t some point, you’ve probably blocked someone. Whether you’re ghosting that dating app match who can’t take a hint or rage-blocking a friend in the heat of an argument, blocking has become pretty normalized. And while doing the blocking can give you back control or be a totally awesome power move in the heat of the moment, being on the receiving end can feel like the end of the world.
Blocking can be especially gut-wrenching when it comes from a friend or an ex. If you aren’t expecting the block, how are you supposed to deal with it? And furthermore, how do you even know if you’ve really been blocked? Fear not, friends, we’re going to give you the insider scoop on figuring out if you’ve been blocked and exactly how to handle it.
Today, we’re going to dive into the purgatory that is being blocked, getting down to details like:
- How to Know if You’ve Been Blocked
- How to Reach Someone That Has Blocked You
- And the “Do’s” and “Don'ts” of Being Blocked
How to Know if You’ve Been Blocked
Before we get into how to tell if someone blocked your number, remember to stay calm. Just because someone isn’t answering you doesn’t mean they’ve blocked you. There could be a problem with their reception, a virus in one of the phones, or they may just be busy! So before you jump to conclusions, try out a few of these techniques to see if you’re actually blocked.
1. Calls Go to Voicemail After One Ring
One way to be certain if you’ve been blocked is to try calling the individual you’re attempting to reach. On a normal call, you should hear between three and twelve dial tones before you are sent to voicemail. If you are sent to voicemail as soon as you call them, it doesn’t mean you’re blocked either. It could mean their phone is on airplane mode, dead, or that they're currently on the phone with someone else. If the phone rings only once before sending you to voicemail, your number may be blocked.
2. "Suggested Contact" Feature for Androids
If you have an Android device, you may know about the “suggested contact” feature. This feature saves people you've interacted with through Google’s services, and because of this, you can use it to find out if you’ve been blocked. Start by deleting the person’s contact information. Then, once their contact has been deleted, search for their name in your contacts. If the name still comes up as a suggested contact, you are probably not blocked, and they’re probably just busy or haven’t seen your messages. If it does not, then chances are you’ve been blocked.
3. Message Color for iPhones
An iPhone user using iMessage to text another iPhone user makes the text bubbles appear blue. If your messages are appearing blue, then you can hold out some hope that you haven’t been blocked! If your messages suddenly appear green, you may be blocked. However, this isn’t the end-all-be-all sign you’ve landed in blocked purgatory. Green messages could also indicate poor service on either your end or the recipients. If you have no reason to believe you’ve been blocked, try checking your service and sending another message in a new area with better reception.
4. Delivery Status for iPhones
If that blue text bubble isn’t helping you sleep at night, and you’re still waiting on a response, try checking the delivery status of your message. Usually, when a message has been successfully delivered, the word “Delivered” will appear below the message. If the recipient has read receipts on, it will turn into a “Read” sign beneath the message to signify the recipient has seen your message. If your past few messages have no status beneath them, it’s possible you’ve been blocked.
How to Reach Someone That Has Blocked You
After you’ve tried some of our techniques, remember that it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve been blocked. And there’s always a possibility that the block was an accident or that they lost your number. But, if you really need to reach someone that has your number blocked, here are some possible ways to get through.
1. Face to Face
Meeting someone face to face is the easiest way to make sure there hasn’t been a mistake on their end, and you can easily tell them what you’ve been meaning to say. However, this option isn’t always possible. Sometimes the person you’re trying to reach is across the country or maybe across the world! So, if meeting face to face isn’t an option, we have a few more ideas for you to test out.
2. Hiding Caller ID
If you’ve ever prank called someone in your youth (or recently—who am I to judge?), you probably know about the *67 technique. By typing *67 before the number you wish to call, you can block your caller ID from showing up on someone’s phone. Sometimes, this can allow you to bypass the block and reach the person you’re trying to contact. However, many people tend not to answer unknown numbers or have their phone set up to automatically block unknown callers, so this may not be a viable strategy.
3. Use a Different Number/Device
A pretty foolproof way of reaching someone who has blocked you is to use a new device or number. Borrowing a friend or family member’s phone could be a great way to reach someone, but the same problem can occur as the technique above if the recipient doesn’t have the number saved, so be sure to pick your new number wisely!
4. Reaching Out on Other Platforms
If all else fails, you can always shoot them a DM on Instagram or send them a snap. If they’ve accidentally blocked you, this should clear up the problem pretty quickly. However, the person you’re trying to reach may not have social media or may not use it frequently, so make sure to choose the best technique for the person you’re attempting to reach.
If All Else Fails…It’s Time to Move On
If all else fails, and they really have blocked you on everything and have no desire to talk to you, the best thing to do is accept it and move on. Here are some of the do’s and don'ts of being blocked.
✅ Do:
- Process Your Emotions: Getting blocked really sucks! You’re allowed to be upset by it, so don’t ignore those feelings. Take some time to process what has happened and understand how you feel about it.
- Talk to Your Friends: Friends are your lifelines when things start looking down. They’re the ultimate support system, and they care about you! Confiding in them about the situation can help ease some of those icky blocked feelings you have.
- Take Your Mind Off Things: At the end of the day, a new hobby or a binge-worthy TV show can really make you feel better. The less time you spend thinking about what happened, the more time you have to heal and enjoy life!
❌ Don’t:
- Bombard Their Inbox: If you’ve already tried some of these techniques and they still aren’t biting, flooding their notifications is the last thing you should do. They may just need some space right now, and consistent messaging will only further upset them.
- Get Obsessed: Dwelling on why someone has blocked you is another way to get yourself stuck in a rut. If the person doesn’t want to tell you why they’ve decided to block you, don’t obsess over the reason! Process what you’re feeling and leave it in the past. Maybe someday they’ll be ready to tell you, but until then, it’s a question better left on “delivered.”
Those Were Our Tips on How to Tell If Someone Blocked Your Number + What to Do Next!
Remember to stay calm and not jump to conclusions before accusing someone of blocking your number. And if you do get blocked, these tips will make you a master at navigating the warzone that is being blocked. Happy texting!
