone, you cannot see any of their content, even if it's public. If you want to see their videos but don't want them to contact you, muting is a better option than blocking.