Blocking someone on OfferUp stops them from contacting you, viewing your listings, and seeing your profile

When you block a user on OfferUp, they can no longer message you, see items you have posted for sale, or access your profile page. The block is one-way — they may not know they are blocked, and they cannot unblock themselves. If someone is harassing you, making lowball offers repeatedly, or you simply do not want to deal with them, blocking is faster than reporting and does not require OfferUp staff to review your case.

The process takes about 30 seconds and works the same way whether you are using the OfferUp app on iPhone or Android, or the website on a computer. You can unblock someone later if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block someone from their profile, from a message thread, or from a listing comment — whichever you see first.
  • A blocked user cannot message you, see your listings, or view your profile, but they may not receive a notification that they are blocked.
  • Blocking is different from reporting; reporting sends a complaint to OfferUp staff about rule violations, while blocking just hides you from that person.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked users list in your account settings.

How to block someone from a message thread

If someone is messaging you and you want to stop hearing from them, the fastest way is to block them directly from the conversation. Open the message thread with that person, then tap or click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the chat window. Select "Block User" from the menu that appears.

On the app, the three-dot menu is usually in the upper right of the message screen. On the website, it may appear when you hover over the message thread. After you tap "Block User," OfferUp will ask you to confirm — tap "Block" again to finish. The conversation will disappear from your messages, and that person can no longer send you new messages.

How to block someone from their profile

If you are looking at someone's profile and want to block them without messaging, tap or click the three-dot menu icon on their profile page. This menu is usually in the top right corner. Select "Block User" and confirm when OfferUp asks you to verify.

You might land on someone's profile by clicking their name from a listing comment, a previous message, or a search result. The block option is always in that three-dot menu, no matter how you reached their profile.

How to block someone from a listing comment

If someone is leaving unwanted comments on one of your listings, you can block them without opening a message thread. Find the comment they left on your item, then tap or click the three-dot menu next to their comment. Select "Block User" and confirm.

This is useful when someone is spamming your listing with repeated low offers or rude comments. Blocking them stops them from commenting further and prevents them from seeing that listing or any of your other items.

What happens when you block someone

Once you block a user, they lose access to your profile immediately. They cannot see your listings, your reviews, your follower count, or any information you have shared. If they try to message you, the message will not go through. If they search for items you are selling, your listings will not appear in their results.

The blocked user does not receive a notification saying they have been blocked. They may figure it out if they try to message you and the message fails to send, or if they notice your profile is no longer visible. However, OfferUp does not send them an alert.

Blocking does not delete past messages or comments. If you want to remove a conversation from your inbox, you can delete the thread separately after blocking.

How to unblock someone later

If you change your mind and want to unblock someone, go to your account settings. On the app, tap your profile icon at the bottom, then tap "Settings." On the website, click your profile picture in the top right and select "Settings." Look for "Blocked Users" or "Privacy" — the exact label varies depending on your app version.

Tap or click "Blocked Users" to see your full list of blocked accounts. Find the person you want to unblock and tap or click the "Unblock" button next to their name. They will immediately be able to see your profile and listings again, and they can message you.

Blocking versus reporting: which one to use

Blocking and reporting are two different tools. Blocking hides you from one person and stops them from contacting you. Reporting sends a complaint to OfferUp staff about someone who has broken the site rules — for example, someone asking you to pay outside the app, someone threatening you, or someone posting a fake listing.

If someone is just annoying or you do not want to deal with them, blocking is enough. If someone is breaking OfferUp's rules or scamming people, report them so that OfferUp can investigate and potentially remove their account. You can do both at the same time — block them to protect yourself, and report them to protect other users.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

OfferUp does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they try to message you and the message fails, or if they notice your profile is no longer visible to them. There is no official way for them to confirm the block.

If I block someone, can they still see messages I sent before?

No. Once you block someone, they cannot see your profile or any of your past messages. The conversation is hidden from their view. However, the messages still exist in OfferUp's system — if you unblock them later, they may be able to see the old conversation again depending on OfferUp's settings.

What if someone creates a new account to contact me after I block them?

If you suspect someone is using a new account to harass you after being blocked, report the new account to OfferUp. Include details about the original account you blocked and explain that this appears to be the same person. OfferUp staff can investigate and take action if they confirm it is the same user breaking the rules.

Does blocking someone remove their comments from my listings?

Blocking prevents them from leaving new comments, but it does not automatically delete comments they already left. You can delete individual comments yourself by tapping the three-dot menu on that comment and selecting "Delete." This is separate from blocking.

Can I block someone on OfferUp if I have not messaged them yet?

Yes. You can block someone from their profile or from a comment they left on your listing, even if you have never exchanged messages. You do not need to have any prior contact with them to use the block feature.