What Happens When You Block Someone on Instagram: Complete Guide

SocialRails Team

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Instagram Privacy

Thinking about blocking someone on Instagram but not sure what actually happens? Whether it's an ex, a spam account, or someone who makes you uncomfortable, blocking is one of Instagram's most powerful privacy tools.

This complete guide explains exactly what happens when you block someone on Instagram, how to do it properly, and what you should know about the consequences.

What Exactly Happens When You Block Someone?

Immediate Changes for the Blocked Person

They Can't See Your Profile:

• Your profile appears as if it doesn't exist
• They can't view your posts, stories, or highlights
• Your profile photo becomes a generic placeholder
• Your bio and follower/following counts disappear

They Can't Find You in Search:

• Your username won't appear in their search results
• They can't find you through mutual friends
• Your account becomes completely invisible to them
• Even direct links to your profile won't work

All Interactions Are Removed:

• They're automatically unfollowed from your account
• You're automatically unfollowed from their account
• All likes on each other's posts are removed
• All comments between you are hidden
• Any tags of each other are removed

Communication Is Cut Off:

• They can't send you direct messages
• Existing DM conversations disappear from their view
• They can't mention you in posts or stories
• They can't tag you in photos or videos

What You'll Experience After Blocking

Your View Changes Too:

• You won't see their posts in your feed
• Their stories won't appear in your story bar
• You can't search for their username
• Existing DMs with them disappear from your inbox
• You can't visit their profile or see their content

Mutual Friends Considerations:

• Your mutual friends can still see both of your accounts
• They might still see the blocked person's comments on mutual friends' posts
• Group conversations in DMs might be affected
• Mutual friends won't be notified about the block

Step-by-Step: How to Block Someone on Instagram

Method 1: Block from Their Profile

Step 1: Visit Their Profile

1. Go to the person's Instagram profile
2. Tap the three dots (...) in the top right corner
3. Select "Block" from the menu
4. Confirm by tapping "Block" again

Step 2: Choose Additional Options (Optional)

• "Block [username] and new accounts they may create"
• This prevents them from creating new accounts to contact you

Method 2: Block from Direct Messages

If You Have an Active Conversation:

1. Open your DM conversation with them
2. Tap their username at the top
3. Tap "Block"
4. Confirm your choice

Method 3: Block from Comments

When They Comment on Your Posts:

1. Find their comment on your post
2. Swipe left on the comment (iOS) or long-press (Android)
3. Select "Block [username]"
4. Confirm the block

Method 4: Block from Settings

Through Your Privacy Settings:

1. Go to your profile and tap the three lines menu
2. Select "Settings"
3. Choose "Privacy"
4. Tap "Blocked Accounts"
5. Tap the "+" to add someone to block
6. Search for their username and select "Block"

Can Blocked People Tell They've Been Blocked?

Signs Someone Might Notice

Clear Indicators:

• Your profile appears non-existent when they search
• They can't find you in mutual friends' follower lists
• Previous conversations in DMs disappear
• Their follower count decreases by one (if they were following you)

What They'll See:

• "User not found" when trying to visit your profile
• No search results when looking for your username
• "This person isn't available right now" in some cases

Instagram Doesn't Send Notifications

No Direct Alerts:

• Instagram never sends a notification saying "You've been blocked"
• There's no official way for them to confirm they're blocked
• They have to figure it out through the signs listed above

They Might Suspect:

• Especially if they know your username and suddenly can't find you
• If they notice you're no longer in their followers/following lists
• If mutual friends can still see you but they can't

What About Stories and Highlights?

Story Visibility After Blocking

Complete Story Separation:

• They can't see any of your current stories
• They can't view your story highlights
• You won't see their stories in your feed
• Neither of you appears in each other's story viewers list

If You Had Close Friends Stories

Close Friends Lists:

• They're automatically removed from your Close Friends list
• They can't see any Close Friends stories you post
• You're removed from their Close Friends list too
• Previous Close Friends story views are hidden

How Blocking Affects Instagram Features

Tagging and Mentions

Complete Mention Block:

• They can't tag you in posts or stories
• They can't mention you in comments using @username
• You can't tag or mention them either
• Existing tags between you are hidden (but not deleted)

Live Videos and IGTV

Live Streaming:

• They can't join your live videos
• They can't comment on your live streams
• You won't see them in live video viewers
• You can't join their live videos either

Instagram Shopping

If You Have a Business Account:

• They can't see products you've tagged in posts
• They can't access your Instagram Shop
• Purchase notifications won't reach them
• They can't share your shopping posts

Group Chats and Multiple Account Issues

What Happens to Group DMs

Existing Group Conversations:

• Both of you remain in existing group chats
• You can both see each other's messages in groups
• Blocking doesn't remove anyone from group chats
• You might want to leave groups manually if needed

Creating New Groups:

• Neither of you can add the other to new group chats
• Mutual friends can still add both of you separately
• You'll both see each other if added to the same new group

Multiple Instagram Accounts

If They Have Multiple Accounts:

• Blocking only affects the specific account you blocked
• They can still see you from other accounts they own
• You need to block each account separately
• Instagram's "Block new accounts they create" option helps but isn't perfect

If You Have Multiple Accounts:

• Blocking only applies to the account you used to block them
• They can still see your other Instagram accounts
• You need to block them from each of your accounts if needed

How to Unblock Someone

The Unblocking Process

Step 1: Access Blocked Accounts List

1. Go to your profile and tap the three lines menu
2. Select "Settings"
3. Choose "Privacy"
4. Tap "Blocked Accounts"

Step 2: Unblock the Person

1. Find their username in your blocked list
2. Tap "Unblock" next to their name
3. Confirm by tapping "Unblock" again

What Happens When You Unblock

Immediate Changes:

• They can find and visit your profile again
• They can see your posts and stories
• They can send you DMs and comment on posts
• They can tag and mention you again

What Doesn't Automatically Return:

• You don't automatically follow each other again
• Previous DM conversations don't reappear immediately
• Old likes and comments might not return right away
• You'll need to manually re-follow each other if desired

Alternatives to Blocking

Restrict Instead of Block

What Restricting Does:

• They can still see your profile and posts
• Their comments on your posts are only visible to them (unless you approve)
• They can't see when you're active or read their DMs
• Their messages go to your Message Requests folder

When to Use Restrict:

• For people you don't want to completely cut off
• Family members or colleagues you can't block entirely
• When you want to monitor their activity without them knowing

Mute Their Stories and Posts

Muting Options:

• Mute their posts (they won't appear in your feed)
• Mute their stories (they won't appear in your story bar)
• They won't know they're muted
• You're still following each other

Best For:

• Content you don't want to see but don't need to block the person
• Temporary situations where you need a break
• Maintaining relationships while controlling what you see

Remove Followers

How It Works:

• They can't see your posts anymore (if you're private)
• They can still see your profile and send follow requests
• Less drastic than blocking
• Good for private accounts wanting to control followers

Privacy Settings to Consider

Make Your Account Private

Benefits of Private Accounts:

• Only approved followers can see your posts
• Non-followers can only see your profile picture and bio
• You control who can follow you
• Adds an extra layer of protection

Story Privacy Controls

Customize Story Visibility:

• Hide your stories from specific people
• Create Close Friends lists for sensitive content
• Control who can share your stories
• Limit story replies to people you follow

Comment Controls

Manage Who Can Comment:

• Limit comments to followers only
• Block comments from specific accounts
• Filter out offensive comments automatically
• Manually approve comments before they appear

When You Should Consider Blocking

Clear Situations for Blocking

Harassment or Bullying:

• Someone is consistently leaving mean comments
• They're sending threatening or inappropriate DMs
• They're sharing your content without permission
• They're creating fake accounts to contact you

Privacy Concerns:

• Ex-partners you don't want seeing your content
• Former friends or colleagues after falling out
• People who screenshot and share your stories elsewhere
• Anyone who makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable

Spam and Fake Accounts:

• Accounts constantly DMing promotional content
• Fake accounts trying to scam you
• Bots that constantly comment irrelevant things
• Accounts impersonating people you know

When Blocking Might Not Be the Best Option

Consider Alternatives If:

• The person is a family member (try restricting instead)
• It's a temporary disagreement with a friend
• You work together and blocking could cause issues
• The behavior is minor and other controls might work

Legal and Safety Considerations

Document Harassment First

Before Blocking Harassment:

• Take screenshots of threatening messages
• Document patterns of unwanted contact
• Save evidence of any illegal behavior
• Report serious threats to authorities if needed

Report to Instagram

Use Instagram's Reporting Tools:

• Report harassment, spam, or fake accounts
• Instagram investigates reported accounts
• Serious violations can result in account suspension
• Helps protect other users from similar behavior

When to Involve Law Enforcement

Serious Situations:

• Actual threats of violence
• Stalking behavior that extends beyond Instagram
• Sharing intimate images without consent
• Identity theft or impersonation for fraud

Managing Blocked Accounts Long-Term

Regular Review

Check Your Blocked List Periodically:

• Some situations resolve over time
• You might want to unblock after cooling-off periods
• Remove blocks that are no longer necessary
• Keep the list manageable and current

Consider Your Mental Health

Blocking for Wellness:

• It's okay to block anyone who negatively impacts your mental health
• You don't owe anyone access to your social media
• Protecting your peace of mind is always valid
• Social media should be a positive space for you

Conclusion

Blocking someone on Instagram is a powerful tool for protecting your privacy and maintaining a positive social media experience. When you block someone, they lose complete access to your profile, posts, and stories, and all interactions between you are hidden.

Key Points to Remember:

• Blocking is completely private - Instagram doesn't notify the blocked person
• All interactions and follows are immediately removed
• You can always unblock someone later if needed
• Alternatives like restricting or muting might be better for some situations

Quick Action Steps:

1. Block anyone who makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable
2. Use restrictions for people you can't fully block
3. Regularly review your privacy settings
4. Don't hesitate to prioritize your mental health and safety

Remember, your Instagram account is your personal space. You have every right to control who can access your content and interact with you. Blocking isn't mean or dramatic - it's a normal part of managing your digital boundaries.

Whether you're dealing with harassment, protecting your privacy, or simply curating a better social media experience, Instagram's blocking feature gives you complete control over your online interactions.

For more Instagram guidance, explore our posts on posting to Instagram from Mac, resetting your explore page, and managing Facebook comments.