Getting blocked on WhatsApp can be frustrating, especially if you rely on the messaging app to stay in touch with friends and family. A blocked account prevents you from sending and receiving messages, making calls, and accessing your chat history. While getting blocked is never a pleasant experience, understanding why it happens and what you can do about it can help minimize disruption to your WhatsApp use.
Why does WhatsApp block accounts?
There are a few key reasons why WhatsApp may block your account:
- Violating WhatsApp’s terms of service – Actions like spamming other users, harassing people, or illegally sharing copyrighted content can result in your account being blocked.
- Suspected spam or abusive behavior – If WhatsApp detects suspicious activity that appears to be spammy or abusive, they may block your access.
- Too many blocks and reports – If multiple WhatsApp users block or report your account, it can trigger an automatic block by WhatsApp.
- Using unsupported or banned third-party apps – Trying to use modified or unofficial versions of WhatsApp can also lead to blocks.
In most cases, these blocks are temporary and meant to protect the WhatsApp community from disruptive behavior. But repeated or severe violations can result in permanent disables of accounts.
What happens when your WhatsApp is blocked?
If your WhatsApp account is blocked, you’ll notice some key changes when trying to use the app:
- You can’t send or receive messages – Your incoming and outgoing messages will be blocked.
- No access to call features – You won’t be able to make WhatsApp calls or video calls.
- Your status updates are gone – Your last seen status and any status updates will be removed.
- Chat history is inaccessible – You won’t be able to view or search through previous chats.
- WhatsApp may log you out – You could be logged out of the app and unable to log back in.
Essentially, most WhatsApp features will be disabled. You may see an error message in the app explaining your account is “banned” or “unauthorized.” Your profile picture may also be removed.
How long do WhatsApp blocks last?
The duration of WhatsApp blocks can vary depending on the reason:
- 24-hour blocks – Minor first-time offenses often lead to a temporary 24-hour block.
- 72-hour blocks – More serious violations can be blocked for 72 hours.
- 1-week blocks – Continued policy breaking may result in 1-week long blocks.
- Permanent disables – Repeated abuse and very severe violations will get an account permanently disabled.
Keep in mind bans tend to escalate if you keep breaking policies. A first-time offender may only be blocked for a day, while someone violating policies multiple times could get permanently disabled without warning.
Can you use WhatsApp if your account is blocked?
If your account is temporarily blocked, you’ll need to wait out the duration of the ban before being able to access WhatsApp again. There is no way around a block.
If you’ve been permanently disabled, that account can no longer be used. However, you do have a couple options:
- Appeal the ban – You can submit an appeal to WhatsApp, explaining why you believe the disable was a mistake. Success depends on the violation.
- Register a new account – Using a different phone number, you can create a brand new WhatsApp account.
Trying to create new accounts to bypass a ban will usually result in those accounts getting blocked too, however. The only feasible path is to appeal or serve out the block duration.
Can you tell who blocked you on WhatsApp?
Unlike other social networks, WhatsApp doesn’t notify you if an individual contact blocks you. There is no built-in way to tell if a specific person has blocked you.
There are a few potential signs you may be blocked by someone:
- Your messages aren’t delivered – If your messages never show “delivered”, you may be blocked.
- Your calls go straight to voicemail – If your WhatsApp calls to them never connect, it could indicate a block.
- You’re removed from groups – A block may result in being removed from common WhatsApp groups.
- You can’t see profile updates – If you can no longer see someone’s last seen or online status, that can be a sign of a block.
However, as there are other reasons messages may not deliver or your call could go to voicemail, like network errors, you can never know for certain if an individual has blocked you on WhatsApp.
Can a blocked person see your WhatsApp status?
No, a blocked contact cannot see your WhatsApp status updates. By blocking someone, you remove their ability to view your profile information and status changes.
So if you’ve blocked a person, your status, profile picture, about info, and last seen status will all be hidden from them. Blocking offers control over what information someone sees from you.
Can I get my WhatsApp account unblocked?
If your account has been temporarily blocked, WhatsApp should automatically restore your access once the block duration ends. Permanent blocks are much harder to overturn.
To appeal a permanent block and get your account unblocked, you’ll need to contact WhatsApp directly. There are a couple options:
- Email WhatsApp – You can email [email protected], explain your situation and request your block be removed.
- Use in-app support – Open WhatsApp, go to Settings > Help > Contact Us and explain your appeal.
WhatsApp may request details and investigate further. If they determine the block was a mistake or that you’re unlikely to violate policies again, your account may be unblocked. But there is no guarantee – especially if you violated terms of service intentionally.
Tips for avoiding WhatsApp blocks
To help avoid getting blocked, keep these tips in mind when using WhatsApp:
- Don’t spam – Don’t send unsolicited bulk messages or repeatedly message people who don’t respond.
- Don’t use third-party mods – Stick to official WhatsApp apps and avoid unsupported third-party versions.
- Don’t abuse groups – Follow group rules and don’t utilize groups to send undesired messages.
- Respect other users – Never harass, threaten or impersonate other users on WhatsApp.
- Play by the rules – Carefully follow WhatsApp’s terms of service and community standards.
Remember, if your account is banned, creating multiple new accounts to get around blocks will usually result in those new accounts being banned too. Using WhatsApp properly is the only surefire way to avoid disruptive account blocks.
What happens to your messages if you get blocked on WhatsApp?
If your WhatsApp account gets blocked, your chat history and messages will become inaccessible to you during the block period. But what happens to the messages you already sent?
Your messages will remain visible to recipients who haven’t blocked you. Getting blocked does not delete or remove messages you previously sent to people who can still access WhatsApp.
However, any new messages you send while blocked will not go through. And contacts who have you blocked will not see messages you sent before getting blocked either.
Once your block is lifted, your chat history and ability to send messages will be restored. But any messages sent during the block will remain undelivered and conversations will appear to have gaps from your view.
Can a WhatsApp group admin unblock you?
No, a WhatsApp group admin does not have the ability to unblock your account if it has been blocked by WhatsApp. They can only remove your blocked account from the group.
The only ways to get unblocked from WhatsApp are:
- Having WhatsApp automatically restore access after a temporary block expires.
- Successfully appealing to WhatsApp support to remove a permanent block.
- Creating a brand new account and phone number.
Group admins can’t override blocks imposed by WhatsApp. Only WhatsApp has the power to unblock blocked accounts.
Does deleting WhatsApp remove the block?
Deleting your WhatsApp account does not lift the block on that account. Your account remains blocked even after it’s deleted.
To use WhatsApp again after a deletion you’ll need to register a brand new account, with a different phone number. This new account will have a clean slate, without any previous blocks.
But if you re-register your old phone number, the block will still be tied to that number. So deleting your account does not allow you to circumvent a block in order to reuse the same number.
Can I find out who blocked me on WhatsApp?
There is no direct way to conclusively find out who has blocked you on WhatsApp. The app does not provide any notifications or lists of users who have blocked your account.
However, there are a few indirect signals that can suggest you may have been blocked by someone:
- Your messages never show as delivered to them.
- Your calls go straight to voicemail.
- You’re removed from groups you had in common.
- You can no longer see their profile picture or status updates.
But as there are other potential reasons for these, like network errors, you can never know for certain if a specific person has blocked you on WhatsApp.
Should you block someone on WhatsApp?
Blocking on WhatsApp is a good way to prevent unwanted communication from disruptive or abusive contacts. Here are some situations where blocking a contact may be warranted:
- They are harassing, spamming or threatening you.
- They have shared inappropriate, dangerous or illegal content.
- They repeatedly message you despite requests to stop.
- They are impostering or scamming you.
- They have violated your personal boundaries.
Blocking should not generally be used for minor disagreements or misunderstandings. But in cases of serious abuse, harassment, toxicity or danger, blocking can help restore your sense of safety and control.
Effects of blocking someone on WhatsApp
When you block a contact on WhatsApp:
- They can no longer message or call you.
- Any messages they send will not go through.
- They won’t see your profile picture, status or “last seen”.
- You may be removed from any groups you share.
- They receive no notification they’ve been blocked.
Blocking prevents further unwanted communication without notifying the blocked user. It can be a good self-care option in situations involving harassment, abuse or toxicity.
Conclusion
Getting blocked on WhatsApp can be disruptive and inconvenient, but is usually reversible. Temporary blocks will expire after 24 hours to 1 week in most cases. Permanent disables require appealing to WhatsApp support and showing you have learned from your mistakes.
To avoid blocks, be mindful of WhatsApp’s rules, respect all users, and do not utilize unauthorized third-party apps. If you are blocked, focus on improving your behavior moving forward rather than trying to circumvent restrictions.
Overall, WhatsApp blocks are designed to protect the community. Use them as a chance to reflect rather than a source of frustration. And leverage blocking only when necessary to prevent true harassment or abuse.