This article shows you how to prevent a person registered in the address book of your device from contacting you on WhatsApp. You can block a WhatsApp contact using the app for iOS and Android devices or by using the website.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: iPhone
Step 1. Launch the WhatsApp app
It is characterized by an icon depicting a white telephone handset placed inside a green balloon. If you are already logged in with your account, the last active screen will be displayed when you closed the application.
If you are not logged in to WhatsApp, press the button Accept and continue and follow the instructions that appear on the screen to verify the phone number.
Step 2. Go to the Settings tab
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
If after starting WhatsApp the screen of the last conversation in which you participated is displayed directly, you will first have to press the "Back" button located in the upper left corner of the screen
Step 3. Select the Account option
It is visible at the top of the "Settings" page.
Step 4. Choose the Privacy item
It is located at the top of the "Account" page.
Step 5. Tap the Blocked option
It is located at the bottom of the "Privacy" page. The complete list of all WhatsApp contacts that you have blocked will be displayed.
Step 6. Press the Add… button
It is located at the top of the page.
If you have already blocked contacts, the button Add… it will be placed under the name of the last item in the list.
Step 7. Select the person you want to block
Tap the name of the contact you want to block to add them to the list of those already blocked.
Step 8. Unblock a contact if needed
If you need to unblock one of the blocked contacts, follow these instructions:
- Push the button Edit located in the upper right corner of the "Blocked" page;
-
Tap the red circular icon
placed on the left of the name of the person to be unblocked;
- Push the button Unlock located to the right of the contact name.
Step 9. Block a contact directly from the chat
If you need to block a person who is not registered in the device address book, you can do it directly from the chat by following these instructions:
- Select the chat of the person you want to block;
- Tap the name or phone number displayed at the top of the conversation page;
- Scroll down the appeared menu and select the option Block contact;
- Push the button Block when required.
Method 2 of 3: Android devices
Step 1. Launch the WhatsApp app
It is characterized by an icon depicting a white telephone handset placed inside a green balloon. If you are already logged in with your account, the last active screen will be displayed when you closed the application.
If you are not logged in to WhatsApp, press the button Accept and continue and follow the instructions that appear on the screen to verify the phone number.
Step 2. Press the ⋮ button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The main program menu will be displayed.
If after starting WhatsApp the screen of the last conversation you participated in is displayed directly, you will need to press the "Back" button in the upper left corner of the screen, before you can touch the icon ⋮.
Step 3. Choose the Settings option
It is one of the items listed in the menu that appeared.
Step 4. Select the Account option
It is visible at the top of the "Settings" page.
Step 5. Choose the Privacy item
It is located at the top of the "Account" page.
Step 6. Tap the Blocked Contacts option
It is located at the bottom of the "Privacy" page in the "Messages" section. The complete list of all WhatsApp contacts that you have blocked will be displayed.
Step 7. Tap the "Add" icon
It features a stylized human silhouette and "+" sign and is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The WhatsApp contact list will be displayed.
Step 8. Select the person you want to block
Tap the name of the contact you want to block to add them to the list of those already blocked. The chosen user will be blocked immediately.
Step 9. Unblock a contact if needed
If you need to unblock one of the blocked contacts, follow these instructions:
- Press and hold your finger on the name of one of the contacts in the "Blocked contacts" list;
- Push the button Unblock [contact_name] when required.
Step 10. Block a contact directly from the chat
If you need to block a person who is not registered in the device address book, you can do it directly from the chat by following these instructions:
- Select the chat of the person you want to block;
- Tap the name or phone number displayed at the top of the conversation page;
- Scroll down the appeared menu and select the option Block;
- Push the button Block when required.
Method 3 of 3: WhatsApp website
Step 1. Log in to the WhatsApp website
Enter the URL https://web.whatsapp.com/ in the address bar of the browser.
Step 2. Log in to WhatsApp Web if necessary
If you have not yet logged in with your WhatsApp account, follow these instructions based on your smartphone model:
- iPhone - select the tab Settings located in the lower right corner of the screen, choose the option WhatsApp Web / Desktop, point the main camera of the iPhone at the QR code that appeared on the right side of the main page of the WhatsApp site and wait for it to be scanned.
- Android - press the button ⋮ located in the upper right corner of the main screen of the WhatsApp app, choose the option WhatsApp Web, point the main camera of the device at the QR code that appeared on the right side of the main page of the WhatsApp site and wait for it to be scanned.
Step 3. Press the ⋮ button
It is located at the top of the chat list displayed on the left side of the web page. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 4. Choose the Settings option
It is one of the items in the menu that appeared.
Step 5. Select the Blocked item
It is listed in the "Settings" menu that appears on the left side of the page. The list of all blocked WhatsApp contacts will be displayed.
Step 6. Select the person you want to block
Click the name of the contact to block to add them to the list of those already blocked. The chosen user will be blocked immediately.
Step 7. Unblock a contact if needed
If you need to unblock one of the blocked contacts using the WhatsApp website, follow these instructions:
- Click the icon in the shape of X placed on the right of the contact name;
- Push the button Unlock when required.
Step 8. Block a contact directly from the chat
If you need to block a person who is not registered in the WhatsApp address book, you can do it directly from the chat by following these instructions:
- Select the chat of the person to block;
- Click the contact name displayed at the top of the page;
- Scroll down the menu that appeared on the right of the page to select the option Block.
- Push the button Block when required.
Advice
- Anyone you've blocked will not be able to see the changes you make to your profile picture or status. Likewise, information regarding the date and time of the last access and the online status of the people you have blocked will no longer be available.
- By blocking a contact your phone number will not be removed from their address book and their information will not be deleted from your address book. To remove the person from your contact list, you need to physically delete them from the Contacts or Directory app.
- If in the future you decide to unblock a user who is currently blocked, you will not receive any of the messages he sent you while you blocked him.
Warnings
- There is currently no way to preemptively block unknown users before they send you at least one message.
- You cannot unblock your phone number if someone else has blocked you from their mobile device.
- Based on some indicators, users may be able to understand that you have blocked them.
