How to block and unblock someone on Instagram

First and foremost, social media should be safe.

Unfortunately, not everyone online has the best intentions – for this reason, social media applications use security and privacy measures to protect you from other accounts. With these settings, you control who interacts with your account by liking posts, leaving comments, and sending messages. They also safeguard you from content you don’t want to see.

Whether you’re receiving unkind DMs or want to remove your ex from your feed, the block feature on Instagram is your friend. Hitting “Block” means a user won’t be able to find your profile. The action also removes them from your follower and following lists. Don’t be shy about using this feature – you deserve to feel comfortable on the app.

Sometimes, things change, and you want to unblock someone scrubbed from your feed. Don’t fret: we can help.

Add another tool to your social media safety belt and learn how to block and unblock someone on Instagram.

How do you block someone on Instagram?

There are several ways to lessen your interactions with another user on Instagram. You can mute messages and posts if you want to hang on to that follow but avoid their content. To prevent strangers from viewing your profile, you can make your account private to followers.

But if someone is making your experience on the app unpleasant, it may be time to block them. Once blocked, the user’s previous likes and comments will no longer appear on your posts, and the person won’t be able to message you. Instagram will also prevent the blocked user from finding your account in a search. However, blocked Instagrammers can still see your likes and comments on public accounts and accounts you follow.

Mobile (iOS and Android)

How to block a user from their profile:

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Click on the search icon (shaped like a magnifying glass) at the bottom of the screen.
3. Type the name or handle of the user you wish to block into the search bar, then select their account to open their profile.
4. Tap the three dots in the upper-right-hand corner of the user’s profile page.
5. From the pop-up menu, click “Block.”
6. Tap on “Block” a second time to confirm your choice.
7. If you feel your safety is at risk, select “Block and report” in step 5. This will report the account to Instagram for violating the app’s community guidelines.

How to block a user from a chat:

1. From the app’s home screen, tap the messenger icon at the top right corner (shaped like a paper airplane or chat bubble).
2. Click the chat with the person you want to block.
3. Tap on their name (not profile picture).
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select “Block,” then click again to confirm.
5. If you feel your safety is at risk, return to the menu in step 4 and select “Report.” This will report the account to Instagram for violating the app’s community guidelines.

How to see who you’ve blocked on Instagram

Are you curious to see everyone you’ve blocked? Here’s how to view a complete list of these users:

Mobile (iOS and Android)

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Tap on your profile at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Select the three horizontal lines (the hamburger icon) in the top right corner.
4. Tap “Settings.”
5. Select “Privacy.”
6. Tap “Blocked accounts” for a list of all blocked users.

How to unblock a user on Instagram

Do you want to invite a blocked user back to your socials? Here’s how to unblock someone on Instagram:

Desktop

1. Open Instagram in your web browser and log in to your account.
2. Use the search bar at the top of the page to find the user you wish to unblock.
3. Click on the account, then select “Unblock.”

Mobile (iOS and Android)

From the blocked user’s profile:

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Click on the search icon (shaped like a magnifying glass) at the bottom of the screen.
3. Type the name or handle of the user you wish to block into the search bar, then select their account to open their profile.
4. Select the blue “Unblock” button on their profile page, then confirm your choice.

From your settings:

1. Open the Instagram app.
2. Tap your profile icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Select the three lines (the hamburger icon) in the top right-hand corner.
4. In the pop-up menu, click on “Settings.”
5. Tap “Privacy.”
6. Select “Blocked accounts.”
7. Click the blue “Unblock” button next to the account of the user you wish to unblock, then confirm your choice.

What happens when you unblock someone on Instagram?

The user will once again be able to find and view your content, send you messages, and interact with posts. However, likes and comments on your posts that disappeared when you blocked them will not return – they’re gone for good.

FAQs about using Instagram safely

To make the most of blocking or unblocking, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of these features. If you still have questions, here are the answers to common queries.

If you block someone on Instagram, will they know?

Instagram will never notify a user you’ve blocked. However, the person may infer the change because they can no longer send you messages or view your content.

What does a “user not found” mean on Instagram?

If clicking on or searching for an account brings up a “User not found” message, the user may be suspended or banned from the app. Otherwise, they may have chosen to take a step back from Instagram and disabled or deleted their account.

What’s the difference between restricting and blocking on Instagram?

When you restrict a user, they still follow you and can view your content – the app just hides their comments and messages from you. If you’re leaning toward blocking a user but are concerned they’ll notice the change, you can restrict the person instead, and they’ll never be the wiser.

What does it mean to mute a user on Instagram?

Muting is a way to control your interactions without restricting or blocking another user. When you mute a person, Instagram will no longer show you their posts, stories, and DMs – but you both still follow each other and can view each other’s posts. Consider muting a content break, not a change to your privacy settings.

Learn more about Instagram with Linktree

Enjoy your time on social media by taking control of your privacy.

Instagram has a wealth of settings to improve your experience of the app and keep you safe – and we can teach you all about them. Understand how other users interact with your content by checking who views your stories and sifting through Instagram Insights. Plus, protect your privacy by learning how to hide likes and discover if Instagram notifies other users when you screenshot a story.