How to Block People on Snapchat: A Complete Guide
Blocking someone on Snapchat is one of the most direct privacy tools the platform offers — but it works differently than many users expect. Whether you're dealing with an unwanted contact, an ex, or a stranger who keeps sending snaps, understanding exactly what blocking does (and doesn't do) helps you make the right call.
What Happens When You Block Someone on Snapchat
When you block a user on Snapchat, several things happen simultaneously:
- They are removed from your Friends list
- They can no longer send you Snaps, Chats, or view your Stories
- They cannot search for your username or find your profile
- Any existing conversation thread disappears from both sides
- They are not notified that they've been blocked
This is a more aggressive action than simply removing a friend. Removing someone keeps them able to search for you and potentially send messages (depending on your privacy settings). Blocking cuts off all contact and visibility entirely.
How to Block Someone on Snapchat (Step-by-Step)
From the Chat Screen
- Open Snapchat and go to the Chat tab (the speech bubble icon)
- Press and hold on the conversation with the person you want to block
- Tap More (the three-dot menu or similar option depending on your version)
- Select Block
- Confirm when prompted
From Their Profile
- Tap on the person's Bitmoji or username to open their profile
- Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner
- Select Block
- Confirm the action
From Your Friends List
- Go to your Profile (tap your Bitmoji at the top-left)
- Tap My Friends
- Search for or scroll to the contact
- Press and hold their name, then tap More
- Select Block
The steps are nearly identical across iOS and Android, though the exact menu labels or icon placements may shift slightly between app versions. Snapchat updates its UI periodically, so if a menu looks slightly different, the blocking option is almost always accessible within one or two taps from a profile or conversation.
Blocking vs. Removing vs. Muting: Key Differences 🔒
These three options serve different purposes, and choosing the wrong one is a common mistake:
| Action | Can They Message You? | Can They See Your Story? | Can They Find You? | They're Notified? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block | No | No | No | No |
| Remove Friend | Depends on settings | No (if private) | Yes | No |
| Mute | Yes | Yes (you just won't see theirs) | Yes | No |
Muting only affects what you see — the other person's experience is completely unchanged. Removing adjusts your relationship status but doesn't prevent all contact. Blocking is the only option that fully restricts a person's ability to interact with or find you.
What the Blocked Person Can Still Do
Blocking on Snapchat is powerful but not airtight. A blocked user:
- Cannot contact you through your current account
- Can create a new Snapchat account and search for you again (if your profile is discoverable)
- May still see any public content you've shared to Snap Map or public Stories, depending on your settings
This is an important nuance. If your Snap Map is set to "Everyone" or your Stories are public, a determined person with a new account could still find some of your content. Pairing a block with tighter privacy settings — restricting your location, making Stories friends-only, and limiting who can contact you — provides a more complete barrier.
How to Unblock Someone on Snapchat
Blocking isn't permanent. To unblock:
- Go to your Profile
- Tap the Settings gear (top-right)
- Scroll to Privacy Controls and tap Blocked
- Find the person's name and tap X or Unblock
Keep in mind: unblocking someone does not automatically re-add them as a friend. You or they would need to send a new friend request to reconnect.
Privacy Settings That Work Alongside Blocking 🔐
Blocking is most effective when combined with the right privacy configuration:
- Who Can Contact Me — Set to "My Friends" to prevent unknown accounts from messaging you
- Who Can View My Story — "Friends Only" limits Story visibility after a block
- See My Location — Switch Snap Map to Ghost Mode to prevent location visibility entirely
- Who Can See Me in Quick Add — Disabling this reduces how easily new or unknown accounts can find you
These settings live under Settings → Privacy Controls and apply account-wide, not just per contact.
The Variable That Changes Everything
How effective blocking feels in practice depends heavily on your existing privacy configuration, the nature of the contact (known friend vs. stranger), and whether the person is motivated to work around it.
For a casual acquaintance who sent an unwanted snap, a simple block is more than sufficient. For situations involving persistent harassment or someone who might create new accounts, blocking alone may not be enough — and the broader privacy settings, or even reporting the account to Snapchat, become relevant tools.
Your specific mix of contacts, how public your profile is, and how you use features like Snap Map all shape whether a block fully solves the problem or whether additional steps are worth considering.