How to know if someone blocked you from their story?

If you suddenly can’t find someone’s profile, posts, or stories on Instagram, but you could before, there’s a good chance you’ve been blocked.

Key signs:

• Their profile disappears from search results.
• You can’t see their posts, stories, or highlights on their profile.
• Your direct messages with them are hidden or missing.
• Their comments and likes on your posts are no longer visible.

There are more details to check. Below, you will find every method, sign, and trick to help you know for sure if you have been blocked on Instagram.

What Happens When Someone Blocks You on Instagram?

Blocking on Instagram is a hard block. It affects every part of your connection with that person, not just stories. Here is what you will notice if someone blocks you:

• You can’t find their profile by search or direct link. Their username will not appear in search results, and if you try to visit their profile directly, you will see “User not found” or a blank page.
• Their posts, stories, and highlights are invisible to you. You will not see any of their content, even if you remember their username or have a direct link to their posts.
• Your previous DMs with them disappear. The chat history is hidden from your inbox, but it is not deleted. If you are unblocked, the messages will reappear.
• Their likes and comments on your posts vanish. Any interaction they had with your content is removed from your view.
• You can’t tag or mention them. Instagram will not let you tag their username in posts, comments, or stories.

Pro tip: If you search for their username and see “User not found” or a blank profile, this is a strong sign you have been blocked. Try checking from another account to confirm.

Blocking is a complete separation on Instagram. You lose all access to their profile, content, and interactions. This feature is designed to give users full control over their privacy and connections.

How to Tell If Someone Blocked You on Instagram: 7 Proven Methods

Here are the most reliable ways to check if you have been blocked:

1. Search Their Username
   • If you cannot find their profile, but others can, you are probably blocked.
2. Check from a Mutual Friend’s Account
   • Ask a friend to search for their profile. If your friend can see it and you cannot, you are blocked.
3. Try a Second (Fake) Account
   • Log in with another account. If you see their profile there, you are blocked on your main account.
4. Check Old Comments or DMs
   • If their comments or likes have disappeared from your posts, or your DMs with them are gone, this is a sign you have been blocked.
5. Look for Their Stories
   • If you used to see their stories and now you do not, but others still can, you are blocked from their stories or fully blocked.
6. Try to Follow Them
   • If you find their profile but cannot follow, or the follow button does not work, you are blocked.
7. Check Instagram on Web
   • Search for their profile on the web using incognito mode. If the account exists but you cannot see it when logged in, you are blocked.

Table: Signs of Being Blocked

What Does It Look Like When Someone Blocks You on Instagram?

Instagram does not send a notification when someone blocks you. Instead, you will notice several clear changes in how you interact with their account:

• Profile disappears from search. You will not find their username in search results, even if you type it exactly.
• If you have a direct link, you see “No Posts Yet” or “User Not Found.” Visiting their profile link shows a blank page or a message that the user does not exist, even if you know the account is active.
• Their stories, posts, and highlights are gone. All their content is hidden from you. You cannot see any of their photos, videos, or story highlights.
• Your chat with them in DMs disappears. The conversation is removed from your inbox. If you are unblocked later, the chat will reappear.
• You can’t tag or mention them. Instagram will not let you tag their username in posts, comments, or stories. The app will not suggest their username when you try to mention them.

These signs make it clear when someone has blocked you. If you notice several of these changes at once, it is likely you have been blocked on Instagram.

How to Know If Someone Blocked You from Their Story Only

Sometimes, you are not fully blocked on Instagram. Instead, you are only blocked from seeing someone’s stories. This is a privacy feature that lets users hide their stories from specific people without blocking them completely.

How to check if you are blocked from stories:

• You can see their profile and posts, but not their stories. If you visit their profile and see their regular posts but never see their stories at the top of your feed, you might be blocked from their stories only.
• Ask a mutual friend if they can see the person’s stories. If your friend can view their stories while you cannot, it is a strong sign you have been hidden from their stories.
• Log in with a second account and check. Use another Instagram account to view their profile. If you see their stories with the second account but not your main account, you are blocked from their stories.

This type of block is more subtle. You still have access to their posts and profile, but you are excluded from their story updates. If you notice these signs, the person has chosen to hide their stories from you without blocking you completely.

Table: Story Block vs. Full Block

Read more: Why would someone hide their Instagram story from you?

How to Check If You’re Blocked Using a Mutual Friend or Second Account

Step-by-step:

1. Ask a friend who follows both of you to check the profile or story.
2. If they see it and you don’t, you’re blocked.
3. Or, create a second account (with a real profile picture and posts) and check.

Caution:
Respect privacy. Don’t harass or stalk the person.

What’s the Difference Between Blocking, Hiding, and Restricting?

• Blocking:
  • You and the other person disappear from each other’s Instagram world. You cannot see their profile, posts, stories, or highlights, and they cannot see yours.
  • All direct messages between you are hidden. You cannot send or receive new messages from each other.
  • You are removed from each other’s followers and following lists. You cannot tag or mention each other in posts or comments.
  • Any likes or comments from the blocked person on your posts will disappear from your view.
• Hiding Story:
  • The person can still see your profile, posts, and interact with you, but your stories are hidden from them. They will not see your story updates at the top of their feed.
  • This is a more subtle privacy option. The person will not be notified that you have hidden your stories from them.
  • You can choose to hide your stories from specific users in your story settings.
• Restricting:
  • Restricting limits what a user can do on your profile. Their comments on your posts are only visible to them unless you approve them.
  • Restricted users cannot see when you are online or if you have read their direct messages.
  • They do not know they are restricted. This option is useful for quietly managing unwanted interactions without blocking or unfollowing.

Each option gives you a different level of control over your privacy and interactions on Instagram. Blocking is the most complete separation, hiding stories is selective, and restricting is a discreet way to limit someone’s activity without them knowing.

Table: Block vs. Hide vs. Restrict

Why Would Someone Block or Hide Their Story from You?

• Privacy concerns: They like to share content with a smaller group of people. This provides them with more control over who sees their posts, photos, or moments.
• Personal reasons: There may have been a fight, split, or some other drama. Blocking or concealing news help them create space or avoid uncomfortable situations.
• Content sensitivity: They can post that which they do not want you to see. This can be personal happenings, opinions, or sensitive details meant for specific people only.
• Spam or harassment: If they feel they are receiving unwanted attention, spam, or harassment, blocking or hiding stories is a means to safeguard themselves and feel secure online.

Remember: Blocking or hiding stories is up to personal preference. Anyone is free to choose who they want to view their content. If you are blocked or hidden from someone‘s stories, do not be offended. It has nothing to do with you, but everything to do with their privacy and comfort.

What Happens to Messages, Comments, and Story Views After Blocking?

• Messages:
  • Your chat with the blocked person disappears from your inbox. You will not see the conversation, and they will not see it either.
  • If you decide to unblock them later, the chat may reappear in your inbox, and you can continue the conversation where you left off.
  • While blocked, you cannot send or receive new messages from each other. Any messages sent during the block will not be delivered.
• Comments/Likes:
  • All comments and likes from the blocked person on your posts will vanish. You will not see their interactions, and they will not see yours.
  • If you unblock them, their old comments and likes do not return. The removal is permanent for past interactions.
  • You cannot tag or mention each other in new comments or posts while blocked.
• Story Views:
  • If you block someone after viewing their story, your name is removed from their viewers list. They will not see that you watched their story unless they checked the list before you blocked them.
  • If you unblock them before the story expires, your view will reappear in their viewers list.
  • This gives you some control over your privacy, but timing is important if you want to hide your activity.

Blocking on Instagram affects all areas of interaction. Messages, comments, likes, and story views are all impacted, giving you more privacy and control over your experience.

Want to know more?
Read: What happens if you block someone after you view their story?

How to View Someone’s Instagram If They Blocked You?

Warning: Always respect privacy and follow Instagram’s rules. If you still want to check their profile, here are some options:

• Use a mutual friend’s account. Ask a friend who is not blocked to view the profile or stories for you.
• Create a second account. Set up another Instagram account with a real profile and send a follow request. If they accept, you can see their posts and stories.
• Search on Google. Sometimes, searching their username plus “Instagram” on Google will show public posts or their profile if it is not private.

Note: If their account is private, you will not see any posts or stories unless they accept your follow request. Respect their privacy and do not try to bypass Instagram’s security features.

FAQ: People Also Ask

How can you tell if you are blocked on Instagram?

If you can’t find their profile, posts, or stories, and your DMs disappear, you’re likely blocked.

What does Instagram look like when someone blocks you?

You see “User not found” or “No Posts Yet.” Their profile, posts, and stories are invisible.

How to view someone’s Instagram if they blocked you?

You can’t with your main account. Try a mutual friend’s account or a second account.

How to know if someone blocked you on Instagram story?

If you can see their posts but not their stories, and others can, you’re blocked from their stories.

Can someone block you from seeing their Instagram stories?

Yes, they can hide stories from specific users without fully blocking them.

Summary: How to Know If You’re Blocked on Instagram

• If you can’t find someone’s Instagram profile, posts, or stories, you are probably blocked.
• If you can see their posts but not their stories, you are blocked from stories only.
• Check with a mutual friend or a second account to confirm your status.
• Blocking, hiding, and restricting are different actions. Learn the signs for each.
• Always respect privacy and do not take blocking or hiding personally.

Knowing these differences helps you understand your situation and manage your Instagram experience better.

Want to Learn More?

• • Why did she hide her story from me?
  • Instagram video blocked in some countries

Share Your Experience!

Have you ever been blocked on Instagram? How did you find out?
Do you have any other tips or questions?
Leave a comment below, share this article with friends, and check out our other Instagram privacy guides!

For Instagram’s official help on blocking and privacy, see Instagram’s Help Center.