How to block someone on YouTube

You can block a user on YouTube through their channel page or from a comment they posted. Once blocked, that person cannot see your uploads, subscribe to your channel, comment on your videos, or send you messages. They will not be notified that you blocked them, but they may notice they can no longer find your channel or interact with your content.

Blocking works on the device you use to block them — if you block someone on your phone, they are still blocked when you sign in on a computer. The block applies across all YouTube services tied to your account, including YouTube Music and YouTube TV if you use those.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block a user by visiting their channel, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting "Block user" from the options.
  • You can also block someone directly from a comment they left on your video by clicking the three dots next to their comment.
  • A blocked user cannot see your channel, watch your videos, comment, or message you, but they are not told you blocked them.
  • If you change your mind, you can unblock someone by going to your account settings, finding the blocked users list, and removing them.

Block a user from their channel page

Open the channel of the person you want to block. Look for the three-dot menu icon (⋮) near the top right of their channel header, usually next to the Subscribe button. Click or tap that menu.

A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Block user" from the list. YouTube will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again to finish. The person's channel is now blocked on your account.

Block a user from a comment

If someone has left a comment on one of your videos that you want to block them for, you can block them directly from that comment. Find the comment and look for the three-dot menu icon next to the commenter's name.

Click or tap those three dots. A menu will appear with options including "Block user." Select it and confirm. The commenter is now blocked, and their comment will no longer be visible to you on any of your videos.

What happens when you block someone

A blocked user cannot view your channel, watch your videos, or see your playlists. If your channel was public before, they cannot make it private just by blocking someone — but that person specifically will not be able to access it. Any comments they left on your videos before the block will still be visible to other viewers, but you will not see them.

Blocked users cannot send you direct messages, and they cannot subscribe to your channel. If they try to visit your channel directly by typing the URL, they will see a message saying the channel is not available.

Unblock a user

If you want to unblock someone, go to your YouTube account settings. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Settings." On the left side menu, click "Privacy and safety."

Scroll down to find "Blocked users" and click on it. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click the X or "Unblock" button next to their name. They will be unblocked immediately and can interact with your channel again.

Blocking versus other privacy options

Blocking is different from making your channel private or restricting comments. When you block someone, only that specific person is prevented from seeing your content. When you make your channel private, no one can find it unless you invite them. When you restrict comments, you control who can comment on your videos — for example, you can allow only subscribers or people with no recent warnings.

If you want to hide a single video instead of blocking a user, you can make that video private or unlisted. Private videos are invisible to everyone except people you share the link with. Unlisted videos can be watched by anyone with the link but do not appear in search results or on your channel page.

Report versus block

Blocking and reporting are separate actions. Blocking prevents someone from interacting with you. Reporting tells YouTube that a user or comment violates the platform's community guidelines — for example, harassment, hate speech, or spam. You can block someone without reporting them, and you can report someone without blocking them.

If someone is harassing you, threatening you, or posting content that breaks YouTube's rules, you should report them in addition to blocking. To report a user, click the three-dot menu on their channel or comment and select "Report user." To report a comment, click the three dots next to the comment and choose "Report comment."

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

No. YouTube does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may realize they are blocked if they try to visit your channel and see an error message, or if they notice they can no longer find your videos in search.

Can a blocked user still see my old comments on their videos?

Yes. Blocking only prevents them from seeing your channel and new activity. Any comments you left on their videos before blocking them will still be visible to them and to other viewers.

What if someone blocks me on YouTube?

If someone blocks you, you will not receive a notification. You may notice when you try to visit their channel and see a message that it is unavailable, or when you cannot find their videos in search results anymore.

Can I block someone on YouTube TV or YouTube Music?

Blocking on your main YouTube account applies across YouTube Music and YouTube TV if you use the same account. You do not need to block them separately on each service.

How many people can I block?

YouTube does not publish a limit on the number of users you can block. You can block as many people as needed, and you can view your full blocked users list in your privacy settings at any time.