How to block and report someone

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You can stop receiving messages, calls, and status updates from someone by blocking them. You can also report them if you think they are sending problematic content or spam.
When you block someone, the existing chat will remain in your chatlist. You can delete the chat completely if you want to remove it from your chatlist, or archive the chat instead. You can also unblock the sender to receive new messages from them.
You can’t block a group. Alternatively, you can exit a group and block the group admin. Learn how in this article. You can also adjust your privacy settings to prevent unknown contacts from adding you to groups. Learn more in this article.
If you feel you or anyone else is in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services.

Block a contact

  1. Tap
    more options
    > Settings.
  2. Tap Privacy > Blocked contacts.
  3. Tap
    .
  4. Search for or select the contact you want to block.

From a WhatsApp notification on the lock screen:

  1. Tap
    on the WhatsApp notification to see more info.
  2. Tap Block.
    • If you'd like to also report the contact, check the box next to Report.
  3. Tap Block.

More ways to block a contact:

  1. Open the chat with the contact in the chatlist.
  2. Tap
    more options
    > More > Block > Block. Uncheck the box next to Report to WhatsApp if you don’t want to report the person you’re blocking.
    • If the contact is a business, open the chat with the business. Tap the business contact info > Block. Select the Reason for blocking > Block.
  3. On the Delete this Chat? screen, tap Unblock if you’d like to unblock the contact. You can also tap Delete chat > Archive chat or Delete chat. Uncheck the box if you’d like to keep media received on your device.
You can also long press the chat, then tap
more options
> Block.

Block an unknown phone number

  1. Open the chat with the unknown sender.
  2. Tap
    more options
    > More > Block > Block. Uncheck the box next to Report to WhatsApp if you don’t want to report the unknown sender.
    • If the contact is a business, open the chat with the business. Tap on the business contact info > Block. Select the Reason for blocking > Block.
  3. On the Delete this Chat? screen, tap Unblock if you’d like to unblock the sender instead. You can also tap Delete chat > Archive chat or Delete chat. Uncheck the box if you’d like to keep media received on your device.
You can also:
  • Long press the chat, then tap
    more options
    > Block.
  • From Safety tools, tap Block.
  • Tap Block from the “The sender is not in your contact list” notification.

Note:

  • Blocked contacts or phone numbers or will no longer be able to call you or send you messages.
  • Your last seen, online, status updates, and any changes made to your profile photo won't be visible to senders you've blocked. If you're concerned about whether a blocked sender will know you're blocking them, read this article.
  • If you change your phone number and use the same WhatsApp account, your blocked contacts will stay blocked. Learn how to use the change number feature in this article.
  • If you set up a new WhatsApp account, you’ll need to manually block those contacts again.
  • Blocking a contact won't remove them from your contacts list, nor will it remove you from the list on the contact's phone. To delete a contact, you'll need to delete the contact from your phone's address book.

Unblock someone

  1. Tap
    more options
    > Settings.
  2. Tap Privacy > Unblock.
  3. Tap the contact name or phone number you want to unblock.
  4. Tap Unblock {contact} or Unblock {phone number}. You and the sender will now be able to send and receive messages, calls, and status updates.

More ways to unblock someone:

  • Search for the contact or phone number you blocked. Tap and hold the contact name or phone number, then tap Unblock {contact} or Unblock {phone number}.
  • Open the last chat from your contact and scroll to the bottom. Tap You blocked this contact. Tap to unblock.

Note:

  • If you unblock someone, you won't receive any messages, calls, or status updates the sender sent you during the time they were blocked.
  • If you unblock someone who wasn't previously saved in your phone’s address book, you won't be able to restore that contact or phone number to your device.

Report a contact, unknown phone number, or group

WhatsApp receives the last five messages sent to you by the reported sender or group, and they won’t be notified. WhatsApp also receives:
  • The reported group or user ID.
  • Information about when the message was sent, and the type of message sent such as an image, video, or text.
If you report a group, you’ll be removed from that group. If you’d like to rejoin a group you reported, the group admin will need to invite you again to the group.
  1. Open the chat with the sender you want to report.
  2. Tap
    more options
    > More > Report.
    • Check the box if you would like to also block the sender or exit the group and delete the chat.
  3. Tap Report.

More ways to report someone:

Tap the chat info and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Tap Report > Report. You can also block the person by checking the box in the Report to WhatsApp notification.

Report a business

  1. Tap the chat with the business, then tap the contact info to see the business profile.
  2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Report business > Report.
    • Check the box next to Block business and delete chat if you’d like to also block the business. Select your Reason for blocking and tap Block.

Report a view once photo or video

  1. Open the view once photo or video.
  2. Tap
    more options
    > Report contact.
To learn more about view once media, read this article.

Related resources

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