Blocking tags stops posts with those words from showing up in your dashboard and search results

Tumblr's tag-blocking feature lets you hide posts that contain specific words or phrases you don't want to see. When you block a tag, Tumblr filters out any post tagged with that word — whether it's a topic that upsets you, spoilers for shows you haven't watched, or just content you're tired of seeing. The blocked post won't appear on your dashboard, in search results, or in tag feeds.

Tag blocking is different from blocking a person. Blocking a user prevents them from messaging you and hides their posts from your view. Tag blocking only hides posts with certain words, regardless of who posted them. You can block as many tags as you want, and you can unblock them anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • You block tags through your Tumblr settings under Filtering, and the change takes effect immediately across your dashboard and search.
  • Tag blocks are case-insensitive, so blocking "Game of Thrones" also blocks "game of thrones" and "GAME OF THRONES".
  • Blocked tags still appear in your notifications if someone tags you in a post, but the post itself won't show on your dashboard.
  • You can block up to 30 tags on a free account, though this limit varies by account type and may change.
  • Tag blocks only affect what you see — they don't hide your posts from others or prevent people from tagging you.

How to block a tag on desktop

Open Tumblr in a web browser and log into your account. Click the account icon in the top right corner (usually your profile picture or initials), then select Settings from the dropdown menu.

In Settings, look for the Filtering option in the left sidebar. Click it to open your filtering preferences. You'll see a text box labeled "Blocked tags" or "Tags to filter". Type the tag you want to block into this box. You don't need the # symbol — just type the word or phrase. If you want to block multiple tags, enter each one on a new line or separated by commas, depending on how Tumblr's interface displays it at the moment you're using it.

After you've entered your tags, scroll down and click Save or Apply. The tags are now blocked, and posts with those tags will stop appearing on your dashboard immediately.

How to block a tag on the Tumblr mobile app

Open the Tumblr app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings.

In Settings, look for Filtering or Content Filtering. Tap it to open your tag-blocking options. You'll see a text field where you can type tags you want to block. Enter each tag on a new line. Tap Save or Done when you're finished, and the blocks take effect right away.

What happens when you block a tag

Once a tag is blocked, Tumblr hides any post tagged with that word from your dashboard feed. If you search for that tag directly, the search results will be empty or show a message that the tag is filtered. Posts with blocked tags won't appear in your Explore page or in tag feeds you follow.

However, blocked tags still show up in your notifications. If someone reblogs your post and tags it with a blocked tag, you'll still see the notification. If someone tags you directly in a post with a blocked tag, that notification will still come through — but the post itself won't appear on your dashboard when you click the notification.

Tag blocks are personal to your account. Other people can still see and interact with posts tagged with words you've blocked. Blocking a tag doesn't hide your own posts from others or prevent people from tagging you in their posts.

How tag blocking works with variations and misspellings

Tumblr's tag filter is case-insensitive, meaning it treats uppercase and lowercase letters the same way. If you block "spoilers", Tumblr will also block posts tagged as "Spoilers", "SPOILERS", or "SpOiLeRs".

The filter does not catch intentional misspellings or variations. If you block "game of thrones" but someone tags a post "game of throne" (missing the s) or "got" (the abbreviation), those posts will still appear on your dashboard. If you want to block multiple versions of the same tag, you'll need to add each variation separately.

Spaces and hyphens matter. Blocking "mental health" will not block "mentalhealth" or "mental-health". If you're trying to block a common phrase, consider blocking just the key word instead — for example, blocking "mental" will catch more posts than blocking the full phrase.

Unblocking tags you no longer want to filter

To unblock a tag, go back to Settings and open Filtering. Find the tag in your blocked tags list and delete it. On desktop, you can usually highlight the tag and press Delete or Backspace. On mobile, tap the tag and look for a delete or remove button, or long-press the tag to see options.

Save your changes, and posts with that tag will start appearing on your dashboard again. There's no waiting period — the change takes effect immediately.

Why you might want to block tags

People block tags for different reasons. Some block spoiler tags for shows or movies they haven't finished watching yet. Others block tags for topics that trigger anxiety or distress — mental health crises, violence, politics, or other heavy subjects. Some users block tags for content they're just tired of seeing, like certain fandoms or memes that have flooded their dashboard.

Tag blocking is also useful if you follow a blog that posts about many topics and you only want to see some of them. Instead of unfollowing the blog entirely, you can block the tags for the content you don't care about and keep seeing the posts you do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block tags on my phone if I use the web version?

Yes. Tag blocks you set on desktop apply to the mobile app and vice versa, because they're tied to your account, not your device. If you block a tag in Settings on your computer, it will be blocked when you open the app on your phone.

What's the difference between blocking a tag and blocking a person?

Blocking a tag hides posts with that word from your view but doesn't affect the person who posted it. Blocking a person prevents them from messaging you, seeing your posts, and following you. You'd block a person if you don't want to interact with them at all; you'd block a tag if you just don't want to see certain content.

If I block a tag, can people still tag me in posts with that tag?

Yes. Blocking a tag only affects what you see on your own dashboard. Other people can still tag posts however they want, and they can still tag you in posts with blocked tags. You'll get a notification, but the post won't show on your dashboard unless you click the notification.

How many tags can I block?

Most accounts can block up to 30 tags, though this limit may vary depending on your account type or changes Tumblr makes to the feature. If you've hit the limit and want to block more, you'll need to unblock a tag first.

Will blocking a tag hide posts from my followers?

No. Tag blocks are only for your own account. When you block a tag, it only affects what appears on your dashboard and in your search results. Your followers will still see your posts, and other users will still see posts tagged with words you've blocked.