Blocking someone on YouTube stops them from contacting you, commenting on your videos, and seeing your channel

When you block a person on YouTube, they cannot send you direct messages, leave comments on your videos, or see your uploads in their subscriptions feed. They also cannot find your channel by searching for your username — though they can still watch your videos if they find them another way, like through a link someone else shared. Blocking is not the same as making your channel private; it is a one-to-one action that affects only that specific person.

You can block someone from their channel page, from a comment they left, or from your direct messages. The process takes less than a minute and does not require you to explain why. The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, though they may notice they can no longer message you or comment on your videos.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking prevents someone from messaging you, commenting on your videos, and seeing your channel in search results, but they can still watch your videos if they find the link elsewhere.
  • You can block someone from their channel page, from a comment they left on your video, or from a direct message conversation.
  • The person you block will not be notified, and you can unblock them at any time from your blocked users list.
  • Blocking is different from reporting; use reporting if someone is harassing you or breaking YouTube's rules, because that alerts YouTube staff.

Block someone from their channel page

Go to the channel of the person you want to block. Look for the three vertical dots (called a menu icon) near the top right of their channel header, usually next to the Subscribe button or where it says Subscribed. Click those three dots.

A small menu will appear with several options. Select "Block user" from that menu. YouTube will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again. The person is now blocked, and you will see a message saying their channel is blocked.

Block someone from a comment they left

If someone has left a comment on one of your videos that you want to block them over, you can block them directly from that comment. Find the comment on your video, then look for the three vertical dots on the right side of their comment. Click those dots.

A menu will appear. Select "Block user" from the options. Confirm the block when YouTube asks. That person's comment will disappear from your video, and they will not be able to comment on any of your videos going forward.

Block someone from a direct message

Open YouTube and go to your inbox by clicking the message icon (it looks like a speech bubble) at the top right of the page. Find the conversation with the person you want to block. Click on their name or the conversation to open it.

Look for the three vertical dots at the top right of the message window. Click those dots and select "Block user" from the menu. Confirm the block. All messages from that person will disappear from your inbox, and they will not be able to send you new messages.

Unblock someone if you change your mind

If you want to unblock someone later, go to your YouTube settings. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. On the left side, click "User and account" and then "Blocked users."

You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click the X next to their name. YouTube will ask you to confirm — click "Unblock." That person can now message you and comment on your videos again.

When to report instead of block

Blocking stops someone from contacting you, but it does not alert YouTube staff. If someone is harassing you, threatening you, or breaking YouTube's community guidelines — like posting spam, hate speech, or sexual content — you should report them instead of (or in addition to) blocking them.

To report a comment, click the three dots next to it and select "Report comment." To report a channel, go to their channel page, click the three dots menu, and select "Report user." Reporting sends the content to YouTube's moderation team, who can remove the person's account or content if it violates the rules. Blocking only protects you; reporting protects other people on the platform.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block someone, they will not see your channel in search results when they look for your username. They cannot subscribe to your channel or see your uploads in their subscription feed. If they try to visit your channel directly by typing the URL, they will see a message saying the channel is blocked.

However, if someone shares a link to one of your videos with the blocked person, they can still click that link and watch the video. Blocking only prevents them from finding you on their own and from interacting with you directly. If you want to prevent anyone from watching your videos, you would need to make your channel private or delete the videos instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person I block know that I blocked them?

No. YouTube does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your channel and see a message saying it is blocked, or if they notice they can no longer comment on your videos or message you.

Can I block someone without them seeing my channel first?

Yes. You can block someone from their channel page, from a comment, or from a message without them ever having visited your channel. Blocking works in one direction only — it does not prevent them from seeing you, only you from seeing them and them from contacting you.

What is the difference between blocking and reporting?

Blocking stops that one person from contacting you and seeing your channel. Reporting tells YouTube staff that someone is breaking the rules, which can result in their account being suspended or removed. You can do both if someone is harassing you.

Can I block someone on mobile the same way as on a computer?

Yes. The steps are the same on the YouTube app for phones and tablets. Find the three dots menu next to the person's name or channel, tap "Block user," and confirm. Your blocked users list is also in Settings under "User and account" on mobile.

If I unblock someone, will they be able to see my old videos?

Yes. Unblocking restores their access to everything they had access to before you blocked them. They will be able to see your channel, subscribe, comment, and message you again.