Quick answer
Open the chat, tap the person’s name (iPhone) or More options > More (Android), then tap Block. Tick or choose Report too if you want to report them. To unblock, go to Settings > Privacy > Contacts > Blocked and remove them. To report, open the chat, tap More options > More > Report (Android), or tap their name and scroll to Report (iPhone). You can’t block a group, but you can report it and exit.
Does this match what you see?
- Someone is sending you spam, scams or unwanted messages.
- An unknown number keeps messaging or calling you.
- You want to unblock someone you blocked by mistake.
- You want to report a group or business.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Based on WhatsApp Help “How to block and report someone” (Web, Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac tabs, supplied by the site owner). WhatsApp’s section on third-party chat apps, only available in some European regions, isn’t covered here.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Which option to use.
| You want to | Do this |
|---|---|
| Stop someone contacting you | Block them |
| Tell WhatsApp about spam or abuse | Report them |
| Leave an unwanted group | Report and exit |
| Undo a block | Unblock |
- Spam or scamsCheck this first
WhatsApp says you can report someone if you think they’re sending problematic content or spam.
- Unwanted contactCheck this first
WhatsApp says blocking stops messages, calls and status updates from that person.
Try these 60-second checks first
- WhatsApp says the chat stays in your list after you block someone, and suggests taking screenshots or backing up the chat. Our tip: do this first if you might need it as evidence.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Block a contact, unknown number or business
WhatsApp says blocked contacts and numbers can no longer call or message you.
iPhone & iPad
- Open the chat and tap the person’s name (or the number).
- Tap Block > Block, or Block and report to also send the last 5 messages to WhatsApp.
- Or, from your chat list, swipe left on the chat > More > Block > Block.
- Or block from settings: Settings > Privacy > Contacts > Blocked > Add New... and pick the contact.
Android
- Open the chat and tap More options (three dots) > More > Block > Block. Tick or untick Report to WhatsApp.
- Or tap and hold the chat in your list > More options > Block > Block.
- Unknown number: you can also tap Block on the “Not a contact” notice, or use Safety tools > Block contact.
- Or block from settings: More options > Settings > Privacy > Blocked contacts (or Contacts > Blocked accounts) > Add Contact (person icon with a plus sign), then pick the contact.
Computer (browser)
- WhatsApp Web: click the menu (down arrow) on the chat, or More options (three dots) in the chat window, then Block > Block. Tick Report to WhatsApp to report them too.
- Windows app: open the chat, click their name at the top > Block > Block, ticking Report to WhatsApp if you want.
- Mac app: open the chat, click their name, scroll down and click Block > Block (or Block and report), then Done.
WhatsApp says on iPhone and Android, if it’s a business, you’ll be asked to choose a reason for blocking.
Did it work? They’re listed under Blocked in Settings > Privacy.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Unblock someone
WhatsApp’s steps to remove someone from your blocked list.
iPhone & iPad
- Settings (or your profile picture) > Privacy > Contacts > Blocked.
- Swipe left on the name (or tap Edit > the red minus sign) and tap Unblock.
- Or open the chat, tap their name > Unblock, or swipe left on the chat > Unblock.
Android
- More options > Settings > Privacy > Contacts > Blocked contacts.
- Tap the name or number, then Unblock.
- Or open their chat, scroll to the bottom and tap Unblock.
Computer (browser)
- WhatsApp Web: click the menu on the chat (or More options) > Unblock > Unblock.
- Windows app: open the chat, click their name > Unblock > Unblock.
- Mac app: Settings (gear) > Privacy > Blocked, click the name, scroll down and click Unblock, then Done > Done.
WhatsApp says you won’t receive any messages, calls or status updates they sent while they were blocked.
Did it work? You can message and call each other again.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Report a person, business or group
- Person or unknown number, iPhone: open the chat, tap their name, scroll down and tap Report > Report and block or Report.
- Person or unknown number, Android: open the chat > More options > More > Report, tick the box to also block them if you want, then Report.
- Group: open it, tap the group name > Report group. On iPhone choose Report and exit or Report; on Android, tick the box to exit and delete the chat if you want. You can also report a group when you exit it.
- Business (Android): open the business’s contact info, scroll down and tap Report business > Report, and tick Block business if you want.
- View once photo or video: iPhone: open it, tap More (three dots, bottom corner) > Report > Report and block or Report. Android: More options > Report {contact} > Report.
- WhatsApp Web, Windows and Mac: open the chat, click the person’s or group’s name (or More options on Web), and choose Report. On Web and Windows, tick the box to also block them or exit the group. On Mac, choose Report and block (or Report and exit for a group) or Report, then Done.
What WhatsApp receives when you report
WhatsApp says it receives up to the last five messages the person sent you, basic details of your last five calls with them if you’ve called (such as who called and how long it lasted), their user or group ID, and when and what type of messages were sent. On Android it says it may also receive how you first came into contact. The person or group isn’t notified. On Web and Android, reporting a group removes you from it. On iPhone and Mac, WhatsApp says you’re removed if you choose Report and exit. Either way, an admin would have to invite you back.
Getting lots of messages from unknown numbers?
WhatsApp has an advanced setting, Block unknown account messages: Settings (on iPhone, or your profile picture) > Privacy > Advanced. When it’s on, WhatsApp says it blocks messages from unknown accounts only when they reach a high volume; your contacts can still message you, and blocking stops when the rate returns to normal. WhatsApp says it doesn’t block all unknown messages. Our tip: keep blocking and reporting individual senders as well.
What blocking does and doesn’t do
- Blocked people can’t call or message you. WhatsApp says on iPhone and Android they also can’t see your last seen, online status, status updates or profile photo changes.
- WhatsApp says the chat stays in your chat list; you can delete or archive it.
- Blocking doesn’t remove them from your contacts, or you from theirs. To delete a contact, delete it from your phone’s address book.
- You can’t block a group. WhatsApp suggests leaving the group and blocking the admin, and changing your privacy settings so unknown people can’t add you to groups. To block an admin you haven’t saved: open the group and tap the group subject, then tap the admin (on iPhone and Android, then Info) > Block > Block. On Mac, click Members and the icon next to the admin, scroll down and click Block > Block > Done.
- Blocking doesn’t hide group messages: you’ll still see each other’s messages in groups you’re both in.
- Blocks stay if you use Change number, but if you set up a new WhatsApp account, you’ll need to block people again.
How to know it worked
- The person can no longer message or call you, or WhatsApp has your report.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Someone took over your account? See WhatsApp hacked. Don’t report your own account until you’ve recovered it.
- Unknown callers? See silence unknown callers.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
Frequently asked questions
Does WhatsApp tell someone when you report them?
No. WhatsApp says the user or group isn’t notified when you report them.
What can a blocked contact see on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp says they can’t call or message you, and, on iPhone and Android, they also can’t see your last seen, online status, status updates or profile photo changes.
Can you block a WhatsApp group?
No. WhatsApp says you can exit the group and block the admin, or report the group (on iPhone and Mac, Report and exit also removes you).
Will I get messages they sent while blocked after I unblock them?
No. WhatsApp says you won’t receive messages, calls or status updates sent while they were blocked.
What does WhatsApp see when I report someone?
WhatsApp says up to the last five messages they sent you, basic info about your last five calls with them (if any), their ID, and when and what type of messages were sent.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- How to block and report someone (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to block a group admin (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to block high volumes of unknown messages (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 29 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 29 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 29 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or WhatsApp. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.