YouTube is more than just a video platform—it’s also a massive social space where millions of users interact through comments, channels, and livestreams. But like any social platform, you might occasionally encounter people you’d rather not engage with. Whether it’s spammers, trolls, or someone harassing you in the comments, you might be wondering: can you block people on YouTube? The answer is yes—sort of.
What Happens When You Block Someone on YouTube?
Blocking someone on YouTube doesn’t stop them from viewing your videos or channel publicly. YouTube is a content-sharing platform first, not a private social network. However, blocking a user does prevent them from:
- Commenting on your videos
- Replying to your comments
- Messaging you through YouTube Studio (if applicable)
- Tagging you in community posts or mentions
In short, they can still watch your content, but they can’t engage with you.
This is especially useful for content creators who want to maintain a positive community environment or viewers looking to avoid toxic exchanges in the comments.
How to Block Someone on YouTube (Desktop)
If you’re using YouTube on a computer or browser, here’s how to block another user:
- Go to the person’s YouTube channel.
You can do this by clicking their username anywhere on YouTube (like from a comment or video description). - Click the “About” tab on their channel page.
- Click the flag icon (⚑) on the right-hand side.
- Choose “Block user” from the menu that appears.
- Confirm the action by clicking “Submit.”
That’s it! The user will now be blocked from interacting with your content.
How to Block Someone on YouTube (Mobile)
Blocking users from the YouTube mobile app is just as simple:
- Go to the person’s profile by tapping their name in a comment or video.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
- Tap “Block user.”
- Confirm when prompted.
You won’t receive any confirmation email or message—YouTube handles it silently, and the person won’t be notified.
How to Block People Who Comment on Your Videos
If someone leaves a rude or spammy comment, you can block them directly from the comment section.
On Desktop:
- Hover over the comment and click the three-dot icon.
- Select “Hide user from channel.”
- This blocks them from commenting on any of your videos again.
On Mobile:
- Tap the three-dot menu next to their comment.
- Choose “Hide user from channel.”
This option acts as a soft block—users won’t know they’ve been blocked, but their comments will no longer be visible to you or your audience.
Can You Unblock Someone on YouTube?
Yes! If you ever change your mind, it’s easy to unblock someone.
On Desktop:
- Go to YouTube Studio.
- Click Settings > Community.
- Under “Hidden users,” you’ll see a list of blocked accounts.
- Click the X next to any name to unblock them.
- Click Save to confirm.
On Mobile:
You’ll need to access YouTube through a browser or desktop mode to manage blocked users more comprehensively.
What If Someone Is Harassing You?
If someone is crossing a line—whether it’s through abusive messages, threats, or repeated harassment—blocking them may not be enough. In that case, you should:
- Report their account to YouTube
- Take screenshots for evidence
- Enable comment moderation on your videos
- Use filtered keywords to automatically block inappropriate comments
To report someone:
- Go to their channel.
- Click the flag icon on their “About” page.
- Select “Report user.”
- Choose the appropriate reason.
YouTube will review the report and take action if the user violates community guidelines.
Managing Your Comment Section
If you’re a content creator dealing with toxic or off-topic comments, here are some additional ways to keep your space clean:
- Hold comments for review: Go to YouTube Studio > Settings > Community and check “Hold all comments for review.”
- Block specific words: Enter banned words or phrases in the blocked words section under Community settings.
- Turn off comments entirely: If needed, you can disable comments on individual videos or your entire channel.
These tools give you control over how people engage with your content.
Can You Block Someone from Seeing Your Channel?
Unfortunately, no. Blocking a user doesn’t prevent them from watching your videos or visiting your public channel. YouTube does not allow you to restrict access to your videos based on specific viewers unless:
- You make the video private and invite only select users by email.
- You switch your video visibility to “unlisted” and only share the link with trusted viewers.
This is an important distinction: blocking someone on YouTube is more about preventing interaction than restricting visibility.
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can block people on YouTube, but the block is mostly about stopping interaction—not access. If you’re tired of spam, harassment, or low-effort comments cluttering your feed, using YouTube’s built-in blocking and moderation tools can help you create a more positive experience.
Whether you’re a casual viewer or a full-time creator, managing your social interactions on YouTube ensures the platform remains a place for engaging, high-quality content.