WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It’s a great way to stay connected with friends and family. However, sometimes you may wish to block someone on WhatsApp if they are harassing you or making you feel uncomfortable.
Can you permanently block someone on WhatsApp?
Yes, it is possible to permanently block someone on WhatsApp so they can no longer contact you or see your online status. Here’s how it works:
- Open the WhatsApp chat with the contact you want to block
- Tap on the contact’s name at the top of the chat window
- Scroll down and tap “Block contact”
- A confirmation popup will appear. Tap “Block” to confirm.
Once blocked, the contact will no longer be able to:
- Send you messages or call you on WhatsApp
- See your profile photo, status, or when you were last online
- Add you to WhatsApp groups
The block is permanent and can only be reversed if you unblock the contact. WhatsApp does not notify contacts when you block them.
Does blocking delete the chat history?
No, blocking a contact does not delete your chat history with them. All messages you previously exchanged will still be available in the chat thread, but the blocked contact can no longer send you new messages.
Can a blocked contact see your online status?
No, a blocked contact cannot see your “last seen” status indicating when you were last online. They also cannot tell when you are online or view any updates to your profile photo or status.
What happens if a blocked contact tries to message you?
If a blocked contact attempts to send you a message on WhatsApp, it will not go through. They will not receive a notification or indication that you have blocked them. The message will remain pending on their end but will not be delivered.
Can you get messages from a blocked contact in a group chat?
If you block someone but are both still members of a common WhatsApp group, the blocked contact can still send messages in the group chat. Their messages in the group chat will be visible to all participants except you. You will see a notice that a message was sent by a blocked contact.
How do I unblock someone on WhatsApp if I change my mind?
If you decide to unblock a contact after blocking them, here’s how to do it:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked contacts
- Tap the “Unblock” button next to the contact you want to unblock
- Confirm unblocking in the popup
This will remove the block so they can message and call you again. The chat history will still be intact.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes, when you block a contact on WhatsApp, they are not notified or alerted in any way. There is no indication to them that they have been blocked. The conversation will simply disappear on their end but all previous messages will remain visible.
Will blocking prevent a contact from seeing my profile picture and status updates?
Yes, blocking someone on WhatsApp prevents them from viewing any changes to your profile picture, status, or when you were last online. Your information and activity on WhatsApp will be completely invisible to a blocked contact.
Can I block a contact on WhatsApp without blocking their phone number?
Unfortunately no, blocking a contact on WhatsApp automatically blocks their phone number as well. They will be unable to call or text you after being blocked on WhatsApp. The only way to block them on WhatsApp but allow phone calls and SMS is to block their number directly on your phone.
Is there a limit to how many people I can block on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp does not currently limit the number of contacts you can block. You can block as many individual contacts as you want by repeating the blocking process for each one. The only limit is that if you block too many contacts in a short period of time, WhatsApp may temporarily limit any new blocks for spam prevention.
Can I block someone who is not in my contacts?
You can block anyone on WhatsApp, even if they are not already saved in your contacts. To do this:
- In the chat window, tap on the contact’s name at the top
- Scroll down and tap “Block [phone number]”
- Confirm the block in the popup
This will permanently block the phone number from communicating with you on WhatsApp.
Is there a way to block multiple contacts at once?
Unfortunately WhatsApp does not currently have a feature to block multiple contacts simultaneously. Each contact has to be blocked individually using the steps outlined above. However, the process only takes a few seconds for each block.
Can I see a list of all blocked contacts?
Yes, WhatsApp allows you to view a list of all your blocked contacts and unblock them if desired:
- Go to WhatsApp Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked contacts
- You will see the full list of blocked contacts here
- Tap “Unblock” to remove the block for any contacts
Does blocking prevent a contact from joining groups with you?
Blocking someone on WhatsApp prevents them from being able to add you to any new groups. However, if you are both members of an existing group, blocking will not remove them from the group.
Can I block someone on WhatsApp if they use a different phone number?
Blocking is tied to a specific phone number on WhatsApp. If you block someone and they start using a new phone number, they will be able to message and call you from the new number unless you also block it.
Is there a way to block WhatsApp contacts by country?
Unfortunately, there is no built-in WhatsApp feature to block all contacts from a certain country or region. You have to block each contact individually. However, you can use your phone’s Do Not Disturb settings to block all calls and messages from specific countries if needed.
Can I request WhatsApp to add a mass blocking feature?
WhatsApp provides a few options to request new features. You can tweet feedback to @WhatsApp on Twitter, email them at [email protected], or submit requests and feedback through WhatsApp FAQ.
Does blocking prevent a contact from seeing my WhatsApp status updates?
Yes, when you block someone on WhatsApp, they can no longer view any temporary status updates you post. This includes text, photo, and video status messages that normally disappear after 24 hours.
Can I block someone on WhatsApp temporarily?
WhatsApp blocks are designed to be permanent until manually unblocked. There is no built-in way to temporarily block a contact for a certain time period. The only option is a permanent block that you later remove by unblocking the contact.
Is there a way to tell if a contact has blocked me on WhatsApp?
There is no definitive way to tell if someone has blocked you on WhatsApp, since you will not receive any notification. However, some signs include:
- Your messages remain undelivered and pending
- You can no longer see their profile picture or last seen status
- Any calls you make to them are not going through
Can someone who I blocked still report my WhatsApp account?
Yes, even if you block someone they can still report your WhatsApp account if they feel you violated the terms of service. Blocking does not prevent them from flagging your account for investigation.
Will my data be deleted if I get blocked by someone on WhatsApp?
No, you will not lose any of your WhatsApp data or chat history if another user blocks you. Your account will remain fully intact. The only difference is you will no longer be able to communicate with the person who blocked you.
Can I get blocked on WhatsApp without sending any messages?
Yes, it’s possible to get blocked by a WhatsApp contact without ever messaging them. This could happen if they don’t recognize your number, wish to avoid contact with you, or accidentally added you as a contact.
Conclusion
Blocking contacts on WhatsApp is a useful way to prevent unwanted communication and permanently stop specific people from contacting you. It only takes a few taps, cannot be detected by the blocked user, and can be reversed at any time by unblocking. While blocking does not remove prior chat history, it does prevent any new messages, calls, status updates, and online activity from being exchanged.
Overall, the block feature on WhatsApp provides an efficient way to manage your privacy and avoid harassment from unwanted contacts. Make sure to utilize your phone’s built-in blocking features as well for a comprehensive approach across messaging, calls, and SMS.