How to block someone on Tinder
To block someone on Tinder, open their profile, tap the block icon (usually a circle with a line through it), and confirm. The person cannot message you, see your profile, or match with you again. Blocking is immediate and does not notify them that you blocked them — they will simply see that your profile is no longer visible to them.
You can block someone from their chat window, from their profile after a match, or from a profile you encounter while swiping. The steps are the same across all three routes. Once blocked, you can unblock them later if you change your mind, though unblocking does not restore old messages.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Tinder prevents them from messaging you, viewing your profile, or matching with you in the future.
- You can block from a chat, from a matched profile, or while swiping — the process takes one tap and one confirmation.
- The blocked person does not receive a notification that you blocked them.
- You can unblock someone later through your settings, but previous messages will not reappear.
- Reporting is separate from blocking and should be used if someone has harassed or threatened you.
Blocking from a chat or matched profile
If you are already messaging someone or have matched with them, open the chat window. Tap the profile name or icon at the top of the chat to open their full profile. Look for the block icon — on most phones this appears as a circle with a slash through it, or sometimes as a shield icon. Tap it, then confirm when the app asks you to verify.
The chat history with that person will remain in your inbox, but you will not be able to send or receive new messages. If you want to remove the conversation from your list entirely, you can swipe left on the chat (on iOS) or long-press it (on Android) and select delete or archive, depending on your app version.
Blocking while swiping
When you encounter a profile while swiping, you do not have to match to block them. Tap the profile to open it fully, then look for the block icon in the same location as on a matched profile. Tap it and confirm. This prevents them from seeing your profile or matching with you, even though you never swiped right.
This is useful if you recognize someone you want to avoid, or if a profile makes you uncomfortable before you have decided whether to swipe. Blocking at this stage is faster than matching and then blocking later.
Where to find your blocked list
To see everyone you have blocked, open Tinder and tap your profile icon (usually in the top left or bottom right, depending on your phone). Scroll down to Settings. Look for a section called Blocked or Privacy — the exact label varies by app version. Tap it to see your full list of blocked profiles.
From this list, you can unblock anyone by tapping their name and selecting Unblock. Unblocking does not restore old messages or notify the person. They will simply be able to see your profile and match with you again if you both swipe right.
The difference between blocking and reporting
Blocking prevents someone from contacting you and seeing your profile. Reporting tells Tinder that someone has violated the app's terms of service — for example, by sending threats, sharing explicit images without consent, or using a fake profile. Reporting does not hide their profile from you; it flags their account for Tinder's safety team to review.
If someone has harassed, threatened, or made you feel unsafe, report them in addition to blocking. To report, open their profile, tap the three-dot menu icon, and select Report. Choose the reason that best describes the problem. Tinder takes reports seriously and may suspend or remove the account if the behavior violates their rules.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block someone, they cannot see your profile, send you messages, or match with you. If you were already matched, the match disappears from their inbox. They will not receive a notification saying you blocked them, but they will notice your profile is no longer visible if they try to find you.
Your old messages with them remain in your chat history on your phone, but they cannot see them. If you later unblock the person, the conversation will still be there, but they will not see any messages sent while you were blocking them.
Unblocking someone and what to expect
To unblock someone, go to your Settings, find your Blocked list, and tap the person's name. Select Unblock and confirm. The person can now see your profile again and match with you if you both swipe right. However, unblocking does not restore old messages or notify them that you unblocked them.
If you unblock someone and they message you, you will see their new messages but not the old conversation. You can block them again at any time using the same process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
No. They will not receive a notification. They will only realize you blocked them if they try to find your profile and cannot, or if they try to message you and the chat disappears. Even then, they cannot be certain you blocked them — your profile might simply have been deleted.
Can I block someone without matching with them first?
Yes. Open their profile while swiping, tap the block icon, and confirm. You do not need to match or message them first. This is useful if you recognize someone you want to avoid.
What if I block someone by accident?
Go to Settings, find your Blocked list, and tap the person's name. Select Unblock. They will be able to see your profile again immediately. Unblocking does not notify them or restore old messages.
Does blocking delete our old messages?
No. Your old messages remain in your chat history on your phone, but the blocked person cannot see them. If you unblock them later, they still will not see the old conversation — only new messages sent after you unblock them.
Should I block or report someone who is harassing me?
Do both. Blocking prevents them from contacting you. Reporting tells Tinder's safety team about the behavior so they can review the account and take action if the person has violated the app's rules. Report by opening their profile, tapping the three-dot menu, and selecting Report.