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Understand what happens when you block and unblock someone on iPhone Messages
Written byRain Kengly
Last Updated: June 9, 2024Fact Checked
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- If I unblock someone on Messages, what happens?
|- Will I receive old texts sent while they were blocked?
|- Will someone know if I unblock them?
When you block someone on your iPhone, you're blocking someone from messaging you on Messages and calling your phone number. While you can't retrieve any messages sent while a user is blocked, you can find blocked voicemails if the blocked user leaves any. If you choose to unblock someone, you'll see their notifications again. This wikiHow will answer all your questions about blocking and unblocking someone on iMessage on your iPhone.
- Blocked users won't be notified that they are unblocked.
- Blocked users may see "Delivered" on sent messages, and calls can ring without going straight to voicemail.
- You won't be able to retrieve blocked messages, but you can find blocked voicemails.[1]
Section 1 of 3:
If I unblock someone on Messages, what happens?
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The user will be able to message and call you again. Blocking a user prevents them from contacting you via Messages or Phone. When you unblock a number, these features will be accessible again. You can still ignore any received messages or calls, but you'll see every notification.[2]
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Section 2 of 3:
Will I receive old texts sent while they were blocked?
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Blocked messages will not come through when unblocked. While someone is blocked, any sent text messages will be blocked by Messages. You won't be able to retrieve them. If you decide to unblock the person, you will receive the texts normally.[3]
- However, if the blocked person calls and leaves you a voicemail, you can check it. It can be found in the Blocked Messages section of the Phone app.
- To find it: open the Phone app. Tap Voicemail → scroll down to the bottom → Blocked Messages.
Section 3 of 3:
Will someone know if I unblock them?
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Blocked users won't get a notification that they are unblocked. If the user contacts you persistently, they may notice that their messages are now labeled as Delivered, and calls may be able to ring without going straight to voicemail. Undelivered messages and instant voicemail are ways to check if someone blocked you. However, these aren’t consistent factors, so users won't necessarily know for sure that they are blocked or unblocked.[4]
- If you want to unblock someone but want to avoid seeing their notifications, consider using Do Not Disturb.[5]
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Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Rain Kengly is a wikiHow Technology Writer. As a storytelling enthusiast with a penchant for technology, they hope to create long-lasting connections with readers from all around the globe. Rain graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Cinema. This article has been viewed 232,392 times.
Co-authors: 5
Updated: June 9, 2024
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FAQs
New messages will come through as if the block never existed. Past messages sent during the block will uphold their silent vow. The act of unblocking is discreet; the sender is not alerted. Any future SMS or iMessage should pop up seamlessly in your chat history.
When I unblock someone on iMessage, what happens? ›
The user will be able to message and call you again.
Blocking a user prevents them from contacting you via Messages or Phone. When you unblock a number, these features will be accessible again. You can still ignore any received messages or calls, but you'll see every notification.
When you unblock someone, do you get their old messages? ›
If you want to ensure that you will still receive messages from someone, the best option is to unblock them. You won't receive previously sent messages, but you will be able to receive all of the messages that are sent in the future. Here is how to unblock numbers on an iPhone.
Do blocked iMessages get delivered when unblocked? ›
After unblocking a number on iPhone, do previously sent but blocked messages get delivered? Once a number is unblocked, messages sent during the block period will not get delivered retrospectively. Unblock does not affect past messages.
When someone blocks you will they see your messages when they unblock you? ›
The person who has blocked you will never see messages or calls from you. If a person unblocks you, messages are not resent. They will never see information that you sent while they had you blocked.
When you block someone on iMessage, what do they see? ›
Messages that are sent or received won't be delivered. Also, the contact won't get a notification that the call or message was blocked.
Does blocking someone on iMessage delete messages? ›
The sender's information and the message are sent to Apple, and the message is permanently deleted from your iPhone.
Do saved chats come back when you unblock someone? ›
Can I recover the chat history or previous snaps with the unblocked person? No, it doesn't restore any previous chat history or exchanged snaps between you and the unblocked person. Previous conversations and content remain deleted, and you'll start with a clean slate.
How to tell if someone unblocked you on iPhone? ›
now, I message my friend with the iPhone 14 Pro. if you see the delivered alert here, it means everything is good. or if you see nothing under the text you sent, then it's an indication that you've been blocked. yes, the sign is subtle.
Will my messages send if he unblocks me? ›
No the messages are never received/delivered once the person has unblocked you. This goes for voicemails as well etc. They will never know you tried to contact them.
Android phones move all blocked messages into a folder on the phone called “Spam and Blocked.” That means that the phone is still collecting messages from the blocked people; they just aren't notifying you. This can be a lifesaver in needing those blocked messages for various reasons after the fact.
Do iMessages still deliver if someone has blocked you? ›
When an iMessage user blocks another user or stops receiving their messages altogether instead of seeing these messages in blue bubbles (as they should), they'll see them listed as “not delivered” instead of being able to read them outright on their phone screen like normal conversations would appear under normal ...
What happens when you unblock someone on iMessage? ›
New messages will come through as if the block never existed. Past messages sent during the block will uphold their silent vow. The act of unblocking is discreet; the sender is not alerted. Any future SMS or iMessage should pop up seamlessly in your chat history.
When you unblock someone on iPhone, do old messages come through? ›
If you have had people blocked on your iPhone and you unblock them, will their old calls and messages come through? No, they will not.
How to react when someone unblocks you? ›
- Nothing.
- Block me, don't block me. I don't seek out other people to interact with, they find me just fine on their own.
- You want me to say something, ask me something. Otherwise I'm probably not even going to be aware that they blocked or unblocked me.
- Peoples decisions to communicate with me are purely their own.
SMS is a cellular carrier technology where Apple controls iMessage. If a person blocks you on iMessage, then they won't get any of your texts at all.
What happens if you send an iMessage to someone who blocked you? ›
If you have an iPhone and try to send an iMessage to someone who's blocked you, it will remain blue (which means it's still an iMessage). However, the person who has blocked you won't receive that message.
