How to Block or Unblock Someone on Tumblr

Make it so that you can't see them and they can't see you

by
Brad Stephenson - Lifewire Writer
Brad Stephenson
Freelance Contributor
Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency.
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Brad Stephenson
Updated on January 17, 2020
Teenage girl with brown hair lying on bed using Tumblr on a smartphone

  Justin Paget/The Image Bank

Tumblr is a great tool for connecting with other people with similar interests, but you may come across users on the blogging social network that you'd rather avoid. Fortunately, Tumblr allows you to block other users so that they cannot see anything you post and vice versa. You should also know how to unblock someone on Tumblr in case you later change your mind.

Instructions in this article apply to the web version of Tumblr and the Tumblr mobile app for iOS and Android.

How to Block Someone on Tumblr on the Web

To block another Tumblr user using the Tumblr website:

  1. Find a post from the user you wish to block on your Tumblr dashboard and hover your mouse over the their profile name.

    If the user hasn’t posted anything recently, you can search for them via the search bar at the top of the screen.

    Select the user's profile name

  2. A small version of their profile will pop up. Select the silhouette icon next to the user name and choose Block from the drop-down menu.

    Select the silhouette icon next to the user name and choose Block from the drop-down menu.

  3. Select Block again to confirm.

    Select Block in the pop-up to confirm.

How to Block Someone on Tumblr for iOS and Android

Blocking someone on the official Tumblr smartphone app is very similar to how it's done on the web:

  1. Go to the Tumblr profile page of the person you want to block and tap the silhouette icon in the menu at the top of the screen.

  2. Tap Block in the menu that pops up.

  3. The Tumblr app will ask if you're sure you want to block the person. Tap Block once again to confirm.

    How to block users in the iOS Tumblr app

What Happens When You Block Someone on Tumblr?

Blocking someone on Tumblr hides their content from your dashboard and makes it impossible for them to see your posts or contact you. Here's what happens as soon as you block a user on Tumblr:

  • Your account will automatically unfollow their Tumblr blog.
  • Any posts of theirs shared by people you still follow will be hidden from you.
  • They won't see your posts in their timeline either directly or if shared by someone else.
  • They won't be able to send you a message or any other sort of communication on Tumblr.
  • They won't be able to search for you on Tumblr.
  • They'll be unable to share, like, or comment on your posts.

Blocking must be done on a per-blog basis, so if you have a Tumblr account with multiple blogs, then you'll have to block the user from each one.

You can still see content posted by blocked users by directly visiting their Tumblr blog.

Can People on Tumblr Tell They've Been Blocked?

Tumblr users do not receive a notification informing them that they've been blocked. They'd only be able to tell if:

  • They notice your posts no longer appear in their Tumblr timeline.
  • They try to send you a DM and can't.
  • They visit your profile and realize they can't comment on or share any of your posts.

How to Unblock Someone on Tumblr on the Web

Unblocking someone on Tumblr is just as easy as blocking them:

  1. Select the silhouette icon in the top-right corner of Tumblr and choose Settings from the drop-down menu.

    Select the silhouette icon in the top-right corner and choose Settings from the drop-down menu.

  2. Select the name of your blog on the right side of the page.

    Select the name of your blog on the right side of the screen.

  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select the pencil icon next to Blocked Tumblrs.

    Select the pencil icon next to Blocked Tumblrs.

  4. Select Unblock next the the user you wish to unblock.

    Select Unblock next the the user you wish to unblock.

How to Unblock People With the Tumblr App

You can also unblock users with the Tumblr app:

  1. On your Tumblr profile page, tap the Settings gear in the top-right corner to open your account settings.

  2. Scroll down the list of settings and tap Blocked Tumblrs.

  3. You'll see a list of all of the Tumblr users you've blocked. Tap Unblock next to the person you wish to unblock.

    How to unblock someone in the Tumblr iOS app