WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It allows us to stay connected with friends and family easily through messages, calls, photos, videos and more.
However, sometimes you may find yourself blocked by a contact on WhatsApp without any explanation. Getting blocked can be frustrating and you may want to find out who blocked you and why. So, is there any way to know who blocked you on WhatsApp?
How to Know if Someone Blocked You on WhatsApp
Here are some signs that indicate you may have been blocked by someone on WhatsApp:
- The contact’s profile photo and last seen status will disappear.
- Any messages sent to the contact will always show one check mark and never get delivered.
- If the contact was in any group chats with you, they will be removed from the groups.
- Any calls made to the contact will not go through and get disconnected.
- If you try to add the contact again, it will not allow you to save the number.
If you notice any of these issues when trying to interact with a contact, it likely means you have been blocked by them on WhatsApp.
Can I Know Who Blocked Me on WhatsApp?
Unfortunately, there is no direct way on WhatsApp to find out exactly who has blocked you. WhatsApp’s privacy policy does not allow them to share such information with users.
When a user blocks someone, their privacy is prioritized, so the app will not notify the blocked contact in any way. Your messages to the blocked contact will show one check mark to you but will never get delivered to them.
WhatsApp also removes blocked contacts from any common group chats, so you won’t see their name or updates in group conversations anymore. They essentially disappear from your WhatsApp world.
How to Guess Who Blocked You on WhatsApp
Even though you can’t directly see who blocked you on WhatsApp, there are some ways to make an educated guess:
- Think about any recent arguments or disagreements with contacts – they may have blocked you after a fight.
- Check which contacts have disappeared from group chats you had in common – they likely blocked you.
- See which contacts have stopped responding to your messages suddenly – they probably blocked you.
- Think if you may have messaged/called someone too frequently – they could have gotten annoyed and blocked you.
- Consider any contacts you haven’t talked to in a long time – they may have passively blocked you after not using WhatsApp.
By process of elimination and checking unusual messaging behavior, you can probably narrow down who could have blocked you on WhatsApp. But there is no way to confirm for sure who blocked you.
Why You Can’t See Who Blocked You on WhatsApp
WhatsApp does not allow you to view who blocked you due to privacy reasons. Here are some key factors behind this limitation:
- It prevents potential harassment – If blocked contacts could see who blocked them, it may lead to harassment or unwanted contact through other means.
- It reduces social friction – Knowing who blocked you may create resentment and negatively impact existing relationships.
- The blocker’s privacy takes precedence – WhatsApp prioritizes the privacy of the user who initiated the block.
- It encourages blocking when needed – If blockers were revealed, some may hesitate to make use of this useful feature.
- The app focus is on connecting – WhatsApp wants the focus to be on making connections versus viewing blocks.
Due to these reasons, the ability to see who blocked you is intentionally left out by WhatsApp.
How to React Maturely if Someone Blocked You
Getting blocked on WhatsApp can feel frustrating and confusing, especially if you don’t know why it happened. Here are some mature ways to react to the situation:
- Don’t take it personally – The block may not have been due to something you did wrong.
- Give them space – If someone went so far as to block you, they likely need space from the friendship.
- Reflect on your behavior – Think about if you may have unintentionally upset them in some way.
- Move on – Ultimately, it’s their choice to disconnect contact with you on WhatsApp.
- Don’t pursue contact – Trying to reach them through other means will come across as disrespectful of their boundary.
- Wish them well – Focus your energy on wishing them happiness rather than resentment.
Handling the situation maturely can help give you peace of mind and prevent you from burning bridges further. With time, the block may be reversed if it was just temporary.
What to Do If You Think You Were Blocked by Mistake
In some cases, you may feel strongly that you were blocked on WhatsApp by mistake. Maybe it was an accident, or possibly someone else used their device and blocked you without their knowledge.
If you think the block was unintentional, here are some things you can do:
- Reach out politely via another medium like phone, email, etc. Explain you think you were mistakenly blocked and wanted to check in.
- Ask mutual connections to relay the message to your blocked contact about the suspected mistake.
- Wait a while before reaching out – give your contact some time to notice the accidental block.
- When messaging, remain calm and avoid accusations. Simply provide context that you think it was a mistake.
Keep in mind there is a possibility your contact did mean to block you, so don’t be too pushy. If the block was mistaken, hopefully they will realize the error and unblock you soon.
Can a Blocked Contact Tell if You Unblocked Them?
If you end up blocking someone on WhatsApp but later change your mind, you have the option to unblock them. This re-opens communication channels through the app.
However, when you unblock a contact, WhatsApp will not directly notify them. There is no message sent about being unblocked. Your contact will only know if they notice your profile photo and last seen status suddenly reappearing.
The main signs a previously blocked contact may pick up on if you unblock them include:
- Your profile photo and “last seen” status is visible again.
- They can send messages to you that get delivered.
- Any new messages you send them are received.
- They see you again in any shared WhatsApp groups.
- They can call and text you without issues.
Through these changes, the contact will realize communication is restored. But without directly telling them, they have no definitive way to know they were unblocked.
Can I Tell Who Unblocked Me on WhatsApp?
Just as you can’t directly tell who blocked you, there is also no WhatsApp feature to see who unblocked you. If someone previously blocked you but removed the block, you will only find out indirectly.
Some of the main signs you may pick up on if an old block is removed include:
- Seeing their profile picture and last seen status reappear.
- Getting messages delivered from them suddenly.
- Any messages you send them go through.
- Seeing them active in group chats again.
- Noticing you can call them without issue.
Using context clues of old blocked contacts engaging with you again, you can deduce if an unblock occurred. But there is no definitive confirmation unless the contact tells you directly they lifted your block.
Should WhatsApp Notify You if Blocked or Unblocked?
Given the confusion that can result from anonymous blocks and unblocks, some may argue WhatsApp should directly notify users if they get blocked or unblocked by contacts.
However, there are reasonable factors for why WhatsApp does not provide blocking notifications:
- It upholds blocker privacy.
- It minimizes social disruption from blocks.
- It avoids potential harassment if notify blocks.
- It keeps the focus on positive connections.
- It simplifies the user experience.
Enabling block notifications may undermine key social factors that WhatsApp seeks to maintain. The indirect system allows users to pick up context clues on blocks while respecting privacy.
Best Practices for Blocking Wisely on WhatsApp
Blocking contacts should be done thoughtfully, even if you feel it’s necessary. Here are some wise blocking practices on WhatsApp:
- Only block as a last resort after communicating doesn’t resolve problems.
- Explain your reasons clearly to the contact before blocking when possible.
- Don’t block in the heat of an argument – cool down first before deciding.
- Weigh if blocking will help the situation or escalate problems further.
- Make use of muting or hiding updates if you just need a temporary break from someone.
- Unblock once tensions ease if it was a temporary issue.
Avoid impulsive blocking decisions and use it judiciously. With care, blocking can be an effective tool to set boundaries or take space from toxic connections.
Conclusion
In summary, while WhatsApp does not directly reveal who has blocked or unblocked you, there are clear signs you can pick up on to make reasonable guesses. But ultimately, the app prioritizes user privacy so you cannot definitively see blockers.
Accept that blocker identities remain anonymous and focus your energy on mature communication, respecting space given and moving forward positively. Use context clues to pick up on any mistaken blocks and address them calmly outside WhatsApp.
Blocking wisely yourself is also crucial. Avoid rash blocking, clearly communicate with contacts beforehand when possible, and unblock once useful if tensions ease.
With awareness of how blocking functions on WhatsApp, you can now understand the limits in place, notice signs of anonymous blocks accordingly and react maturely when they occur.