How to block someone on Instagram
To block someone on Instagram, go to their profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block." Instagram will then prevent that person from seeing your posts, stories, and profile, and they won't be able to message you or find your account through search. The block takes effect immediately.
On a computer, the process is the same: visit their profile, click the three dots, and choose "Block." The person won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see a message saying the account isn't available.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone prevents them from seeing your posts, stories, profile, and messages, and removes any existing conversations between you.
- The blocked person won't get a notification, but they can discover the block by trying to search for you or visit your profile.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked accounts list in Settings and selecting "Unblock" next to their name.
- Blocking is different from muting: a muted account can still see your public posts, but their posts won't show up in your feed.
- If someone is harassing you, blocking alone may not be enough — Instagram also lets you report accounts for abuse or threats.
What happens when you block someone
When you block someone, Instagram removes them from your followers and unfollows their account on your end. Any direct messages between you and that person stay in your chat history, but they become unreadable — you'll see a blank conversation. The blocked person can't send you new messages, and if they try, they won't know whether you blocked them or simply didn't respond.
The blocked person can't see your profile, posts, stories, or reels. If they search for your username, your account won't appear in results. If they already have a link to your profile, clicking it will show a message saying the account isn't available or that the user isn't found. This makes it clear to them that something has changed, even if Instagram doesn't send a notification.
How to block someone from their profile
The fastest way to block someone is from their profile. Tap their username to open their profile page. In the top right corner, you'll see three horizontal dots (sometimes called a menu icon). Tap those dots, and a menu will appear with several options including "Block." Tap "Block," and Instagram will ask you to confirm. Select "Block" again, and the block is active.
If you're using Instagram on a computer, the steps are identical. Open the person's profile, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Block" from the dropdown menu. Confirm when prompted.
Blocking someone from a direct message
You can also block someone directly from your messages. Open the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap their name at the top of the chat to open their profile preview. Scroll down and tap "Block," then confirm. This blocks them and closes the conversation on your end.
Alternatively, in your direct messages list, swipe left on the conversation (on iPhone) or long-press it (on Android), and you'll see options including "Block." This method is useful if you want to block someone without opening their full profile.
Finding and managing your blocked accounts list
Instagram keeps a record of everyone you've blocked. To see this list, open your Settings (the gear icon on your profile), scroll down, and tap "Blocked accounts" or "Blocked users" depending on your phone. You'll see a complete list of everyone you've blocked. From here, you can unblock anyone by tapping "Unblock" next to their name.
This list is private — the people you've blocked can't see it, and neither can anyone else. You can review it anytime to remind yourself who you've blocked or to unblock someone if you change your mind.
The difference between blocking, muting, and restricting
Instagram offers three separate tools, and they work differently. Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile or contacting you at all. Muting keeps the person as a follower, but their posts and stories won't show up in your feed — they can still see your public content. Restricting is a middle ground: the person can still follow you and see your posts, but their comments on your posts go into a hidden folder, and they can't see when you're active or read your direct messages.
Choose blocking if you want complete separation. Choose muting if you want to avoid seeing someone's content without making it obvious. Choose restricting if someone is being mildly annoying but you don't want to fully block them — it's less confrontational and harder for them to detect.
What to do if someone is harassing you
Blocking stops someone from contacting you, but if they're harassing you across multiple accounts or threatening you, blocking alone may not be enough. Instagram lets you report accounts for abuse. When viewing someone's profile or a specific post or message, tap the three dots and select "Report." Choose the reason — "It's abusive or harmful," "It's spam," or another option — and follow the prompts. Instagram reviews reports and may remove the account or restrict what it can do.
If someone is threatening violence or making you feel unsafe, take a screenshot of the threat and report it to Instagram and to local law enforcement. Keep records of all interactions. If the harassment is happening across multiple platforms, report it to each platform separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
Instagram doesn't send a notification, but they can figure it out by trying to visit your profile or search for you. If they see a message saying your account isn't available, they'll know something changed. Some people use third-party apps that claim to detect blocks, but these are unreliable.
If I unblock someone, will they know?
No. Unblocking doesn't send a notification. The person won't know unless they happen to search for you and notice your profile is suddenly available again.
What happens to old messages when I block someone?
The conversation stays in your chat history, but the messages become unreadable — you'll see a blank chat. If you unblock them later, the messages reappear. If you delete the conversation before unblocking, it's gone permanently.
Can I block someone without them seeing that I unfollowed them first?
Blocking automatically unfollows them, so if they check your followers list before you block, they'll see you there. Once you block, they can't see your followers list at all. There's no way to unfollow someone invisibly.
What if someone keeps creating new accounts to contact me after I block them?
This is harassment. Report each new account to Instagram for abuse. If it continues, document everything and contact local law enforcement, especially if the person is making threats or you know who they are offline.