WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. With so many people using WhatsApp, it’s common to encounter someone you may want to block for various reasons.
Blocking someone on WhatsApp prevents them from viewing your profile photo, status updates, or knowing when you’ve read their messages. It also prevents them from being able to call or send you messages. Blocking is a useful tool to stop unwanted communication or harassment from a particular user.
What happens when you block someone?
Here’s an overview of what happens when you block someone on WhatsApp:
- They will no longer be able to see your profile photo or status updates
- They won’t be able to call or send you messages
- Any messages they send will not go through and they won’t receive notifications or know if you’ve read their messages
- Group chats will be unaffected – you’ll both still be able to participate in common groups
- If you block someone who has your phone number, they’ll still be able to contact you through calls and SMS outside of WhatsApp
Does the blocked contact know they’ve been blocked?
No, when you block someone on WhatsApp they are not notified or alerted that they’ve been blocked. The app does not tell users when they’ve been blocked by someone else.
From the blocked person’s perspective, it will seem like you’re offline, didn’t receive their messages, or are ignoring them. They may notice that your profile photo and status have disappeared too.
Can you still see a blocked contact’s profile photo, status, etc?
No, blocking someone is mutual – when you block someone, you also can’t see their profile photo, status updates, or know if they’re online. All communication is restricted in both directions.
Can a blocked contact still see when you’re online?
No, when you block someone they can no longer see your “last seen” status or know when you’re online on WhatsApp.
Can you find out if someone has blocked you?
There’s no way to definitively know if someone has blocked you on WhatsApp, as the app doesn’t directly indicate blocks. However, there are some signs that may suggest you’ve been blocked:
- The contact’s profile photo and status have disappeared
- Your messages never show as delivered or read
- Calls to the contact never go through
If you experience these issues consistently for some time, it likely means you’ve been blocked – but there is no confirmation or notification given by WhatsApp.
What happens to group chats when you block someone?
Blocking someone on WhatsApp does not remove either user from any shared group chats. You’ll both remain participants in your common WhatsApp groups.
The only change is that you won’t see each other’s status updates or read receipts within the group chat. You also won’t be able to privately message each other within group chats once blocked.
Can you still report a user you’ve blocked?
Yes, you can still report a blocked contact to WhatsApp. Here’s how:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked > Click on contact
- Tap More options > Report contact
- Follow the prompts to send a report to WhatsApp
Reporting a blocked contact will send details and screenshots to WhatsApp for further investigation. It may lead to the user being banned if they violated policies.
Can a contact you’ve blocked still report you?
Yes, a contact can still report your WhatsApp account even after you’ve blocked them. Blocking only prevents further communication – it doesn’t impact their ability to report your account.
Does blocking delete the chat history with that contact?
No, blocking a contact does not automatically delete or erase your WhatsApp chat history with that person. Your entire chat thread with that user will remain available for you to access.
If you wish to delete the chat history, you will have to manually clear those chats after blocking the user.
Can you undo blocking a contact?
Yes, you can unblock a contact and restore communication with them. Here’s how:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked
- Tap on the contact you want to unblock
- Tap Unblock [contact name]
This will once again allow calling, messaging, and full WhatsApp access between you and that user.
Does the previously blocked user receive a notification when unblocked?
No, WhatsApp does not notify or alert a contact when they’ve been unblocked. They will only know if you directly message them again.
Can you block someone who hasn’t messaged you?
Yes, you can block any WhatsApp user even if they haven’t previously messaged you or don’t have your phone number saved. Here’s how:
- Open WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked > Add New
- Enter the phone number of the user you want to block
- Confirm by tapping Block
This will block an unknown user before they even message you on WhatsApp.
Can you block a number on WhatsApp without saving it as a contact first?
Yes, blocking an unsaved number is possible on WhatsApp for both Android and iPhone users.
On Android phones:
- Go to WhatsApp > More options > Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked > Add
- Manually enter the phone number you want to block
- Confirm by tapping Block
On iPhones:
- Go to WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked > Add New
- Manually enter the phone number you want to block
- Tap Block Contact at the bottom
This will prevent an unsaved number from contacting you on WhatsApp without having to save the number first.
Can you block someone on WhatsApp using their iPhone user ID?
Unfortunately no, blocking via iPhone user ID is not currently possible on WhatsApp. You need the person’s phone number in order to block them.
WhatsApp uses phone numbers as the primary ID. While iPhones may create a user ID based on numbers, this ID can’t be used for blocking purposes in WhatsApp.
How do I know if someone blocked me on WhatsApp?
There is no definitive way to know if you have been blocked by someone on WhatsApp as the app does not directly inform you. However, there are some signs that suggest you may have been blocked:
- The contact’s profile photo and last seen status has disappeared
- Your messages always show a single check mark and never get delivered
- Your calls to the contact fail or are rejected
- You are missing from the contact’s WhatsApp groups
If you are experiencing any combination of these issues consistently, it likely means you have been blocked. While not a foolproof confirmation, these are the main indicators to watch for.
Can you see someone’s WhatsApp activity if they haven’t blocked you?
Yes, normally on WhatsApp you can view someone’s:
- Profile photo
- Status updates
- “Last seen” activity status
- Read receipts when they’ve read your messages
You’ll see all of this WhatsApp activity for your contacts as long as they haven’t blocked you or adjusted their privacy settings. Once blocked, all of their account activity will disappear.
What happens if you get a new phone number – can blocked contacts message you again?
If you get a new phone number, all previous blocks and bans will not carry over. Contacts blocked on your old number will be able to message you again once you activate your new number on WhatsApp.
This is because blocks are tied to specific phone numbers. As long as you register your new number, even previously blocked contacts will be able to communicate with you again if they have your updated number.
Can I block someone who has deleted their WhatsApp account?
No, you cannot block a contact who has already deleted their WhatsApp account. The app requires users to have an active registered account in order to block them.
Once a user has fully deleted their WhatsApp account, they are automatically removed from all contact lists and cannot be blocked. Their account ceases to exist.
Can a number that you’ve blocked on WhatsApp still message you by SMS/calls?
Yes, blocking a number on WhatsApp only prevents them from contacting you within the WhatsApp platform. It does not block them from contacting you outside WhatsApp.
A blocked contact can still message or call you by SMS or regular phone calls if they have your actual phone number stored. Blocking strictly limits communication on WhatsApp only.
Conclusion
Blocking contacts is an important tool on WhatsApp to take control of your communications and prevent unwanted interactions. It cuts off all messaging capabilities in both directions between you and another user.
While blocked users won’t be notified of their status, there are some signs like read receipts and profile photos disappearing that indicate they may be blocked. Keep in mind blocking only limits WhatsApp communication, not regular SMS or calls.
Overall, blocking provides a straightforward way to gain some privacy and restrict access to your WhatsApp profile when necessary. It can be reversed at any time if you change your mind.