WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It offers easy communication through text, voice messages, video calls, and more. However, sometimes you may find that your messages are not going through to a contact, or their online status is always shown as unavailable. This likely means they have blocked you on WhatsApp.
What happens when someone blocks you on WhatsApp?
When someone blocks you on WhatsApp, it means they have prevented you from viewing their profile photo, online status, or sending them any messages. From your end, your messages will show one check mark instead of two, indicating they have not been delivered. You will no longer see their “last seen” status indicating when they were last online. Any calls you try to make to them will not go through. Essentially, you are completely blocked from communicating with them over WhatsApp.
Changes on your end
Here are the key changes you will notice on your WhatsApp when someone blocks you:
- Your messages will only show one gray check mark instead of two blue check marks. This means your messages have not been delivered to the blocked contact.
- You will not be able to see their profile picture or status. It will show “This user’s profile photo and status are not available.”
- You will not see their online/last seen status. It will show “Last seen long ago”
- Any WhatsApp calls you try to make to them will not go through.
- If you are in a common WhatsApp group, you will not see their profile picture or status updates in the group.
- If they block you after seeing your messages, the blue ticks will remain on your end but not theirs.
Essentially, it will seem like your messages are going into a void, with no indication if the contact has seen them or not. Your access to view their profile and online status is completely revoked.
No notification when you’re blocked
One key thing to note is that you will not get any notification when someone blocks you on WhatsApp. The app does not explicitly tell you if you have been blocked. Instead, you will notice the changes gradually as your messages remain undelivered and you lose access to view their profile. This allows for more privacy as the blocker’s identity is not revealed to you.
How to confirm if someone blocked you
Since WhatsApp does not directly tell you if you’ve been blocked, here are some ways to confirm it:
Try calling them
Attempt to make a WhatsApp call to the contact. If the call does not go through even with good internet connectivity on your end, it likely means you have been blocked.
Ask a mutual friend
Reach out to a mutual friend who is still in contact with the person and ask them to confirm if they have blocked you. They will be able to view the profile photo and status that you cannot see.
Send a message requesting reply
Send a message saying something like “Please reply if you get this” or asking a question. If you do not get a response even after prolonged time, chances are high that you have been blocked.
Check group activities
If you share a mutual WhatsApp group with the contact, check their activities there. If you can no longer view their profile picture, status updates, or read receipts in the group, it means they have blocked you.
Use a block checker tool
There are some third-party apps and tools that claim to detect if someone has blocked you on WhatsApp. However, these tend to be unreliable and should be used with caution.
Relying on the above few manual methods is the safest way to confirm a block. If all indications point to you being blocked, it is best to move on and respect the contact’s privacy and decision.
What happens when a blocked contact unblocks you?
If someone who had blocked you on WhatsApp decides to unblock you later, here is what will happen:
- You will be able to view their profile picture and last seen status again
- Any new messages you send will show two blue ticks when delivered and read
- Your calls to them will go through normally
- In mutual groups, you will be able to see their updates and profile picture
- You will not get any notification when you are unblocked
- Your chat history with them remains intact
Essentially, all access that you had lost when you were blocked will be restored. The blocking is not permanent, and can be reversed at any time by the blocker.
Reasons why someone may have blocked you on WhatsApp
Here are some common reasons why someone may have blocked you on WhatsApp:
You were being rude or inappropriate
If you were sending offensive messages or constantly bothering them, they likely blocked you. Respect boundaries in the future.
They wanted more privacy
Some people block contacts so their online status or personal updates are not seen. It may be a privacy-seeking move.
You had an argument or misunderstanding
Disagreements or fights can sometimes lead to blocking. Give it time, and you can potentially reconnect.
They lost interest in communicating
If conversations faded out, blocking may be a way for them to distance themselves from unwanted chats.
Your relationship ended
Blocking an ex or someone you previously dated can help prevent temptation to reconnect and move on.
They met someone new
New relationships may lead to blocking old contacts to avoid uncomfortable situations.
You were being too persistent
Repeated calls or constant pestering when your messages go unanswered can lead to a block.
You overshared or made them uncomfortable
Inappropriate sharing about private matters, especially with casual contacts, may have led to the block.
There could be various personal reasons that motivated their decision to block you. It is usually not done out of spite, but for creating healthy boundaries and space.
What should you do if you are blocked by someone on WhatsApp?
If you find out someone has blocked you on WhatsApp, here are some tips on handling it gracefully:
- Do not try to contact them through other means right away. Give them space.
- Reflect on your recent conversations and behavior to see if you said or did something that crossed a line.
- Respect their decision and move on. Avoid finding ways to get around the block.
- Delete their contact to resist any urge to reach out from other accounts or numbers.
- Accept that this person no longer wishes to communicate with you currently.
- If it was a misunderstanding, you can try to mend things later, but not immediately.
- Never harass them or spread negativity about being blocked.
- Focus on other contacts who reciprocate positive communication.
While being blocked can feel upsetting initially, remember it is about creating healthy boundaries. Make use of the experience to improve how you connect with others moving forward.
Can you get blocked on WhatsApp without sending a message?
Yes, it is entirely possible to get blocked by a contact on WhatsApp without ever sending them a single message. There are a few scenarios where this can happen:
- They removed you as a contact from their phone address book. This automatically blocks you on WhatsApp.
- They blocked your number directly on their phone settings, which cascades to WhatsApp.
- They heard something undesirable about you from others, motivating a block.
- You may have shared your number publicly, leading them to preemptively block strangers.
- An accidental block can occur by tapping settings without intent to block.
- Compromised accounts may block all contacts as part of hacking activities.
- Mistaken identity can lead to blocking the wrong contact.
So in summary, yes a WhatsApp user can block you even if you have not messaged them. Some common reasons include removing your phone number, blocking you externally, hearing something bad about you or wanting to prevent any future contact.
Can you get blocked on WhatsApp without sharing any contact?
It is not possible to get blocked by someone on WhatsApp if you have had zero contact with them and not shared your phone number in any way. Some key points:
- WhatsApp requires users to have each other’s mobile numbers saved in order to connect.
- If you have never met someone and not shared your number, they have no way of identifying or blocking you.
- Blocking requires the specific mobile number to be inputted and confirmed on WhatsApp.
- If someone is completely unknown to you and has no access to your number, you cannot be blocked.
- Getting blocked requires some level of prior direct or indirect connection.
- Wrong number blocks can occur if your number was shared incorrectly.
- Blocking outsiders who send unsolicited messages also requires sharing contact.
So in summary, no it is not possible to be blocked on WhatsApp if you have had absolutely zero contact or sharing of your phone number with that person directly or indirectly.
What to do if someone blocks you without any reason?
Getting blocked by someone on WhatsApp without any explanation can be confusing and frustrating. However, here are some productive tips on how to handle it:
- Avoid taking it personally, as it may not have anything to do with you. Focus on your mental peace.
- Do not try to find ways to contact them after being blocked, respect their decision.
- Reflect on your recent conversations in case you misunderstood something as harmless that was inappropriate.
- See if you have any mutual connections who can shed light on the reason in a healthy way.
- The block may have been accidental in some cases. You can try contacting once from another number.
- Give them space and time. If it was a genuine misunderstanding or mistake, they may unblock you themselves later.
- Do not spread negativity or resentment about being blocked. Take the high road.
- Consider it a filtered connection and focus time on positive relationships in your life.
While being blocked without reason can hurt, avoid overthinking and harassment. Move forward positively, and be open to communicating if the blocker reaches out to you later.
What does it mean when someone blocks you on WhatsApp?
Some key things to keep in mind when someone blocks you on WhatsApp:
- It means they wish to cut off communication and prevent any messages from you reaching them.
- It does not always reflect something bad about you, but more about protecting their peace.
- They value their privacy and do not wish to have their online status tracked.
- Something in the conversation dynamic made them uncomfortable enough to block contact.
- It can mean the relationship has fizzled out and they have moved on from interacting.
- You may have overstepped boundaries in tone, frequency or content of messages.
- They preemptively block strangers or numbers shared publicly to avoid unsolicited messaging.
- You became too intense or demanding of their time and attention.
- Too much unwanted communication perceived as spam can motivate blocking.
- It is a form of creating distance to protect their mental peace.
Being blocked is not something to take personally in most cases. Reflect on how you can improve communication moving forward and be open to positive reconnection if it happens.
Is it healthy to block someone on WhatsApp?
Here are some perspectives on whether blocking someone on WhatsApp is a healthy practice or not:
- Blocking can be healthy when someone is harassing you or crossing boundaries. It protects your mental peace.
- Preventing an ex from contacting you helps both parties move on and can be healthy.
- Blocking someone you resent prevents you from lashing out and toxically engaging.
- It is healthy when you want to prioritize your time better with quality relationships.
- Sudden blocking without communication can promote passive aggression and misunderstanding.
- Constant blocking and unblocking can signify deeper issues in maintaining relationships.
- Blocking can be avoided by politely communicating boundaries and need for space.
- Healthy blocking stems from self-care, unhealthy from bitterness and passive aggression.
Overall, blocking on WhatsApp can be a healthy way to create boundaries when done constructively. The intention behind it matters more than the action itself.
What happens if you send a message to someone who blocked you on WhatsApp?
Here is what happens if you try to send a WhatsApp message to someone who has blocked you:
- Your messages will remain stuck on a single check mark and never get delivered.
- You will keep typing messages, but the blocked person will never see them.
- There is no notification or error message that your texts failed to send.
- From your end, it will seem like you are able to text them normally despite the block.
- Your messages will not take up any space on their phone storage or memory.
- Once they eventually unblock you, all your messages will deliver in a sudden influx.
- The blocking is one-sided, so you will never know directly if someone blocked you.
- You cannot tell if they read your pending messages unless the block is removed.
So while you are able to keep texting, all your messages end up stuck in a blocked void. They will only be visible if the contact chooses to unblock you in the future.
Should you block someone back who blocked you on WhatsApp?
If someone has blocked you on WhatsApp, is it wise to block them back? Here are some perspectives:
- Blocking back can give a sense of control and balance.
- It may be satisfying emotionally but will not give you any closure.
- The blocker is unlikely to realize or care if you block them back.
- Blocking back prevents you from seeing their messages if they unblock you later.
- It can prevent temptation to keep checking their online status or profile.
- Mutual blocking cements the disconnection and may prevent future reconciliation.
- Not blocking back leaves the door open in case their block was accidental.
- Focusing your energy on new connections is healthier than blocking back.
Based on the dynamics of your relationship, blocking back may give temporary satisfaction but make reconnection difficult. Avoid taking it personally, and assess if it provides any real long-term benefits.
Conclusion
Being blocked on WhatsApp can be disheartening, especially without any reason given. However, it is best not to retaliate or find ways to get around it. Respect their need for space, reflect on how you can improve communication habits, and be open to reconciling if the blocker reaches out. With the right perspective, a block can be an opportunity for growth and focusing on more positive connections.