USE WHATSAPP BUT DON'T WANT TO CHAT? HOW TO BLOCK SOMEONE ON WHATSAPP

How We Got Our Start

With more than one billion users, WhatsApp Messenger is the most popular messaging application in the world. WhatsApp allows you to send messages to contacts over an internet connection, rather than using your text allowance.

If you’ve been using GbWhatsApp, you may get to a stage when you want or need to block someone so that they can no longer contact you – and you them – on WhatsApp. If that is the case, here’s what you need to do.  

[Read more: WhatsApp: What parents need to know about the instant messaging app]

The free app is available for Android devices, iPhones and iPads, Windows Phone devices or Nokia phones, as well as compatible Macs and Windows PCs. Find out how to download it.

How to block a contact on WhatsApp
Perhaps the person you want to block is one of your contacts – but you no longer want to communicate with them via the app.

Here’s how to block a contact, depending on your operating system.

Android:

Open the WhatsApp app on your phone 
Tap the menu icon ⁝
Go to Settings, then Account, then Privacy, then select Blocked Contacts
Tap the add contact icon – a small icon the shape of a person with a plus sign on the left
A list will appear. Choose the contact you wish to block
Apple:

Open the WhatsApp app on your phone
If you have a chat open, navigate back to the main Chats screen
Select the Settings icon at the bottom right of the screen, then Account, then Privacy, then Blocked
Tap Add New and choose the contact you wish to block
Windows Phone:

Open the WhatsApp app on your phone 
Select More (the three dot icon), then Settings, then Contacts, then Blocked contacts
Select the plus icon at the bottom of the screen
Select the contact you wish to block
[Read more: WhatsApp: What do the ticks mean? Message delivery problems and read receipts explained]

How to block an unknown number on WhatsApp
If someone’s contacting you via WhatsApp using a number you don’t recognise, then you may feel that you need to block them.

Here’s how to block an unknown number, depending on your operating system.

Android:

Open the message from the unknown contact
Tap the Menu icon ⁝, then Block
If the message is spam, you can report it. When you receive the first message from a number not in your phone, choose Report Spam.

Apple:

Open the message from the unknown contact
Tap the unknown number at the top of the screen
Select Block
If the message is spam, you can tap Report Spam and then Report and Block.

Windows Phone:

Open the message from the unknown contact 
Select More (the three dot icon), then block and block again to confirm
If the message is spam, you can report it. When you receive the first message you can select Block and Report Spam. Select Block and then Block again to confirm.  

How to unblock a number on WhatsApp
We all change our minds or make mistakes – so if you’ve blocked someone on WhatsApp and then have a change of heart, luckily, you can unblock them and start chatting again.

Here’s how to unblock a contact, depending on your operating system.

Android:

Open the WhatsApp app 
Tap the Menu icon ⁝
Go to Settings, then Account, then Privacy, then select Blocked Contacts
Select and hold the name of the contact you want to unblock
A menu will pop up. Select Unblock
Apple:

Open the WhatsApp app 
If you have a chat open, navigate back to the main Chats screen
Select the Settings icon at the bottom right of the screen, then Account, then Privacy, then Blocked
Swipe left on the name of the contact you want to unblock
Select Unblock     
Windows Phone:

Open the WhatsApp app 
Select More (the three dot icon), then Settings, then Contacts, then Blocked contacts
Press and hold on the contact you wish to unblock until some options appear
Select Unblock