- How to unblock someone on X from your blocked accounts list
- How to unblock someone on X from their profile
- What happens after you unblock someone on X
- Unblock or mute: which is the better choice on X
- Unblocking someone on X for a business or brand account
- If you can't unblock someone on X
- Frequently asked questions
To unblock someone on X, go to Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, then Blocked accounts, and click the Blocked button next to their name. You can also open their profile and confirm. Unblocking doesn't restore a follow, so you'll both need to follow again.
Blocking someone on X is quick, and unblocking them is just as quick once you know where the list lives. People usually come looking for this after a block made in a hurry, a business account that needs to talk to a customer again, or a profile blocked by mistake. X's help centre has a page on managing your block list, and the steps below follow it. Menus vary by app version, so if a label looks slightly different on your phone, the route is the same.
How to unblock someone on X from your blocked accounts list
This is the route to use when you can't remember who you blocked, or when you want to unblock several accounts in one sitting. According to X's help centre, on the web it goes like this:
- Open the side navigation menu and click More.
- Click Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety.
- Under Safety, click Blocked accounts. You can switch between All and Imported to filter the list.
- Click the Blocked button next to the account you'd like to unblock. The button changes to Unblock when you hover over it, which confirms the action.
On the mobile apps the help page describes a similar route: tap your profile icon, then Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, then Blocked accounts, and unblock from there.
How to unblock someone on X from their profile
If you already know who you're after, going straight to their profile is faster. The help centre says you can visit the account's profile, tap or click its Blocked button, and confirm. On iOS the confirmation button reads Unblock, and on Android it reads Yes. Once confirmed, the profile goes back to showing the normal follow option.
If you can't find the profile by search, use the blocked accounts list instead. A blocked account is easy to lose in search results, and the list is where X keeps every one you've blocked.
What happens after you unblock someone on X
There are a few things people don't expect, so here they are in plain terms, based on the help centre.
- Unblocking doesn't restore a follow. When you block an account you're following, you stop following it and it stops following you. If you unblock them, you'll both have to follow again.
- Blocked accounts aren't notified when they're blocked, and unblocking sends no notice either.
- Unblocking doesn't change anything else on your account. Muted words and muted accounts stay as they were, because they're separate settings.
If you want them to see your posts again, they'll need to follow you again, or you can follow them first. I'd do that deliberately rather than automatically, in case you blocked them for a reason you've since forgotten.
Unblock or mute: which is the better choice on X
A block is a strong step. Muting is lighter, and it's worth knowing the difference before you press anything.
| Block | Mute | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Cuts the connection between your accounts, as the help page describes | Hides an account or words from your own view |
| Does the other person know? | Blocked accounts aren't notified | They aren't told you muted them |
| When to use it | Harassment, unwanted contact | Someone you'd rather not see, but don't need to cut off |
If your problem is a noisy timeline rather than a person, my guide to muting words to clean up your feed on X may be the better fix. And if you only want someone to stop following you, there's a gentler way, which I cover in removing followers on X without blocking them.
Unblocking someone on X for a business or brand account
If you manage a brand account, a few habits help.
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- Check the list before you unblock. Look at who's there and why. If a person was blocked for abusive behaviour, leave them blocked.
- Don't unblock to argue. If a customer has a complaint, a calm reply from the main account usually works better than reopening an old row.
- Keep a short note of why you blocked an account. Anyone else who manages the profile will then know the reason.
- After unblocking, check your notifications and replies for a day or so, in case old messages come back.
If your account is being targeted, X's own reporting tools are the right route, and if you're in danger, contact the police. Unblocking isn't a safety measure.
If you can't unblock someone on X
A few common reasons, and what to try.
- Check you're in the right account. If you manage more than one, switch accounts and look at the blocked list again.
- Use the list rather than search. Search can hide blocked profiles.
- Update the app. Menus vary by app version, and an old build can show labels that no longer match.
- Try the web version on a computer, where the steps above come directly from the help page.
- If the Blocked button isn't on the profile at all, you may not have blocked that account. If another account has blocked you, only they can change that.
If none of this works, look for the contact options in X's help centre and report the issue there. If your wider X account is acting up, my page on what to check when the X app isn't working goes through the common causes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I unblock someone on X?
Go to Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, then Blocked accounts, and click the Blocked button next to the account. You can also visit their profile, tap Blocked and confirm.
Will X tell someone I've unblocked them?
X's help centre says blocked accounts aren't notified when they're blocked, so unblocking them sends no notice either.
Do I follow them again after I unblock them?
No. Blocking an account you follow makes you unfollow each other, and unblocking doesn't restore the follow. You'd both need to follow again.
What does the Imported filter mean in my blocked list?
The blocked accounts page lets you switch between All and Imported to filter the list, so you can find accounts more easily.
Where is the blocked accounts list on the X app?
Tap your profile icon, then Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, then Blocked accounts. Menus vary by app version.
