Alex Ruben
How To Block or Unblock Someone on Snapchat Effectively
Managing your privacy on Snapchat can get a bit tricky sometimes, especially if you’re dealing with unwanted messages or creepy friends. Blocking someone is basically the go-to move, but figuring out how to do it quickly without accidentally blocking the wrong person or missing a step is not always obvious. Same thing with unblocking — you might forget where to find that pesky blocked list or wonder what happens after you unfriend someone. This walkthrough aims to clear that up, with some practical tips thrown in. Expect to get a better handle on who’s blocked, how to unblock, and what’s actually happening behind the scenes when you make those moves.
How to Block or Unblock Someone on Snapchat
Blocking Someone on Snapchat
Blocking is useful when someone’s being a nuisance or crossing boundaries. It stops their snaps and messages right away, and keeps you off their radar. Usually, it applies if a user keeps bothering you, if you want to cut off contact temporarily, or if you just don’t trust someone anymore. Once you hit block, they’re out of your friends list, and won’t see your stories or updates. The process is straightforward, but watch out for the small menu options—they can be easy to miss the first few times.
- Open the Snapchat app on your device.
- Head over to the Chat tab by tapping the chat icon at the bottom center of the screen.
- Search for the user by scrolling or via the search bar at the top.
- Tap on their profile to open their chat or profile details.
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner (that menu’s easy to overlook).
- Select Manage Friendship from the options that pop up.
- Tap on Block. A confirmation will pop up—just tap Block again to confirm.
After that, they’ll be totally out of your Snapchat world, no messages, no snaps, no visibility. On some setups, this step can be weirdly delayed or need a restart of the app—Snpachat isn’t always smooth with blocking. Expect that sometimes you might have to close and reopen the app or clear cache if it doesn’t seem to stick right away.
Unblocking Someone on Snapchat
Unblocking is just as easy, but kind of sneaky. You might forget where to find your blocked list, or wonder what happens after you lift the block. It’s useful if you change your mind or want to reconnect with someone after a cooling-off period. Remember that unblocking doesn’t auto-add them back—if you want to see their snaps again, you’ll have to send them a request.
- Tap on your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Go into Settings (the gear icon).
- Scroll down to find the Blocked list. It’s usually under the Privacy or Account actions section.
- Look for the user you want to unblock; they’ll be listed there.
- Tap on their name and select Unblock. Confirm if needed.
This removes the block, and you can start messaging or adding them again. Not sure why it’s not working? Sometimes, the blocked list isn’t updated immediately or the app’s glitchy. Reopening Snapchat or updating it might help.
How to View and Manage Your Blocked List
If you’re curious about who’s on your naughty list, head straight for the blocked section. It’s usually tucked away in Settings, in a section called Blocked or similar. Here, you can see everyone you’ve blocked so far, and unblocking them if needed. Often, people forget they’re still blocked or just want to make some room for new contacts.
- From your profile, tap Settings.
- Scroll down to the Blocked section — it’s basically a list of all those you’ve blocked.
- Tap on someone’s name and choose Unblock if you change your mind.
Understanding What Blocking Really Does
It’s kind of sneaky how Snapchat handles blocking — the other user doesn’t get notified. They just notice they can’t see your profile, send snaps, or replay stories anymore. You won’t get messages or snaps from them either. Their name disappears from your friends list, but they won’t get any “you’ve been blocked” message. Basically, it’s like cutting off contact without drama. Just keep in mind that if you unblock later, they won’t automatically appear back on your friends list—you’ll need to add them again.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
- Double-check the username before blocking—sometimes, it’s easy to pick the wrong person by mistake, especially if people have similar names.
- If a user doesn’t show up in search, they might have deleted their account or changed their username.
- Review your blocked list regularly—because of course, Snapchat has to make it a little confusing and not as straightforward as it could be.
Wrap-up
That’s pretty much it. Managing your privacy on Snapchat isn’t rocket science, but it’s one of those things that trips you up if you’re not looking carefully at menus and options. Once you get the hang of it, blocking and unblocking becomes second nature. Just remember, sometimes the app acts up—a quick restart or cache clearing can fix the lag. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours trying to figure it out on your own.
Summary
- Blocking stops messages and snaps, removes someone from your friends list
- Unblocking lets you reconnect but doesn’t auto-add back
- You can view and manage blocked users in Settings under the Blocked section
- Expect some delay or glitches; restarting the app might be needed