How to Block or Unblock Someone on WhatsApp
Open the chat, tap More, then Block. Unblock from Settings, Privacy, Blocked contacts. Blocking unknown numbers, what the other person sees, and Web.
To block someone on WhatsApp, open your chat with them, tap the three dots, then More, then Block, and confirm. To unblock them, go to Settings, then Privacy, then Blocked contacts, tap the person and tap Unblock. "When you block someone, you'll no longer receive their messages, calls, and status updates," WhatsApp's help center says. They don't get any notice.
We read MakeTechEasier's guide (February 4, 2026) and Kanal's (October 7, 2026) through our server, and WhatsApp's help center as Google showed it, on October 23, 2026. WhatsApp's help site turns our reader away.
"How to unblock someone on whatsapp" gets about 14,800 searches a month, "how to block someone on whatsapp" 12,100, and "how to block a number on whatsapp" 9,900.
How do you block someone on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp's help center gives the main route: "Open the chat with the contact in the chatlist," then tap "more options (three vertical dots) > More > Block > Block."
MakeTechEasier lists other ways in, handy when you'd rather not open the message:
- From the chat list. Tap and hold the chat, and "you'll see a Block button at the top for unknown users."
- From their profile. Tap their round profile picture, then the "i" icon, then Block.
- From the notification. For first-time senders, WhatsApp "automatically shows a Block button alongside Reply and Mark as read."
- From your settings. Go to Privacy, then Contacts, then Blocked contacts, and tap Add.
Want a record first? Kanal says WhatsApp suggests "taking screenshots or making a backup of your chats if you want to keep a record."
How do you block a number that isn't saved?
Use the chat or the notification. The Block button in the chat list and in notifications shows up for unknown senders, MakeTechEasier says. The settings list is different: "To block unknown numbers, you'll have to add the contact in phone first before blocking." So for a stranger, block from their message.
How do you unblock someone on WhatsApp?
Open your blocked list and pick the person. Blackview's October 2026 guide says to "return to the blocked contacts list, select the person, and choose Unblock." In newer versions, WhatsApp's help center puts the list under Settings, then Privacy, then Blocked accounts. You can also unblock from the chat itself. "You can choose to Unblock or Delete Chat after blocking someone," WhatsApp says.
Unblocking doesn't bring back what you missed. Messages, calls and status updates sent during the block aren't delivered afterward, Kanal says, citing WhatsApp.
What happens when you block someone on WhatsApp?
| What changes | After you block |
|---|---|
| Their messages, calls and status updates | They don't reach you |
| Your last seen, online, status and photo changes | Hidden from them |
| Your contact lists | You stay in each other's |
| Groups you share | You still see each other's messages |
| A notice to them | None |
WhatsApp's help center as Google showed it, and Kanal (October 7, 2026), citing it, read October 23, 2026.
You'll see a label they won't. WhatsApp's help center says a note appears "under the blocked user's name and in your chat with them. They won't see this." The person can only guess from the signs, which our guide on how to know if someone blocked you on WhatsApp walks through.
How do you block someone on WhatsApp Web or Desktop?
Right-click their chat, select Block, and confirm, MakeTechEasier says. To add someone to the list instead, open Settings, then Privacy, then Blocked contacts, and click Add blocked contact. That list only shows saved contacts, so save a stranger's number first or block from their chat.
Cleaning up a chat too? See how to delete a WhatsApp message, or how to leave a WhatsApp group if the trouble is a group. On other apps, see blocking on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Hclout sells WhatsApp channel followers on its WhatsApp page, so weigh that the way you'd weigh any seller.
Frequently asked questions
Does someone know if I block them on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp doesn't tell them. They may notice signs, like messages stuck on one check mark.
Where do I see who I've blocked?
In Settings, then Privacy, then Blocked contacts.
Can a blocked person still see my profile picture?
They won't see changes to it, and your last seen and status stay hidden.
If I unblock someone, do I get their old messages?
No. Anything sent during the block isn't delivered later.
Can I block someone who isn't in my contacts?
Yes. Block them from their chat or from the notification.
Sources
- WhatsApp Help Center, "How to block and report someone," "About reporting and blocking on WhatsApp" and "How to block or unblock a business," as Google showed them on October 23, 2026
- MakeTechEasier, "The Best Ways to Block Someone on WhatsApp Without Opening the Message," February 4, 2026, and Kanal, "How to Know if Someone Blocked You on WhatsApp," October 7, 2026, both read through our server on October 23, 2026
- Blackview (October 9, 2026), as Google showed it
- Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 23, 2026
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