To unblock someone on Instagram, go to your settings, tap "Blocked" under "Who can see your content," and tap "Unblock" next to the account. You can also unblock directly from a person's profile by tapping the three-dot menu and selecting "Unblock."
How to unblock someone on Instagram from the blocked list
Instagram stores every account you have blocked in a dedicated list. This is the primary method for finding and reversing a block. If you want to restore contact after a temporary block, this is the most reliable path because it shows every account you have blocked, even if you do not remember their exact username.
- Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
- Tap the three-line menu (hamburger icon) in the top-right corner.
- Tap "Settings."
- Tap "Privacy."
- Tap "Blocked Accounts."
- Find the person you want to unblock from the list.
- Tap "Unblock" next to their username.
- Confirm your choice.
Unblock someone from their Instagram profile
If you can find the person's profile directly, for example, through a previous chat or a tagged post, you can unblock them without navigating through settings. This alternative documented method works on the mobile app. You can find a blocked profile through previous posts you've liked (Settings > Account > Posts You've Liked). You can find a blocked profile through saved posts (Settings > Saved).
- Go to the profile of the person you blocked.
- Tap the three-dot menu (or the three dots in the top-right corner).
- Tap "Unblock."
- Confirm your choice.
Unblock someone on Instagram using a web browser
Instagram documents two official paths for unblocking on the web version. Use whichever is faster for you. For example, if you are already chatting with someone, the Messages path saves you time. If you are looking for general account management, the TikTok tips and settings approach from the Settings menu works best. Meta Quest users are mentioned for the chat-based block/unblock flow. On the web, you can unblock by typing the blocked person's URL (www.instagram.com/username) from a logged-out or new window.
From Settings > Blocked
- Open www.instagram.com in your browser and log in.
- Click "More" in the bottom-left corner.
- Click "Settings."
- Click "Blocked" under "Who can see your content."
- Click "Unblock" next to the account.
- Confirm your choice.
From Messages > Information > Block/Unblock
- Click "Messages" on the left side of the screen.
- Open the chat with the person you blocked.
- Click "Information" at the top of the chat.
- Click "Block/Unblock."
- Confirm your choice.
Frequently asked questions about unblocking on Instagram
Can you unblock someone from search history?
No. You must use the blocked list in settings, the person's profile, or the Messages path on web.
Can you unblock someone who also blocked you?
If the other person has also blocked you, there is no documented workaround to force unblocking them.
Are there limits on how many times you can block and unblock someone?
Will the person know you blocked them?
Instagram's help pages do not state whether the person receives a notification that they were blocked. The feature is designed to be private, but the documented pages do not confirm this directly.
Can a blocked person see your profile?
The documented pages focus on the unblock process itself, not on downstream effects. When you block someone, your past likes and comments on their posts are removed and are not restored if you unblock them. If you unblock someone, messages they sent while blocked will not be delivered to you. A blocked person cannot tag or mention you, and if you change your username they cannot tag you unless they know the new one.
