WhatsApp Blocking: Can You Check if Blocked Contacts Sent Messages?

When you block someone on WhatsApp, your communication with that person ceases. However, the questions linger: will you be notified if they send you a message? Can you check for old messages from that person? This article helps clarify these common concerns and shares tips on what happens when a contact is blocked.

Blocking Basics

Blocking someone on WhatsApp is a straightforward process that prevents that individual from sending you any new messages. Once blocked, they will not be able to see your last seen online status or profile photo updates. The purpose of blocking is to ensure that you do not receive any new messages from that person for as long as they remain blocked.

Notifications for Blocked Messages

One of the common questions people have is whether they will be notified if someone tries to send them a message after they have blocked them. Unfortunately, the answer is no. If you block someone, they will not be able to send you any messages, and there is no notification system in place to alert you if they attempt to do so. This is by design to minimize any unnecessary alerts and to keep users focused on their preferred contacts.

Can You Check for Old Messages?

Once you block someone on WhatsApp, you will not see any old messages from them. However, you can not check if they tried to send you a message after you blocked them. The message delivery will be unsuccessful, and the message will show as sent but un-delivered on their end.

There are scenarios, however, where you can still find old messages from a blocked contact. Here are a couple of cases where this is possible:

After Unblocking: If you later unblock the person, you can see their messages sent after the block was lifted, but you will not see the messages they sent while they were blocked. Chat History: If you have not deleted the chat history after blocking the person, you may still be able to search and find the old messages in the chat history. Uninstalling and Reinstalling: By uninstalling and reinstalling WhatsApp and restoring your backup, you may restore the messages from the last backup, provided the messages were backed up before the block was imposed.

What Happens If You Report and Block?

If you have reported and blocked someone, you have taken steps to enforce a more comprehensive block. This means all messages, media, and chat history of that person will be removed from your WhatsApp account. If you have a backup, you can restore your chats up to the last backup, but you will not be able to see messages from that person.

Remaining Anonymous

Blocking someone on WhatsApp does not mean they vanish from all groups or channels where you both are members. If you are in the same group chat, the person you blocked can still reach out to you through the group. This is an important detail to consider if you are concerned about remaining anonymous or maintaining privacy in group settings.

It's worth noting that some people may still find ways to send you messages indirectly, such as using a different account or sending messages through group chats. Blocking is a powerful tool, but it is not foolproof.

In conclusion, when you block someone on WhatsApp, the messages from them will not be delivered, and there is no way to check for old messages unless you unblock them or restore your backup. The block feature is designed to keep your chat history clean and ensure that you do not receive unwanted messages. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have inadvertently blocked a person you wish to communicate with, you can always unblock them, but be aware that the messages they sent while blocked may not be retrievable.