WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging platforms in the world, with over 2 billion active users. Given how prevalent WhatsApp is for communication, getting blocked by someone can be frustrating and confusing.
There are a few key signs that may indicate you have been blocked by a contact on WhatsApp. Being aware of these signs can help you determine if you have indeed been blocked or if there may be another issue.
Your messages remain undelivered
One of the clearest signs you may have been blocked is if your messages to that contact consistently remain with a single check mark and “delivered” status, but never get the second check to show they have been “read.”
On WhatsApp, when you send a message to someone, it will initially show one check mark to indicate it has been successfully sent from your device. When the recipient gets your message, a second check mark will appear to show it has been delivered and read by them.
If your messages continually show just the single check and stay stuck on “delivered,” even when you know the person is active on WhatsApp, it likely means you have been blocked. Their device is receiving your messages but not allowing you to see when they read them.
Your calls are not going through
In addition to blocking messaging, users can also block incoming voice and video calls on WhatsApp. If you try calling a contact multiple times but the calls never go through and seem to be rejected, this may indicate you are blocked.
However, calls not going through could also be due to poor connectivity or the person having their device turned off. But if call attempts consistently fail over an extended period of time specifically for one contact, it’s a strong sign of being blocked.
Your contact’s profile photo disappears
When you get blocked on WhatsApp, one of the more subtle changes is that the profile photo for that contact may disappear from the chat screens and contact list. However, this is an unreliable indicator on its own.
Profile photos can disappear for other reasons, such as the person removing their profile photo intentionally, connectivity issues, or glitches in the app. But combined with other signs like undelivered messages, it could point to being blocked.
Your contact is shown as “offline”/inactive
In the chat list, your messages, and the caller ID screen, WhatsApp displays when contacts were “last seen” active on the app. If you are blocked, the app may show your contact as perpetually “offline” or having last been active a long time ago, even when you know they have been recently using WhatsApp.
This occurs because the block prevents you from seeing their active or “last seen” status. However, contacts can also manually hide their last seen time and intentionally show as offline, so this alone is not definite evidence of blocking.
You are added to a contacts “exceptions” list
WhatsApp gives users the option to block contacts while still allowing them to message or call if they are added to an “exceptions” list. If you are blocked but on a contact’s exceptions, when trying to call or message you will see a note indicating you are “blocked” but have been added as an exception.
Seeing this warning message when attempting to interact with a contact confirms you have been blocked by them but also allowed to message or call through exceptions.
Your messages history and favorites are cleared
In some cases, blocking on WhatsApp may also clear your entire chat history with that contact. If you suddenly cannot see any past messages with a contact and they have been removed from your favorites list, it could indicate you were blocked which wiped the message history.
However, the chat history can also be cleared manually by a user, so this alone does not guarantee blocking. But combined with other signs, absence of message history adds more evidence pointing to a block.
You get frequently blocked by other contacts
If you notice multiple contacts blocking you in a short time period, that’s a clear sign there is likely an issue on your end causing contacts to block you.
Reflect on your recent conversations and interactions to identity if there are any behaviors or habits that may be perceived negatively or causing offense and prompting blocks. Frequent blocking signals to reassess your communication style and messaging habits.
You get an in-app blocking notification
In some cases, when you are blocked by a contact, WhatsApp may send an explicit in-app notification to inform you of this action. This message will typically state something like “[Contact name] has blocked you.”
Receiving this official in-app notification from WhatsApp removes any doubt that you have been blocked. This unambiguous message confirms the blocking and can help explain why you may be experiencing the other signs of blocked communication.
You are blocked on associated social media accounts
In addition to WhatsApp, take note if you have been blocked or restricted on other social media accounts associated with that contact. Being blocked across multiple platforms makes it very likely you have also been specifically blocked on WhatsApp as well.
Conclusion
Being blocked on WhatsApp can be social disappointing but is sometimes necessary to prevent unwanted communication and harassment. If you experience a combination of the signs outlined above, it almost certainly indicates you have been blocked by a contact.
However, never assume you are definitively blocked based on only one factor, as other technical issues could produce similar effects. Evaluate these signals together before concluding a block has occurred. If you are blocked, consider it an opportunity for self-improvement and respect your contact’s decision going forward.
Signs of Being Blocked on WhatsApp |
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Your messages remain undelivered with single check |
Your calls are not going through |
Your contact’s profile photo disappears |
Your contact is shown as “offline”/inactive |
You are added to a contact’s exceptions list |
Your messages history and favorites are cleared |
You get frequently blocked by other contacts |
You get an in-app blocking notification |
You are blocked on associated social media accounts |
Being blocked on social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp can be difficult to detect and confirm at times. There is rarely one definitive sign you have been blocked, but rather a combination of factors that collectively paint the picture.
Pay attention to undelivered messages, calls not going through, disappearing profile photos, missing chat history, and in-app notifications. If you experience several of these factors from one contact, it almost certainly means you have been blocked. While not ideal, use it as a chance for self-improvement in your communication habits moving forward.
With over 2 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps globally. Given its ubiquitous nature, understanding the signs of being blocked on WhatsApp is helpful knowledge to have.
Being blocked can be socially disappointing and confusing, especially if the reasons are unclear. However, identifying the signs of a block equips you with information to reassess your own behaviors and respect a contact’s decision.
Look for a combination of factors like perpetual “delivered” statuses, unsuccessful calls, absent chat history, offline status displays and in-app notifications to determine if you have likely been blocked. Use the experience productively by reflecting on what may have prompted the block and improving your communication style going forward.
Knowing the signals of a WhatsApp block avoids wasted time attempting to interact and provides closure. While blocking has some ambiguities, by evaluating multiple indicators together, you can decipher your status and use the knowledge constructively.
Frequently Asked Questions about WhatsApp Blocking Signs
What happens when you block someone on WhatsApp?
When you block someone on WhatsApp, they are no longer able to message or call you. Their messages will not be delivered to you and any calls will not go through. They will not see any updates to your profile photo, status, or last seen activity. You also automatically remove them from your contacts list.
Can a blocked contact see your WhatsApp status updates?
No, a blocked contact cannot see any of your WhatsApp status updates. Blocking prevents a contact from viewing your profile photos, about info, status, and last seen/online activity. All updates are invisible to blocked contacts.
Will a blocked contact know they are blocked on WhatsApp?
A blocked contact will not get an explicit notification informing them they are blocked. However, they will likely realize they are blocked based on messages not delivering, calls failing, and your online status being hidden. In some cases, WhatsApp may send an in-app message that “You are blocked” when they attempt to contact you.
Can you retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages if blocked?
If a contact blocks you and clears your chat history, those deleted WhatsApp messages can only be retrieved if you had previously created a backup locally or in Google Drive that contains the messages. Blocking and chat clearing removes the messages across devices.
What happens if you message someone who blocked you on WhatsApp?
If you try to message someone who has blocked you on WhatsApp, your messages will remain stuck on “delivered” and never get the second check shown as “read.” You may see a notice in the chat that messages are one-way. Your messages are not visible to a contact after being blocked.
Can I find out if someone blocked me on WhatsApp without messaging them?
Yes, there are a few ways to identify if you’re blocked on WhatsApp without directly messaging the contact. You can check if your profile photo and online status are hidden from them or try calling and see if the call goes through. This avoids awkwardly messaging a blocked contact.
What happens if you block someone on WhatsApp without deleting chat history?
When you block a contact but do not delete chat history, you will no longer receive any messages from that person going forward. However, you can still view past message history in the chat screen. Only deleting the chat clears your local message archive.
Can you tell if someone blocked you on WhatsApp after one year?
If someone blocked you on WhatsApp over a year ago, the signs will remain persistent even after that long. Attempts to message, call, and check their online status will continue to fail indefinitely once blocked. The block does not expire or undo itself after time.
Does blocking someone on WhatsApp remove you from their contacts?
Yes, blocking a contact on WhatsApp automatically removes you from their contacts list. You disappear entirely from their app roster. However, unblocking the contact will not re-add you to their contacts – you would have to be re-added manually.
Can I get blocked on WhatsApp without doing anything wrong?
It’s possible to get blocked on WhatsApp even if you did nothing overtly offensive. People may block contacts casually or preemptively without a major provocation. Don’t assume a block implies you did something wrong.
If someone blocked me on WhatsApp, does that delete the chat for both?
No, if someone blocks you on WhatsApp it does not itself delete the chat history. Only if the blocker selects “Delete Chat” will it be cleared for both people. Blocking just prevents further messaging.
Can I get blocked on WhatsApp for messaging too frequently?
Yes, messaging someone excessively frequently on WhatsApp can prompt them to block you. Flooding a contact’s app with streams of messages and notifications can be perceived as harassment and lead to blocking.
Does blocking on WhatsApp remove media files sent?
Blocking alone does not delete exchanged media like photos, videos, documents, etc. If the chat history is also deleted, then media will be removed. But blocking only prevents future messaging.