June 24, 2025, 2:49 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

Everyone knows the blocking feature on WhatsApp–and has probably used it at some point. Whether it’s an ex-partner, a pushy bar flirt, or an overly chatty acquaintance. Blocking others is easy, but how do you know if you’ve been blocked on WhatsApp? At first glance, it’s not visible anywhere, and you won’t be notified. However, there are some clues that TECHBOOK will introduce to you.

Blocked on WhatsApp? These Are the Clues

Sometimes there are just contacts and groups on WhatsApp that are simply annoying. They may send nonsense or just too many messages or get caught up in endless discussions. If you have such contacts but don’t want to delete them, you can block them on WhatsApp. This can be done in two ways with just a few clicks.

Open the relevant chat on WhatsApp and then click on the three dots in the upper right corner. Under “More,” you’ll find the option “Block.” The other path is through the chat window and the contact. At the bottom, there’s a red option to block the contact. Once activated, the blocked person can no longer reach you via WhatsApp and won’t receive any of your status updates. But how do you find out if someone has blocked you on WhatsApp? The following clues might give you a hint:

1. Profile Picture Disappeared

WhatsApp itself doesn’t offer a setting that shows if someone has blocked or deleted you. The developers justify this step with user privacy. So, you have to go on a search: Is the contact’s profile picture still visible? If so, it could also be an old one.

It’s best to look at the user’s profile again: Can you access the profile info? Or does the picture suddenly disappear, and you only see a gray placeholder? If so, it could indicate that you’ve been blocked! However, there’s also a setting that only allows saved contacts to see the person’s profile picture. If this function is activated and you’re not a saved contact, you generally won’t have access to the profile picture, whether blocked or not.

2. Timestamp

Another indicator is the so-called timestamp–the small display in the chat under the user’s name that shows when they were last online. If a contact blocks you, you can no longer see this. But be careful: The timestamp isn’t shown for all users, as this function can also be disabled. Just because you can’t see the timestamp for some users doesn’t automatically mean you’ve been blocked.

Also interesting: These WhatsApp messages can get you in trouble!

3. The Second Checkmark Is Missing

If only one checkmark appears on sent messages, you should be skeptical. But what do the checkmarks indicate? One checkmark means that you’ve successfully sent the message and it has reached WhatsApp’s servers. But only when the second checkmark appears does it mean the message has actually reached the recipient. If that’s not the case, there might be a technical issue with WhatsApp, the recipient might not have an internet connection, or they don’t want to receive messages from you and have blocked you.

If the checkmarks are blue, it means the recipient has read the message. We explain in this article how you can disable this feature.

4. Call Doesn’t Go Through

With WhatsApp, you can also make calls over the internet–both voice and video calls. However, such connections can only be made with contacts who haven’t blocked you on WhatsApp. If you suspect this has happened, simply call the person via WhatsApp. If you can’t get through at all, it’s a sign that someone might not like you.

Also interesting: Ghosting–when messages go unanswered

5. Create a WhatsApp Group

Lastly, there’s another clue that can show you more clearly than all the previous ones whether a contact has blocked you on WhatsApp. You need to create a new group and add the suspected blocker. Here’s how:

Open WhatsApp and go to the messenger’s menu via the three dots. Here, you’ll find the “New Group” option at the top. Once you click on it, you’ll be taken to your contact list, where you can select members for the group. Specifically, add the person you suspect has blocked you. If your suspicion is correct, that person won’t appear in the list of group members. You can find the list in the group’s menu under “Group Info.”

Tip: If your suspicion is not confirmed and the contact hasn’t blocked you on WhatsApp, you should be prepared to respond to any inquiries and provide a reason for creating the group.

Blocking Also for SMS and Calls–Is It Possible?

If you’ve been blocked on WhatsApp, you can’t message or call the person–but only within the app itself. You can still send messages and make calls via regular mobile networks. However, you should ask yourself why the person blocked you and whether you should respect that boundary.

If you want to ensure that a contact really can’t reach you anymore, you should block them not only as a WhatsApp contact but also as a regular phone contact. Both on Android and iOS, you can block a caller in just four steps:

iOS

1. Open the Apple Phone app.
2. Go to Contacts.
3. Click on the contact you want to block.
4. Scroll all the way down and select “Block this Caller.”

Android

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Click on a contact you want to block.
3. Go to the three-dot menu.
4. Tap on “Block.”