Blocking stops a user from messaging you, following your channel, and seeing your streams

When you block someone on Twitch, they cannot send you whispers (direct messages), follow your channel, or see your live streams or video library. The blocked user will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they will discover it if they try to message you or visit your channel — they'll see an error message instead. Blocking is permanent until you manually unblock the person.

You can block users from their profile page, from a chat message, or from your own settings. The process takes seconds and works the same way whether you're on desktop or mobile.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking prevents someone from messaging you, following your channel, and viewing your streams, but does not remove them from your followers list if they were already following.
  • You can block a user directly from their profile, from a message they sent you, or from your account settings under blocked users.
  • A blocked user cannot see that you blocked them, but will get an error if they try to message you or visit your channel.
  • You can unblock someone at any time through your settings, and they will immediately regain access to message you and view your content.

Block someone from their profile page

The quickest way to block is to visit the person's channel and use the block button. On desktop, go to their profile, click the three-dot menu icon next to their username or follow button, and select "Block User." On mobile, tap the three-dot menu at the top of their profile and choose "Block User."

After you block them, that menu option will change to "Unblock User" if you need to reverse it later. The block takes effect immediately.

Block someone from a chat message or whisper

If someone sends you a message in chat or a whisper that you want to block, you don't have to visit their profile. Hover over their message (on desktop) or long-press it (on mobile), and a menu will appear with a block option. Select it, and the user is blocked right away.

This method is useful when you're in a live chat and want to stop someone from messaging you without leaving the stream to visit their profile.

Block someone from your account settings

You can also manage blocks from your account settings. On desktop, click your profile icon in the top right, select "Settings," then go to "Privacy and Safety" and choose "Blocked Users." Type the username of the person you want to block and click the block button next to their name.

On mobile, tap your profile icon, go to "Settings," select "Privacy and Safety," then "Blocked Users," and follow the same process. This method works even if you don't remember the exact spelling of their username — Twitch will show suggestions as you type.

What happens when you block someone

A blocked user cannot send you whispers, follow your channel, or see your streams in their recommendations or search results. If they try to visit your channel directly, they will see a message saying the channel is not available. If they try to message you, they will get an error.

Blocking does not remove them from your followers list if they were already following before you blocked them — you will need to remove them manually by visiting your followers list in your channel settings. Blocking also does not hide their past messages in chat; those remain visible to you and to other viewers.

Unblock someone

To unblock someone, go to your account settings, select "Privacy and Safety," then "Blocked Users." Find the person's name in your blocked list and click "Unblock." They will immediately be able to message you, follow your channel, and see your streams again.

Unblocking does not automatically re-follow them or restore any previous follower status — it simply removes the block. If they want to follow your channel again, they will need to do so manually.

When to block versus other options

Blocking is for individual users who are harassing you or whose content you don't want to see. If you want to stop seeing messages from many users at once, consider using chat filters or slow mode during your streams. If someone is breaking Twitch's community guidelines, you can report them instead of or in addition to blocking — reports go to Twitch's moderation team.

If you're a streamer and want to prevent someone from chatting in your streams, use your channel's ban or timeout features instead of blocking. Banning removes them from your chat permanently, while timing them out suspends their chat access for a set period. These tools are separate from blocking and only affect your channel's chat, not their ability to message you or follow you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked user see that I blocked them?

No, Twitch does not notify them. However, they will know you blocked them if they try to message you or visit your channel and see an error message. They can also check by searching for your channel — if it doesn't appear in their search results, they may suspect a block.

If I block someone, do they get removed from my followers?

No. Blocking only prevents future interactions. If they were already following your channel before you blocked them, they remain in your followers list. You must manually remove them from your followers through your channel settings if you want them off that list.

Can I block someone who is not following me?

Yes. You can block any user on Twitch, whether they follow you or not. Blocking prevents them from messaging you and viewing your streams, regardless of their follower status.

What's the difference between blocking and banning someone from my chat?

Blocking is personal — it stops someone from messaging you and viewing your channel. Banning is for your channel's chat — it prevents them from sending messages in your streams but does not stop them from watching or messaging you privately. Use banning to manage your chat during streams and blocking to stop individual harassment.

Can I see who I've blocked?

Yes. Go to your account settings, select "Privacy and Safety," then "Blocked Users." Your full list of blocked users appears there, and you can unblock anyone from that page.