- Finding your blocked list in the app
- Checking blocked users on a computer
- The You may want to block list
- What changes when you unblock someone
- Why someone's missing from your blocked list
- Block or restrict: which to keep
- Parents: checking a teen's blocked accounts
- A tidy account is a calmer account
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To see blocked accounts on Instagram, tap your profile picture, tap Menu (three lines), then tap Blocked below Who can see your content. Everyone you've blocked is listed there, with an Unblock button next to each name. On a computer, it's More, Settings, then Blocked.
Your blocked list sits in the same place whether you blocked one person last week or a dozen spam accounts years ago. What surprises people is what happens when they tap Unblock: some things come back and some never do. Read the section on unblocking before you clear anyone off the list.
Finding your blocked list in the app
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu (three lines) in the top right.
- Scroll to the Who can see your content section.
- Tap Blocked.
You'll see every account you've blocked. To unblock someone, tap Unblock to the right of their name. That's the whole process in the app.
Checking blocked users on a computer
- On instagram.com, click More (three lines) in the bottom left.
- Click Settings.
- Click Blocked below Who can see your content.
- Click Unblock next to a profile, then Unblock again to confirm.
If your settings look different, that's expected. Instagram says it's gradually moving people to Meta Accounts, so some people see Accounts Center and others see Meta Account settings. The Blocked option itself stays under Who can see your content.
The You may want to block list
Some people find a second list at the bottom of their blocked accounts called You may want to block. Instagram says this appears if you've switched on cross-profile experiences in your Meta Account, and it's based on profiles you've blocked from messaging your Facebook profile. It's a suggestion list, not a list of people already blocked. Tap Block next to anyone you want to add.
What changes when you unblock someone
Unblocking is quick, but it doesn't rewind everything. Here's what Instagram's help says:
| Thing | While blocked | After you unblock |
|---|---|---|
| Their old likes and comments on your posts | Removed | Not restored |
| Messages they tried to send you | Not received | Never delivered |
| Your old chat with them | Stays in your inbox, but you can't message | You can message again |
Those first two rows are the catch. If you blocked someone and they sent you messages in the meantime, you'll never see those messages, even after unblocking. And any likes and comments they'd left on your posts are gone for good.
Instagram doesn't tell people when you block them, so most won't know they were ever on the list. If you unblock someone and want to see their posts again, check their profile afterwards and follow them if you need to.
Why someone's missing from your blocked list
Occasionally people are sure they blocked someone who isn't on the list. A few reasons:
- They have more than one account. When you block, Instagram lets you block just that profile or that profile plus other existing and future profiles. But Instagram says if you follow more than one profile owned by the same person, you have to block each one individually.
- You restricted rather than blocked them. Restricted accounts live in a separate list: Menu, then Restricted under How others can interact with you.
- You muted them. Muting hides their posts and stories but doesn't block anything, so they won't appear here.
Block or restrict: which to keep
If you're going through your blocked list and wondering whether some people deserve a softer option, restrict is worth knowing. A restricted person can't see when you're online or whether you've seen the messages they send, and their new comments on your posts are only visible to them unless you approve them.
For someone who's annoying rather than harmful, restrict often works better than block, because nothing visibly changes on their side. Their chat moves to your Message Requests, so it's out of sight without being gone. For anyone who's harassing or threatening you, keep the block. I'd rather you had a long blocked list and a peaceful feed than a short one and a knot in your stomach every time you open the app.
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Parents: checking a teen's blocked accounts
If you supervise a teen's account through Instagram's Family Center, you can see which accounts they've blocked. The route is Settings, Supervision for Teen Accounts, your teen's profile, then Blocked accounts under Their connections. You can't see anyone else's blocked list.
A tidy account is a calmer account
Blocking, muting and restricting are all ways of shaping who you see on Instagram. If you're also tidying your notes, my guide on muting and unmuting notes on Instagram covers that. And if you need more than a tidy-up, deactivating your Instagram account lets you step away without deleting anything.
My verdict
Checking your blocked list takes four taps: Profile, Menu, Who can see your content, Blocked. It's worth a look once in a while, especially if you've blocked lots of spam accounts. Just think before you unblock anyone you blocked for a reason. Their old comments won't come back, the messages they sent while blocked won't either, and you can't undo an unblock without blocking them all over again.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see blocked accounts on Instagram?
Tap your profile picture, then Menu, then Blocked below Who can see your content. Everyone you've blocked is listed there.
How do I see blocked users on Instagram on a computer?
Click More in the bottom left, then Settings, then Blocked below Who can see your content.
Does unblocking someone on Instagram restore their comments?
No. Instagram removes a blocked person's likes and comments from your posts, and unblocking won't bring them back.
Will I get messages someone sent while they were blocked?
No. Instagram says messages from a blocked person aren't received and won't be delivered later if you unblock them.
Do people know when you block them on Instagram?
No. Instagram says people aren't notified when you block them.
How do I unblock someone on Instagram?
Open your Blocked list from Menu, then tap Unblock to the right of their name. On a computer, click Unblock and then Unblock again to confirm.
