On TikTok, users build connections by following each other and interacting through likes, comments, duets, and other features. However, sometimes these connections break down, resulting in one user blocking another. Unlike on some other social platforms, TikTok does not notify you if someone has blocked you. The platform’s design intends to avoid confrontation and embarrassment that could arise from being notified you’re blocked.
Despite this, TikTok users often want to know if they have been blocked by someone. There are many reasons for this – curiosity, closure, evaluating one’s own behavior, restoring connections, or even just cleaning up one’s own follower list. While TikTok doesn’t provide tools to directly see who blocked you, this guide examines several techniques and signs you can use to make an educated guess about potential blockers.
Why You Can’t See Who Blocked You
Unlike other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, TikTok doesn’t have a built-in feature that allows you to see a list of users who have blocked you. This means there is no direct way to know for certain if someone has blocked you on TikTok.
According to TikTok’s privacy policy, each user has the right to control their interactions and block other users at their discretion. TikTok doesn’t require users to notify others when they block someone. The platform is designed this way to protect user privacy and prevent potential harassment if blocked users were notified.
Some speculate that TikTok avoids having a blocking notification feature as it could lead to retaliation or bullying if users knew who blocked them. The anonymity of blocking allows users to quietly control their feed and interactions if they wish to avoid another user’s content or comments.
While there are workarounds to potentially identify if you’ve been blocked which we’ll cover next, without an official blocking list from TikTok, you can never know with complete certainty if someone has blocked you on the platform.
Signs You May Be Blocked
One of the clearest signs you may have been blocked by someone on TikTok is if you can no longer view their profile or see any of their videos. If you tap on their username and get an error saying “Couldn’t find this account,” it likely means they have blocked you.
According to this WikiHow article, when you are blocked by someone, their account will hide its bio and videos from you. Where their profile content would normally be visible, you’ll just see a message saying “You can’t view this person’s videos for now.” This is a sure sign they have blocked you.
Similarly, as outlined in this Medium article, if someone blocks you, you will no longer be able to view their profile or any of their TikTok videos. If you search for their username, their profile will not show up at all.
So if you suddenly can’t view someone’s TikTok profile or videos when you previously could, chances are they have blocked you and restricted your access to their account.
Using a Separate Account
One of the easiest ways to check if someone has blocked you on TikTok is to view your profile from a separate account. Since TikTok doesn’t notify you when someone blocks you, using an alternate account is the best way to get around this limitation.
To check if you’ve been blocked by someone, first create a new TikTok account if you don’t already have access to a secondary one. Make sure you are not following or connected on this account with the person you think may have blocked you.
Next, log into the alternate account and try to access the profile of the person who you think blocked you. If you are able to view their profile normally, then they have not blocked you. However, if you get a message that the “User not found” or the account doesn’t exist, then the person has likely blocked you.
The advantage of using a secondary account is it allows you to remain anonymous. The person who blocked you will have no way of knowing you viewed their profile. This method provides definitive proof if you have been blocked without having to directly engage or tip-off the user.
Emailing TikTok Support
One option to try and find out if someone blocked you on TikTok is to directly contact TikTok support. You can reach out to them by email at [email protected] to inquire about a specific blocked account.
In your email, provide your TikTok username and the username of the account you believe may have blocked you. Explain you are unable to view the profile or any of their content, and ask if their account has you blocked.
While TikTok’s support policies prevent them from providing details about other accounts, they may be able to confirm if you are blocked or not. This can at least give you definitive proof the account blocked you.
Keep in mind support response times can vary. Be patient waiting for their reply. And remember to be polite in your emails, as aggressive or rude communication is unlikely to get a response.
Third-Party Apps
Some third-party apps claim they can show you who has blocked you on TikTok. However, these apps likely do not work as advertised and should be used with extreme caution. TikTok does not provide any official way for these apps to access block lists, so their claims are dubious at best.
One example is an app called “Who Blocked Me on TikTok” available on the App Store and Google Play. The app claims it can instantly show you who blocked you, but there are no signs it actually works as described. The app has poor reviews from users reporting it does not work.
In general, be very wary of third-party apps that claim to reveal your TikTok block list. They often request access to your account or data in misleading ways. Stick to official TikTok channels if you need support regarding blocked accounts. Do not enter your login credentials into any third-party app claiming it can uncover your block list.
Trying to Comment
One way to test if someone has blocked you on TikTok is by attempting to comment on their videos. If your comments do not appear or you receive an error message when trying to comment, it’s possible that the user has blocked you.
To test this, go to the profile of the person you think may have blocked you and open one of their videos. Try to leave a comment on the video. If your comment does not show up right away, then you may be blocked.
However, keep in mind that comments on TikTok often need to be approved by the video creator before they will appear publicly. So if your comment does not immediately show up, it does not necessarily mean you are blocked. Give it some time and check back later to see if it ever gets posted.
According to one Quora user, if you comment on a TikTok post after blocking that user, they will not be able to see your comment (Cite: https://www.quora.com/If-I-comment-on-someone-s-post-and-blocked-him-on-TikTok-will-he-see-it). So if your comment never shows up at all, that’s a strong sign you may be blocked.
Looking for Mutual Followers
One way to see if someone has blocked you on TikTok is to check your mutual followers. Mutual followers are users who follow both you and the person you think may have blocked you.
To check, go to the profile of the person you suspect blocked you. Tap on their follower count to open their list of followers. Then, scroll through the list to see if users who also follow you still appear as their followers. If you don’t see some of your mutual followers in their follower list anymore, that likely means they blocked you.
For example, if User A and User B used to have 100 mutual followers, but now User B’s follower list only shows 50 of those mutual followers, it’s a sign User B may have blocked User A. Those 50 missing mutual followers no longer follow User B because User B blocked User A.
Checking mutual followers is an easy way to get a sense of whether you may have been blocked, without directly confirming it. Just know it’s not definitive proof, as some followers may have unfollowed them for other reasons. But a significant drop in mutual followers is a red flag.
This method is also discussed in this helpful article: How to Know If Someone Blocked You on TikTok
Restricted Account Warnings
If you receive a warning message from TikTok stating that your “account is at high risk of being restricted” due to your “violation history”, this may be an indication that you have been blocked or restricted by another user. According to TikTok’s help center, violation warnings can occur if you have interacted with a restricted account.
When an account gets restricted by TikTok, other users may receive warnings if they have engaged with that account’s content. This includes actions like commenting, duetting, stitching, or otherwise interacting. So if you suddenly get an account violation warning without any clear reason, it’s possible a user you had engaged with before has had their account restricted. This results in a warning being shown to all who previously interacted with them.
There is no way to know for sure if this is why you received the warning, as TikTok does not share details on restricted accounts. But if you have not violated any policies yourself, engaging with a now-restricted account could explain the unexpected violation notice. Just be cautious about further interactions that could risk your own account being restricted.
Accept You May Never Know
Unfortunately, with the way most social media platforms work, you may never find out exactly who blocked you or why. People block others on social media for many reasons – they want to avoid drama, end a friendship, or even just take a social media break. Unless the person who blocked you decides to tell you, it can be impossible to determine the specifics.
While it’s natural to feel hurt, angry, or confused when blocked by someone, especially if it’s unexpected, it’s important to accept it and move on in a healthy manner. Obsessing over being blocked or trying to force contact will likely only make the situation worse. Focus your time and energy on the positive relationships in your life.
As the saying goes, “closure is something you give yourself”. Find closure by accepting the situation and choosing to move forward. With time, the sting of being blocked will fade. Staying active socially both online and offline can help you cope as well.
