Short answer
When you block someone on X, they can no longer follow you, reply to, like or repost your posts, or send you direct messages, and you both stop following each other. If your posts are public, the blocked account can still read them; only protecting your posts hides them. X doesn't send a notification, but the person can find out by visiting your profile.
Key takeaways
- A block cuts off replies, likes, reposts, follows and direct messages from that account.
- Since late 2024, blocked accounts can still read your public posts.
- Protecting your posts is the only way to hide them from a blocked account.
- X doesn't notify anyone they were blocked, but your profile shows it if they look.
- Unblocking doesn't restore the follow; either side has to follow again.
What can a blocked account no longer do?
A blocked account can't follow you, reply to you, like or repost your posts, or send you direct messages.
That covers the ways an account usually reaches you directly. The block also breaks any follow between you: they stop following you and you stop following them. In practice this means a troll who keeps showing up under your posts loses their seat in your replies, and anything they post about you no longer lands in your notifications.
Here's the short version:
| Action by the blocked account | After you block |
|---|---|
| Follow you | No |
| Reply to your posts | No |
| Like or repost your posts | No |
| Send you a direct message | No |
| Read your public posts | Yes, since late 2024 |
| Read your protected posts | No |
| Mention your @username in their own posts | Yes, but you aren't notified |
Can someone you blocked still see your posts?
Yes, if your account is public; blocked accounts can read public posts but can't interact with them.
This is the part that changed. For years, a block also hid your posts from the blocked account while it was logged in. In late 2024 X switched that off for public accounts. A blocked account can now open your profile and read what you post. It still can't reply, like or repost.
If you don't want a particular person reading at all, the only setting that does it is protecting your posts. Protected posts are visible only to followers you approve, and a blocked account can't be one of them. Some people protect their account for a few days during a bad stretch and switch back once things calm down. The trade-off is real: protected posts don't show up for the wider public either.
Will the person know you blocked them?
X doesn't send a notification, but a blocked person can find out by visiting your profile or trying to interact.
There's no alert, email or message. Still, blocks are visible from the other side. If they open your profile while logged in, X tells them they're blocked, and the follow button and reply box stop working for them. Someone who checks on you often will notice within a day or two.
If you'd rather they never know, muting is the quieter option. A muted account can still reply to you, but you won't see it, and nothing on their side changes.
How is blocking different from muting?
Muting hides an account from you without the account noticing; blocking stops the account from reaching you and can be noticed.
| Mute | Block | |
|---|---|---|
| They're told | No | No, but visible on your profile |
| You see their posts | No | No |
| They can reply to you | Yes (you don't see it) | No |
| They can message you | Yes, if your settings allow | No |
| They can read your public posts | Yes | Yes |
| Breaks the follow | No | Yes |
Muting fits an account that annoys you but isn't targeting you. Blocking fits an account that keeps returning to your replies, messages you or follows you around. If you aren't sure which one fits, the block, mute or report helper walks through the choice in a few questions.
Should you block before or after reporting?
Save evidence and report first, then block, because after a block you can't easily open the conversation or their replies from your side.
A block makes your own record harder to build. Before you block an account that broke X's rules:
- Copy the links to the posts that crossed the line.
- Take screenshots that show the username, date and post text.
- File the report. X often offers to block or mute at the end of the report flow.
- Block from there, or from the profile's three-dot menu.
Our guide to reporting harassment on X covers which category to pick.
What if they come back with a new account?
Block the new account too, tighten your notification filters and report it as ban evasion if they're using it to get around the block.
Blocks apply to one account. A determined troll can make another. Turn on the notification filters for new accounts and accounts without a profile photo, mute the words they keep using, and limit who can reply on posts that draw them in. Creating accounts to get around a block or a suspension breaks X's rules, so it's worth reporting.
How do you unblock someone?
Open the profile and tap Blocked (or Unblock), or use the Blocked accounts list in your settings.
The list lives under Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, then Mute and block, then Blocked accounts. Unblocking doesn't restore anything automatically: the account won't be following you again, and replies they couldn't post during the block don't reappear. X's menus get renamed now and then, so if a label looks different, look for the closest match.
Questions people ask
Does X tell someone when I block them?
No. X doesn't send a notification. The person can still work it out, because your profile tells them they're blocked when they open it while logged in, and they can no longer follow or reply to you.
Can a blocked account see my posts on X?
Yes, if your posts are public. X changed this in late 2024, so blocked accounts can read public posts but can't like, reply to or repost them. If your posts are protected, blocked accounts can't see them.
Can someone I blocked still mention me?
They can type your @username in their own posts, but you won't get notifications from an account you've blocked. If they use mentions to harass you, report the posts.
Does blocking remove the person from my followers?
Yes. Blocking makes the account stop following you, and you stop following them. If you unblock later, neither follow comes back on its own.
Where do I find the list of accounts I've blocked?
Go to Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, then Mute and block, then Blocked accounts. You can unblock anyone from that list.