Blocking someone on Snapchat removes them from your friends list and prevents them from contacting you

When you block a person on Snapchat, they can no longer send you messages, view your stories, or see that you are online. They cannot find your account by searching for your username. If they try to message you, they will see an error saying the message could not be sent. The block is immediate — there is no notification sent to the person you block, but they will eventually notice they cannot reach you.

Blocking is different from removing a friend. When you remove someone, they stay on your friends list from their perspective and can still message you. A block is permanent until you manually unblock them. You can block people from your friends list, from a conversation, or from their profile if you search for them.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block someone directly from your friends list by holding their name and selecting "Block" from the menu.
  • Blocking prevents the person from messaging you, viewing your stories, and finding your account through search.
  • The person you block will not receive a notification, but they will see an error when they try to contact you.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, selecting "Blocked," and tapping the person's name.

How to block someone from your friends list

Open Snapchat and go to the Friends screen by tapping your profile icon in the top left corner, then selecting "Friends." Find the person you want to block in your friends list. Hold down their name until a menu appears with several options.

Tap "Block" from the menu. A confirmation screen will appear asking if you want to block this person. Tap "Block" again to confirm. The person will be removed from your friends list immediately, and they will no longer be able to contact you through Snapchat.

How to block someone from a conversation

Open the chat screen in Snapchat and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Hold down their name or the conversation thread until a menu appears. Select "Block" from the options shown.

Confirm the block when prompted. This method is faster if you are already messaging with someone and decide you want to stop contact. The conversation will remain in your chat history, but the person will not be able to send you new messages.

How to block someone from their profile

Search for the person's username using the search icon at the top of the Snapchat home screen. Tap their name when it appears in the results. Their profile will open, showing their username, display name, and a menu icon (three dots) in the top right corner.

Tap the three dots and select "Block" from the menu. Confirm the block when the confirmation screen appears. This method works if you want to block someone who is not currently on your friends list or if you do not have an active conversation with them.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block someone, they cannot see your stories, send you messages, or call you on Snapchat. If they search for your username, your account will not appear in their results. Any existing conversations between you will remain in your chat history, but they will not be able to send new messages in that thread.

The person you blocked will not see a notification saying you blocked them. However, when they try to message you or search for your account, they will realize something has changed. Some people may figure out they have been blocked, while others may simply think you have deleted your account or changed your username.

How to unblock someone on Snapchat

If you change your mind and want to unblock someone, open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top left corner. Select "Settings" by tapping the gear icon. Scroll down and tap "Blocked."

You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and tap their name. Select "Unblock" from the menu that appears. Confirm the action when prompted. Once you unblock someone, they will be able to message you and find your account again, but they will not automatically be added back to your friends list.

Blocking versus other privacy options on Snapchat

Snapchat offers several ways to control who can contact you. Removing a friend keeps them on their friends list but removes them from yours — they can still message you, but you will not see their stories. Blocking is more restrictive and prevents all contact. You can also adjust your privacy settings to control who can message you, call you, or view your stories without blocking specific people.

If someone is harassing you, blocking is the right choice. If you simply want to hide your stories from one person or reduce contact without being harsh, removing them as a friend might be better. You can also mute someone's stories so you do not see them in your feed without removing or blocking them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them on Snapchat?

Snapchat does not send a notification when you block someone, but they will figure it out when they cannot message you or find your account. They may see an error message saying the message could not be sent, or they may notice your profile no longer appears in search results.

What if I block someone and then want to be friends again?

You can unblock them at any time through Settings > Blocked, but they will not automatically be added back to your friends list. You will need to send them a friend request, and they will need to accept it before you can message each other again.

Does blocking someone delete our conversation history?

No. Your past conversations will remain in your chat history even after you block someone. However, they will not be able to send you new messages in that conversation thread. If you unblock them later, the old messages will still be there.

Can I block someone without them knowing my username?

Yes. If someone is not on your friends list, you can search for their username and block them from their profile without them knowing you looked them up. They will only realize you blocked them if they try to message you or search for your account later.

What if someone keeps trying to contact me after I block them?

If someone creates a new account to contact you after being blocked, you can block that account as well. If the harassment continues, you can report the person to Snapchat through the app by holding their name and selecting "Report." Snapchat takes harassment seriously and may take action against the account.