To block someone on Threads, tap Options on one of their posts and tap Block, then Block again to confirm. You can also block from their profile (Options in the top right) or from a chat. Threads doesn't tell them. Blocking removes their likes from your posts and stops them seeing, finding or messaging you.
Threads gives you three tools for unwanted attention: block, restrict and mute. They do very different things, and blocking is the strongest. It's also the one with a side effect most people don't expect, which I'll come to. If you run a business profile, it's worth knowing all three before you need them, because the moment you need them is rarely a calm one.
Everything below comes from the Threads articles in Instagram's help centre.
Three ways to block someone on Threads
From their post in your feed
- Tap Options on a post shared by the profile you want to block.
- Tap Block.
- Tap Block at the bottom to confirm.
From search
- Tap Search, then the search bar at the top.
- Type their name and tap their profile.
- Tap Options in the top right, then Block, and confirm.
From a conversation
- Tap Messages at the bottom.
- Open the conversation.
- Tap the icon in the top right, then Block, and confirm.
People aren't notified when you block them on Threads.
What happens when you block someone
Instagram's help page lists exactly what changes:
- Their likes are removed from your posts, and unblocking them won't bring those likes back.
- They can't see your replies or anything you repost.
- Their replies to your posts can't be seen by others.
- They can't mention your username or tag you, even if you change your username.
- They can't message you.
- They can't find your profile or content on Threads.
Group chats are the odd one out. If you're in a group chat with someone you've blocked, Threads asks whether you want to stay or leave. If you stay, you'll both still see each other's messages in that group.
How to unblock someone
Use the same routes: search for the profile, tap Options and choose Unblock, then confirm. Instagram also says you can tap Unblock below the number of followers on their profile. Remember the side effect from above: any likes they'd left on your posts are gone for good. If you're unblocking a customer or colleague after a misunderstanding, it's worth a quick message so they know the door's open again, since Threads didn't tell them when you blocked them in the first place.
Block, restrict or mute?
| Tool | What the other person can still do | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Block | Nothing on your profile: no seeing, finding, tagging or messaging you | Harassment, scams and people you never want to hear from |
| Restrict | See your content and reply, but replies may be hidden or need approval, and their chats go to Requests | Awkward contacts you don't want to provoke |
| Mute | Everything as normal; muted profiles simply get their own list in your Threads settings | Accounts you'd rather not see for a while |
Restrict is the quiet option. Instagram says you can restrict any profile, even ones you don't follow, they aren't told, and if you follow them you still do. You won't get notifications when they interact with your content, and you can read their messages in Requests without them knowing you've seen them. To restrict, search for their profile, tap Options and choose Restrict.
Muted, restricted and blocked profiles all have their own lists in your Threads settings, so you can review them later from your profile and the menu in the top right.
Instagram blocks don't carry over
This is the part people miss. Threads and Instagram feel joined up, but Instagram's help centre says restricting someone on Instagram doesn't restrict them on Threads, and vice versa. Blocked profiles are also listed as a Threads-only setting. So if someone's bothering you in both places, deal with each app separately. For the Instagram side, see how to block someone on Instagram and what happens when you restrict someone on Instagram.
Other settings worth a look
Blocking deals with one person. If the problem is a type of comment rather than a particular account, Threads has more tools in the same settings menu. Instagram's settings table lists Hidden words, Muted profiles, Restricted profiles and Blocked profiles as separate Threads settings, each managed in Threads and affecting Threads only. Hidden words is the one I'd set up first on a business profile, because it filters the repeat offenders without you having to spot every one.
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If someone's harassing you, Instagram's restrict page also points to hiding replies you don't want to see and reporting the profile. Blocking stops them reaching you; reporting tells Threads about the behaviour. For anything threatening, do both.
If someone has more than one profile
Instagram notes in its messaging help that if a person you've blocked has multiple Threads profiles, you may need to block each one. If the problem keeps coming back, switching to a private profile cuts off strangers altogether: here's how to make Threads private.
My advice
For a business account, start with restrict or hidden replies for the merely annoying, and save block for people who are abusive, scamming or impersonating you. When you do block, do it on Instagram as well if they're there, because the two apps won't do it for you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I block someone on Threads?
Tap Options on their post and tap Block, then confirm. You can also block from their profile or from a conversation in Messages.
Does Threads tell someone when you block them?
No. Instagram's help centre says people aren't notified when you block them on Threads.
Does blocking on Instagram block on Threads?
No. Blocked and restricted profiles are managed separately in Threads, so block them in each app.
What happens to likes when you block someone on Threads?
Their likes are removed from your posts, and unblocking them won't restore those likes.
How do I unblock someone on Threads?
Go to their profile, tap Options and choose Unblock, or tap Unblock below their follower count.
What's the difference between block and restrict on Threads?
Blocking cuts them off completely. Restricting lets them see and reply, but their replies may be hidden and their messages go to Requests.
