Tech Reference

5 ways to tell if someone blocked you on WhatsApp

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WhatsApp is a chatting, phone, and photo sharing app used by hundreds of millions of people around the world. So it's not surprising that WhatsApp lets you block users who you don't want to hear from anymore.

Blocking someone on WhatsApp is the best way to stop them from calling or messaging you. But if you're the one who's been blocked, how can you tell?

Unfortunately, there's no direct way to find out if you've been blocked on WhatsApp. But there are hints that you can use to figure it out.

If you think someone's blocked you on WhatsApp, run through the checklist below to see if your hunch is true.

You can't see a contact's 'last seen' status

The first thing to do is check the user's "last seen" status. This is a message that updates whenever that user opens WhatsApp, and tells you the last time they used the app.

The "Last Seen" status on WhatsApp.
By default, you'll see the last time your contacts used WhatsApp.  WhatsApp; William Antonelli/Insider

If you don't see one, you may have been blocked — although the user might have just disabled the feature on their account.

You don't see a contact's new profile picture

If someone blocks you and then changes their profile picture, you won't see the new profile picture — you'll always see whatever the image was when you got blocked.

This means that there isn't a definite way to tell if they're updating their profile picture. But if you know this contact updated their picture often, and now they've suddenly stopped, that's a sign that you've been blocked.

Your messages only show one checkmark

WhatsApp uses checkmark symbols to track your messages. One checkmark symbol next to your message means it's been sent, while two checkmarks mean that it's been received.

When you message someone who's blocked you, that second checkmark won't ever show up. If you're connected to the internet and your message still never gets delivered, there's a good chance that you're blocked.

How to know if someone blocked you on WhatsApp
The second checkmark won't appear next to messages you've sent to a contact that's blocked you.  Steven John/Business Insider

Your calls will fail

Similarly, you won't be able to call anyone that's blocked you either. When you try, the call won't go through.

You can't add the contact to a WhatsApp group

Finally, try to include the contact in a WhatsApp group. If you get a message saying you aren't permitted to add them to your group, that's the surest sign that you were blocked.

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ExperienceWilliam joined Business Insider in 2019 to help found Tech Reference, a vertical dedicated to answering the internet’s most common questions about the gadgets they buy. In that role, he helped grow the vertical into a powerhouse that attracted over 20 million pageviews a month. He also wrote and edited one of Business Insider’s most successful stories: How to take a screenshot on Windows.William later became one of Business Insider's lead consumer tech reporters, writing roundups and reviews about gadgets ranging from smartphones to gaming PCs. He also established key industry contacts at brands like Apple, Google, Nintendo, and more. He’s also cited on the Wikipedia page for Among Us, an honor above all others.William’s work for Business Insider has included reviewing the best gaming laptops, publishing previews of new Nintendo games and consoles, and comparing Apple’s latest releases so readers know what’s worth their money. Across all assignments, he’s been praised for his depth of knowledge and research skills.In addition to his work at Business Insider, William’s writing has appeared in outlets like The Guardian, Polygon, Thomson Reuters’ Context, and more. He's also a regular guest on TV stations like CBS and NBC, where he provides expert analysis on AI, consumer tech, and Silicon Valley moguls.Why you can trust WilliamWilliam believes the goal of journalism should be to tell the truth, not sell products. In his reviews, William never hesitates to call out a product’s flaws, but he also has no issue complimenting features that genuinely add value.When reviewing a product, William doesn’t test it in a vacuum. He tries to incorporate each product into his daily routine to get a better sense of how it’ll work for the everyday user. And when writing, he focuses on reader comprehension. He’s talented at explaining complicated concepts in ways that all readers can understand, without losing depth or nuance — or his distinctively engaging voice.Expertise
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Consumer Technology (Laptops, PCs, video games and gaming consoles, smartphones, more)
  • Social Media (TikTok, X, Meta, more)
  • Internet Culture (Memes, influencers, viral trends)
  • Disinformation
EducationWilliam graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2018. There, he studied English, communications, and adolescent education, alongside reporting news for the university’s radio and TV stations.Outside workWhen he’s not reporting, you can usually find William biking through Central Park, playing video games, or at home listening to music and writing fanfiction. He’s also a co-manager of the New York Mandolin Ensemble, one of NYC’s premier string orchestras.You can contact him at w.antonelli322@gmail.com, visit his official website at williamantonelli.com, or follow him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher and BlueSky @wantonelli.bsky.social.