You can stop receiving messages, calls, and status updates from certain contacts by blocking them. You can also report them if you think they are sending problematic content or spam.

Block a contact

1. Open WhatsApp, tap More options > Settings.
2. Tap Account > Privacy > Blocked contacts.
   1. Tap Add.
   2. Search for or select the contact you want to block.

Here are a couple alternative options for blocking a contact:

• Open a chat with the contact, then tap More options > More > Block > BLOCK or REPORT AND BLOCK, which will report and block the number.
• Open a chat with the contact, then tap the name of the contact > Block > BLOCK.

Block an unknown phone number

1. Open the WhatsApp chat with the unknown phone number.
2. Tap BLOCK.
3. Tap BLOCK or REPORT AND BLOCK, which will report and block the number.

Note:

• Blocked contacts 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 will no longer be visible to contacts you've blocked.
• 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 must delete the contact from your phone's address book.
• If you're concerned about whether a blocked contact will know you're blocking them, please read this article.

Unblock a contact

1. In WhatsApp, tap More options > Settings.
2. Tap Account > Privacy > Blocked contacts.
3. Tap the contact you want to unblock.
4. Tap Unblock {contact}. You and the contact will now be able to send and receive messages, calls, and status updates.

Alternatively, you can search for the contact you blocked > tap and hold the contact > tap Unblock {contact}.

Note:

• If you unblock a contact, you won't receive any messages, calls, or status updates the contact sent you during the time they were blocked.
• If you unblock a contact or phone number that 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

1. Open the chat with the user you wish to report.
2. Tap More options > More > Report.
   • Check the box if you would like to also block the user and delete messages in the chat.
3. Tap REPORT.

Note: Once reported, WhatsApp receives the most recent messages sent to you by a reported user or group, as well as information on your recent interactions with the reported user.

Report a View Once message

1. Open the view once photo or video.
2. Tap More options > Report contact.

To learn more about View Once messages, read this article.

Related resources:

How to block and unblock contacts: iPhone | KaiOS