How to Know If Someone Blocked You on Instagram
Quick Answer
Instagram doesn't notify you when someone blocks you. To check, search for their profile. If you can't find them or their profile shows "No Posts Yet" with zero followers/following, you're likely blocked. But first, use FANS to check if they simply unfollowed you, which is much more common than being blocked.
In This Article
Noticed someone's Instagram profile has disappeared? Can't find their posts anymore? Before jumping to conclusions, understand that being blocked is actually pretty rare. Most of the time, the person simply unfollowed you or deactivated their account.
Let's walk through exactly how to tell if someone blocked you on Instagram, and what else might explain their vanishing profile.
Signs You've Been Blocked on Instagram
Instagram keeps blocks completely private, so there's no official notification or indicator. However, several telltale signs suggest you've been blocked:
1. You Can't Find Their Profile
When you search for their username, nothing comes up. Even if you type their exact username, they don't appear in search results. This is often the first clue something's wrong.
2. Profile Shows "No Posts Yet"
If you have an old link to their profile (from a saved message or browser history), clicking it shows a nearly empty profile. You'll see their username but "No Posts Yet" even though you know they had hundreds of posts. Their follower and following counts show as zero.
3. You Can't See Their Posts or Stories
All their content is invisible to you. Their stories don't appear in your stories bar, and any posts they were tagged in show "[User not found]" or similar messages.
4. Previous DMs Are Still There, But Limited
Your old direct message conversation still exists, but their profile picture might be gone (replaced with a default icon), and you can't send new messages. You might see "This user is unavailable" or similar.
5. Comments and Tags Disappear
Any comments they left on your posts are gone. If they tagged you in posts, those tags no longer work. Your comments on their posts also become invisible to you.
Blocked vs. Unfollowed: What's the Difference?
People often confuse being blocked with being unfollowed. They're very different:
| Action | You're Blocked | You're Unfollowed |
|---|---|---|
| Can you find their profile? | No | Yes |
| Can you see their posts? | No | Yes (if public) |
| Can you send them DMs? | No | Yes |
| Do they see your content? | No | Only if they visit your profile |
| How common is it? | Rare | Very common |
Understanding what happens when someone unfollows you helps clarify: unfollowing simply removes you from their feed. They can still see your profile, and you can still see theirs. Blocking is a complete two-way cutoff.
Most Likely Scenario
In most cases, the person just unfollowed you, not blocked you. Use FANS to quickly check who doesn't follow you back before assuming you've been blocked.
How to Check If Someone Blocked You
Follow these steps to determine if you've actually been blocked:
Step 1: Rule Out Unfollowing First
Before investigating a block, check if they simply unfollowed you. This is way more common than blocking. Use FANS to instantly see who unfollowed you without risking your account.
If they unfollowed you but you can still see their profile, you're not blocked. They just don't want your posts in their feed anymore. Understanding why people unfollow can help make sense of the situation.
Step 2: Search for Their Profile
Open Instagram and search for their exact username. If nothing comes up:
- Double-check spelling, as usernames are case-sensitive
- Try searching from the Explore page
- Look through mutual friends' followers/following lists
Step 3: Try a Direct Link
If you have their profile URL (instagram.com/username), try opening it directly in a web browser. If you see an empty profile with "No Posts Yet" and zero stats, that's a strong indicator of being blocked.
Step 4: Check from Another Account
The most reliable method: log into a different Instagram account (or ask a friend to check). If their profile appears normal from another account but is invisible from yours, you're blocked.
Don't Create Fake Accounts to Check
Creating new accounts just to check if someone blocked you violates Instagram's terms and could get all your accounts banned. Ask a friend or family member to look instead.
Step 5: Check Old DM Conversations
Look at your direct message history with them. Signs of being blocked in DMs:
- Their profile picture is missing or shows a default icon
- Clicking their name shows "User not found"
- You can't send new messages
- Previous messages still appear, but you can't add to them
Other Explanations for Missing Profiles
Before assuming you're blocked, consider these other possibilities:
They Deleted Their Account
If someone permanently deletes their Instagram, their profile disappears for everyone, not just you. Check with mutual friends to see if they can find the profile.
They Deactivated Temporarily
Instagram allows temporary deactivation. During this time, their profile disappears completely but returns when they reactivate. This looks identical to being blocked, so check with friends first.
They Changed Their Username
If you're searching an old username that they've since changed, you won't find them. But if you have a direct link or old DM conversation, it should still work with their new username.
Their Account Was Suspended
Instagram sometimes suspends accounts for violating community guidelines. A suspended account disappears for everyone temporarily.
Instagram Glitch
Occasionally, Instagram has bugs where profiles temporarily don't appear in search. Try again later or restart the app.
What to Do If You're Blocked
Confirmed you've been blocked? Here's how to handle it:
Accept It
Being blocked is a clear message that someone doesn't want to interact with you on Instagram. While it stings, respecting their decision is the mature response. There are many reasons people distance themselves on social media.
Don't Try to Work Around It
Creating new accounts to contact someone who blocked you is harassment. It can also get your main account banned if Instagram detects the behavior.
Focus on Your Community
Instead of dwelling on one person, focus on the followers who do engage with your content. Consider cleaning up your following list to curate a more positive feed experience.
Check Your Engagement Health
If you're worried about your Instagram relationships, it might be worth reviewing your follower-to-following ratio and identifying ghost followers who don't engage with your content.
Check Who Unfollowed You
Before assuming you're blocked, see who simply unfollowed you. FANS shows you instantly, no login required.
Download FANS FreeCan Apps Tell You Who Blocked You?
Many apps claim to show who blocked you on Instagram. Be very careful with these claims:
- No app can definitively show blocks: Instagram doesn't share blocking data with any third-party app
- Most require your login: Apps asking for your Instagram password put your account at serious risk
- Scams are common: Many "who blocked you" apps are just data harvesting schemes
What apps like FANS can legitimately do is show you who unfollowed you. FANS uses Instagram's official data export feature, so it never needs your password and poses zero risk to your account. This helps you distinguish between being blocked (rare) and being unfollowed (common).
Among the best unfollow tracker apps, FANS stands out because it works without requiring any login credentials.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram doesn't notify you when someone blocks you
- Signs of blocking: can't find profile, "No Posts Yet" message, can't DM them
- Being unfollowed is much more common than being blocked, so check that first with FANS
- Verify by checking from another account or asking a friend
- Consider other explanations: deleted account, deactivation, username change
- If blocked, respect the decision and focus on your engaged community
- Avoid apps that claim to show who blocked you, as most are scams or risky
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be notified if someone blocks me?
No. Instagram never sends notifications about blocks. You'll only notice through the signs described above: inability to find their profile, see their content, or message them.
Can I see their profile if I'm blocked?
Only a stripped-down version. If you have a direct link, you'll see their username and "No Posts Yet" with zero followers and following. You won't see any actual content.
What happens to our old DMs if I'm blocked?
Your previous conversation history remains visible, but you won't be able to send new messages. Their profile picture may disappear or show a default icon.
Can they see my profile if they blocked me?
No. Blocking is mutual in terms of visibility. When someone blocks you, they also can't see your profile, posts, or stories unless they unblock you.
Is there a way to see who blocked you on Instagram?
There's no official feature or legitimate app that shows a list of people who blocked you. The only way to know is to notice the signs and verify manually. Apps claiming to show this are scams.
What's the difference between blocking and restricting?
Restricting is softer than blocking. When you restrict someone, they can still see your profile and posts, but their comments are only visible to them, and they can't see when you're online. Blocking completely hides you from each other.
Can I unblock someone who blocked me?
No. You can only unblock people you've blocked. You have no control over being blocked by others. If someone blocks you, only they can unblock you.
Should I ask them if they blocked me?
Generally, no. If someone blocked you, they clearly don't want contact. Reaching out through other channels (text, mutual friends) to ask about an Instagram block can come across as intrusive. It's usually best to move on.
The Bottom Line
Finding out someone blocked you on Instagram is never fun, but it's important to verify before assuming the worst. Most of the time, people haven't blocked you at all. They've either unfollowed you, deactivated their account, or changed their username.
Start by using FANS to check if they simply unfollowed you. It's safe, requires no login, and gives you instant answers about who doesn't follow you back. If they still appear in your followers list (or never did), then you can investigate further using the methods above.
If you do confirm a block, respect it. Focus your energy on building genuine connections with followers who actually want to engage with you. Consider reviewing your own following list and building a more positive Instagram experience.
See Who Doesn't Follow You Back
Before worrying about blocks, check who simply unfollowed you. FANS makes it safe and easy.
Download FANS Free