If you unblock someone on WhatsApp after previously blocking them, you will once again start receiving any new messages that person sends you after you unblock them. However, any messages they sent you while you had them blocked will not be delivered to you retroactively.
What happens when you block someone on WhatsApp?
When you block someone on WhatsApp, it prevents them from:
- Sending you messages or calling you
- Seeing your profile photo or about info
- Determining your read receipts or online status
- Adding you to groups
Essentially, blocking someone on WhatsApp severs communication between you and that person in both directions. They can no longer contact or interact with you in any way on WhatsApp.
You stop receiving their messages
The main effect of blocking someone is that you immediately stop receiving any new messages or calls from them. This gives you control over who can reach you on WhatsApp.
Any messages the blocked person sends you after you block them will not be delivered or visible to you. You won’t get any sort of notification about these messages either.
They don’t know if you’ve blocked them
When you block someone, WhatsApp does not directly notify them that they have been blocked. However, if they try to send you a message, the messages will show one checkmark instead of two, indicating the message was not delivered.
After being blocked, if the person tries to call you, the call will not go through. Your profile photo, last seen status, and any other info will also disappear from their view.
So while they don’t get an explicit notice, these changes will likely signal to the blocked person that you have blocked them.
What happens when you unblock someone on WhatsApp?
When you unblock someone on WhatsApp whom you had previously blocked, here is what happens:
- They can start sending you messages again
- You will receive new messages from them
- You won’t receive any past messages from when they were blocked
- The unblocked person sees your profile info again
- Full communication abilities are restored
Communication resumes
Unblocking someone essentially reopens communication between you and that person. It’s as if the block never happened in terms of going forward.
They are immediately able to start messaging and calling you again if you unblock them. And you will once again get notifications and be able to view any new messages they send after being unblocked.
Past messages don’t come through
However, any messages or calls from that person sent while they were blocked will remain blocked. Unblocking does not retroactively deliver messages from that time period.
For example, if they sent you 10 messages over the span of a week while blocked, you will not suddenly receive those 10 messages after unblocking them. Those stay blocked.
Should you unblock someone on WhatsApp?
Before unblocking someone on WhatsApp, consider why you blocked them in the first place. Was it for harassment, inappropriate behavior, or some other serious issue? If so, evaluate whether it’s wise to reconnect communication.
However, if you blocked them for a minor or temporary reason, unblocking can reopen conversation. Here are some other things to weigh:
- Do you want to receive any future messages they may send?
- Are you comfortable with them seeing your online status and profile photo again?
- Could blocking have caused unnecessary harm to your relationship?
- Do the benefits of restoring communication outweigh any downsides?
Carefully considering these factors can help determine if unblocking someone is the right choice in your specific circumstances.
How to unblock someone on WhatsApp
Unblocking someone you had previously blocked on WhatsApp is a straightforward process:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your device
- Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked
- Tap on the name of the person you want to unblock
- Tap Unblock
And that’s it! They will be immediately unblocked. You can repeat these steps to unblock multiple previously blocked contacts all at once.
Unblock directly from chat
You can also unblock someone directly from a chat window:
- Open the chat with the blocked person
- Tap on their name at the top
- Tap Unblock
This will instantly remove the block so you can start messaging again.
Conclusion
In summary, unblocking a contact on WhatsApp restores communication abilities going forward. Any messages they sent while blocked do not come through, but you will receive any new messages after unblocking. Evaluate your reasons for blocking them initially before deciding to unblock. If you do want to unblock, just go to your privacy settings and tap to remove the block.