Block a contact directly from the chat

The fastest way to block someone on WhatsApp is to open the conversation with that person, then tap their name at the top of the screen. On Android, you'll see a menu icon (three dots) in the top right — tap it and select "Block contact". On iPhone, scroll down in the contact details and tap "Block this Contact".

Once you block someone, they can no longer send you messages, make calls, or see when you're online. They won't receive a notification that you've blocked them, but they'll notice they can't reach you — their messages will show one checkmark instead of two, meaning they weren't delivered to you.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block someone by opening their chat, tapping their name, and selecting the block option from the menu.
  • Blocked contacts cannot message you, call you, or see your online status, but they won't be told directly that you blocked them.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, finding the blocked contact, and tapping "Unblock".
  • Blocking someone does not delete your old messages with them — those remain in your chat history unless you delete the conversation separately.

Block someone from your contacts list

If you don't have an active conversation with someone but want to block them before they message you, go to the Chats tab and tap the menu icon. Select "Settings" (Android) or go directly to Settings (iPhone), then tap "Privacy" or "Account". Look for "Blocked contacts" and tap the plus icon or "Add" button to search for and block the person.

This method is useful if someone has your number but you haven't chatted with them yet on WhatsApp. The block takes effect immediately, even if they try to contact you before you finish the process.

What happens when you block someone

A blocked person cannot send you messages, make voice or video calls, or see your profile picture, status updates, or last seen time. If they try to call you, the call won't go through. Their messages won't appear in your inbox, and you won't receive notifications about them.

However, blocking is not the same as deleting. The person can still see your profile if they search for you in WhatsApp, and old messages you sent before blocking them remain visible on their phone. If you want to remove all trace of a conversation, you'll need to delete the chat separately after blocking.

Unblock a contact if you change your mind

Open WhatsApp and go to Settings. On Android, tap "Privacy" then "Blocked contacts". On iPhone, tap "Account" then "Privacy" then "Blocked contacts". Find the person you want to unblock and tap their name, then select "Unblock contact".

Once you unblock someone, they can message and call you again immediately. They won't know you had blocked them, and the unblock happens silently. If you want to block them again later, you can repeat the process at any time.

Block group members without leaving the group

You can block individual members of a WhatsApp group without leaving the group itself. Open the group chat, tap the group name at the top, scroll down to the member list, and tap the person you want to block. Select "Block contact" from the menu.

When you block a group member, you won't see their messages in the group chat, and they can't message you privately. However, they can still see your messages in the group, and other members can see both of you. If you want to avoid seeing someone's messages entirely, blocking is more effective than muting the group.

The difference between blocking and muting

Blocking and muting do different things. When you block someone, they cannot contact you at all. When you mute a conversation, you simply stop receiving notifications from that chat, but messages still arrive and you can read them whenever you want.

Muting is useful for conversations you want to keep but don't want constant alerts from — like a group chat that's very active. Blocking is for people you don't want to hear from at all. You can mute a chat by opening it, tapping the person's name or group name, and selecting "Mute notifications".

Troubleshooting blocks that aren't working

If you've blocked someone but they're still messaging you, make sure you actually completed the block. Go back to Settings and check your blocked contacts list to confirm the person is there. If they're not listed, the block didn't go through — try blocking them again.

If the person is blocked but you're still seeing their messages, you may have accidentally unblocked them, or they may have created a new account. Check the blocked list again and block any new accounts they use. If someone is harassing you across multiple accounts, consider reporting them to WhatsApp through the chat menu instead of just blocking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a blocked person tell I blocked them?

They won't receive a notification saying you blocked them, but they'll figure it out when their messages show only one checkmark and don't deliver. If they try to call you, they'll hear the phone ring but you won't receive the call, which is another sign they're blocked.

Will a blocked person see my old messages?

Yes. Blocking only stops new messages from reaching you — it doesn't erase the conversation history on their phone. If you want to remove old messages, you need to delete the chat separately after blocking them.

What if someone blocks me on WhatsApp?

Your messages will show one checkmark instead of two, and calls won't go through. You won't see their profile picture or status updates. You can still see old messages in the conversation, but you can't send new ones.

Can I block someone without them knowing my number?

No. To block someone on WhatsApp, they must already have your number saved or you must have their number saved. You can't block a random person you don't have contact information for.

Does blocking someone delete our chat history?

No. Blocking only prevents future contact — your old messages stay in the chat. If you want to erase the conversation completely, open the chat, hold down on it, and select "Delete chat".