Instagram provides users with two main options for limiting interactions with other accounts: blocking and restricting. While both can reduce unwanted contact, they work in different ways.
Blocking on Instagram
Blocking someone on Instagram completely removes their ability to view your profile or posts. When you block an account, here’s what happens:
- They can no longer view your profile, posts, or stories
- They are removed from your followers list
- They can no longer search for your account or content
- You cannot receive messages, comments, or post reactions from a blocked account
- Your posts and comments will not show up in places where a blocked account may see them
Essentially, blocking makes it so the blocked account can no longer interact with you or find your content on Instagram. It’s as if you don’t exist to each other on the platform.
How to Block Someone on Instagram
Blocking someone only takes a few taps in the Instagram app:
- Go to their profile page
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right
- Select “Block”
- Confirm you want to block the account
You can also block someone from their comment on your post or from a message thread.
Unblocking on Instagram
Blocking is reversible if you change your mind. To unblock an account:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the three-line menu icon
- Go to “Settings”
- Select “Privacy”
- Select “Blocked Accounts”
- Tap the “Unblock” button next to their username
Once unblocked, that account will be able to find and interact with you normally again.
Restricting on Instagram
Restricting someone is a more limited form of blocking. When you restrict an account, here is what changes:
- They can still view your profile and posts
- Your posts will no longer show up in their feed
- They cannot see your story posts
- Their comments on your posts must be approved before appearing
- You cannot receive messages or comments from a restricted account
- They will not see if you are active on Instagram or view their stories
Restricting essentially creates a one-way interaction where the restricted person can see your public content but cannot contact you or get notifications about your activity.
How to Restrict Someone on Instagram
Restricting an account can be done in just a few steps:
- Go to their profile page
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right
- Select “Restrict”
- Confirm you want to restrict the account
You can also restrict someone from a comment or message thread with you.
Unrestricting on Instagram
If you chose to restrict instead of block, you can remove the restrictions:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the three-line menu icon
- Go to “Settings”
- Select “Privacy”
- Select “Restricted Accounts”
- Tap “Unrestrict” next to their username
This will return full access between both accounts.
Key Differences Between Blocking and Restricting
While both blocking and restricting limit someone on Instagram, there are some important distinctions:
| Blocking | Restricting |
|---|---|
| They cannot see your profile or posts | They can still see your public profile and posts |
| Completely removes their access | Limits their access to certain content |
| Stops all interactions | Allows limited one-way interaction |
| You cannot undo without unblocking | You can reverse restrictions at any time |
When to Block Someone on Instagram
Blocking is the right option when you want to:
- Completely stop all interactions with an account
- Prevent harassment or bullying from someone
- Remove an ex or former friend entirely
- Stop seeing unwanted or inappropriate content
- Remove bot or spam accounts
Blocking is typically used when an account is seriously problematic and you want them fully out of your Instagram experience.
When to Restrict Someone on Instagram
Restricting is better for situations like:
- Limiting posts from acquaintances or loose connections
- Reducing interactions from friends of friends or peripheral followers
- Temporarily quieting an account that is mildly annoying
- Testing limits with someone before fully blocking them
Restrictions allow you to evaluate if simply limiting contact might resolve the issue before escalating to a permanent block.
What Happens When You Block or Restrict Someone?
Wondering what the experience is like on the other end? Here’s what happens when you block or restrict someone else:
What They See if You Block Them
- Your profile disappears from their account
- Posts and stories no longer show up
- They are removed as a follower
- Searching your username gives no results
- Messages say they cannot be sent
Someone who is blocked will not get any notification. Your profile will simply vanish as if it does not exist.
What They See if You Restrict Them
- Your profile is still visible
- Posts remain, but do not show in their feed
- Stories are not viewable
- Messages cannot be sent
- Comments must be approved to appear
When restricted, the account will be able to tell some interaction has been limited, but may not know the full details unless you tell them.
Can a Blocked or Restricted Account Tell?
In most cases, an account will be able to tell if you have blocked or restricted them. Some signs they may notice:
- Profile and posts completely invisible (if blocked)
- Posts still visible, but not appearing in their feed (if restricted)
- Stories disappearing from feed entirely
- Being removed as a follower
- Inability to message you or comment
However, Instagram does not send any notification when you block or restrict someone. The only way for them to know for sure is if you tell them directly.
What About Mutual Followers? Can They Tell?
Mutual followers between you and a blocked/restricted account may also notice signs like:
- Your comments disappearing from posts the other account is tagged in
- Posts disappearing where both are tagged
- Them no longer appearing as a follower of you
But again, Instagram itself does not notify mutual followers or make any public notice about blocking or restricting. Some followers may simply notice the effects in areas like shared posts or comments.
Should You Let Someone Know You Blocked or Restricted Them?
Whether to proactively tell someone you have limited their account is a personal choice. In many cases it may be better not to engage further and simply block or restrict quietly. However, some situations where you may want to inform them include:
- If they have bullied, harassed, or threatened you in a dangerous way, you may want to expressly tell them not to contact you again
- To wrap up a clean break with an ex rather than disappearing unexpectedly
- To set clear boundaries with a friend without ending the friendship entirely
- To explain your actions if you still have mutual friends or contacts
The decision depends on your specific circumstances. But in general, if you do not feel comfortable interacting further, it is perfectly fine to block or restrict someone on Instagram without notification.
Can You See Someone’s Posts if You Restrict Them?
When you restrict an Instagram account, you can still visit their profile page and see their posts. Restricting only limits their posts from showing up in your main feed. So you can access their public content any time by going directly to their profile.
However, you will not see any of their story posts after restricting them. Their stories will be entirely inaccessible. But public posts will remain viewable on their profile, despite being blocked from your feed.
What About Posts You’re Tagged In? Can They See Those if Restricted?
When you restrict someone, they remain able to see posts that they are tagged in where you are also tagged. These co-tagged posts will not be hidden from them.
They will also be able to interact on these co-tagged posts. For example, they can like or comment on the post if it is public. You will not see any of their activity on these posts unless you approve it.
So restricting does not block them entirely from posts where you are both tagged. Those co-tagged posts can still be viewed normally.
Can Someone You’ve Restricted Tell When You’re Active on Instagram?
When you restrict an account on Instagram, they are no longer able to tell when you are active on the app. Some signs of activity they will not see include:
- When you were last active or online
- Status indicating you are currently active in the app
- Typing indicators when you are messaging
- Viewing their own story posts
Essentially all signals of your Instagram activity are hidden from a restricted account. They will be unable to know when you are online, viewing content, or typing. Your activity status goes entirely dark to them.
Can You Remove Followers Without Them Knowing?
There is no direct way to remove someone as a follower on Instagram without them knowing. Follower counts are public, so they will notice if it goes down.
Blocking or restricting someone will remove them as a follower and prevent new follows. But they will likely notice the change in their end.
The only way to more subtly remove a follower is to make your whole account private. When you switch to a private profile, all existing followers are removed and must request to follow you again.
Should You Block or Restrict Exes on Instagram?
Blocking or restricting an ex on Instagram is often a good idea, but which should you choose? Here are some tips:
- Block if you want a definite, permanent end to contact
- Restrict if you still share mutual friends or contacts
- Restrict at first to test limits if you are unsure
- Block if they harass you or violate boundaries
- Restrict if you hope to be friends again someday
- Block if seeing their activities causes emotional harm
In general, blocking is better for a clean break with no looking back. Restrict if you think a connection could resume later or want to slowly pull back contact.
Is Restricting Less “Mean” Than Blocking?
Some may perceive restricting as being nicer than blocking, since it is less final. But in reality both are simply tools to manage your boundaries. Use whichever is right for your needs.
Restricting can be a gentler first step if you are uncertain. But blocking is best for stopping harassment or someone who ignores requests to change behavior. Don’t hesitate to block if needed for your wellbeing.
Can You See Stories of Someone You Restricted?
When you restrict an account on Instagram, you will no longer be able to view any of their story posts. Restricting removes access to both their current stories and any archived ones.
This means you will not see that account’s circle icon in the stories bar at the top of feed. And tapping on their profile will show no story highlights available.
So restricting someone fully cuts off access to any of their stories. Their public profile and posts will remain visible, but all stories will disappear.
Conclusion
Blocking and restricting both allow you to control interactions on Instagram that you find undesirable. Blocking fully removes someone’s access and cuts off all contact. Restricting takes a lighter approach by limiting certain capabilities.
Choose blocking for accounts that are abusive, harassing, or cause real emotional harm. Restrict for those where you want to gradually limit contact or hope to reconnect down the line.
While blocking may seem “meaner”, the goal of both tools is simply to establish the boundaries that make you comfortable. Don’t hesitate to employ whichever one meets your needs. Your mental health and safety should drive the decision.
