How to Unblock Someone on Snapchat: Quick Guide for iPhone & Android (2025)

More than 1.5 million people search for ways to unblock Snapchat contacts. The unblocking process becomes simple at the time you decide to reconnect with someone. The platform won’t restore your previous chats automatically, but you’ll need to send a new friend request to rebuild the connection.

How to Unblock Someone on Snapchat iPhone: Step-by-Step Guide

Let me show you how to unblock someone on Snapchat. The process takes just a few taps in your profile settings. iPhone users will find this especially easy. Here’s exactly how you can reconnect with someone you blocked before.

Accessing your profile settings

The first thing you need to do is get to your profile settings:

1. Open Snapchat on your iPhone while logged into your account.
2. Tap your profile icon (Bitmoji or profile picture) at the top-left corner of the screen.
3. Look for the gear icon (⚙️) at the top-right corner of your profile page.
4. Tap this icon to open your Snapchat settings menu.

Your account controls live in the settings menu, including privacy options and blocked user management. The easy-to-use layout makes finding what you need a breeze.

Finding your blocked list

Now that you’re in the settings menu, here’s how to find the blocked users section:

1. Scroll down the settings menu until you see the “Privacy Controls” section.
2. Look for the “Blocked” option (sometimes shown as “Blocked Users”).
3. Tap on “Blocked” to see everyone you’ve blocked on Snapchat.

Your blocked list shows users based on when you blocked them. The most recent blocks appear at the top, which helps you find people quickly.

Removing someone from your blocked list

The unblocking part is straightforward:

1. Look through your blocked list for the person you want to unblock.
2. Find the X symbol next to their name.
3. Tap the X to start unblocking them.

You might need to scroll a bit if you have lots of blocked users. The list follows a chronological order rather than alphabetical.

Confirming the unblock action

Snapchat will ask you to confirm before completing the unblock:

1. A confirmation message pops up after you tap the X.
2. Tap “Yes” to confirm and finish unblocking.
3. The person’s username disappears from your blocked list right away.

The person won’t automatically become your friend again after unblocking them. They won’t know you’ve unblocked them either. You’ll need to send a new friend request or wait for them to send you one to fully reconnect.

Your old chat history won’t come back automatically. Snapchat also puts a 24-hour waiting period in place after unblocking someone. During this time, you can’t block them again. This cooling-off period helps prevent back-and-forth blocking.

The steps work the same way whether you’re unblocking a close friend or someone you barely know. Once you’re friends again, they can send you Snaps, Chats, and see your Stories and Charms just like before.

Unblocking on Snapchat Android: Key Differences

The basic unblocking steps work the same way on most devices. Android users will see some differences in how Snapchat looks and works. The Android app has its own layout that changes how you get to your blocked contacts.

Navigating Android Snapchat interface

The Android version of Snapchat works a bit differently from iOS. The app starts with the camera screen, and you can move around with simple swipes:

1. Main camera screen is where you start
2. Swipe left to see your chats
3. Swipe right to check out discover content
4. Swipe down to open Snap Map

You’ll see your profile icon at the top left of the main screen – it’s either your Bitmoji or profile picture. This takes you to your account settings where you can manage blocked users.

The app puts the camera function right at the center. After all, Snapchat is built for sharing photos and videos.

Locating blocked contacts on Android

Here’s how to find your blocked list on Android:

1. Launch Snapchat and log in
2. Tap your profile icon at the top left
3. Hit the gear icon (⚙️) in the top right for Settings
4. Look for “Account Actions” as you scroll down
5. Select “Blocked” to see everyone you’ve blocked

The app shows blocked users by date, with the newest blocks at the top. This makes it easy to find people you might want to unblock.

Each blocked username has an X next to it. Tap the X to start unblocking. The app will ask if you’re sure about unblocking this person. Just tap “Yes” to confirm.

Android-specific unblocking tips

Android users who run into problems can try these fixes:

Clear Snapchat cache: Android lets you clear the cache right from your phone settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Storage > Clear Cache.

Alternative access method: Some Android phones let you find blocked users another way. Just scroll to the bottom of your messages screen to find “Blocked Users.”

Performance considerations: Your Android phone model affects how fast Snapchat runs. Older phones might take longer to show the blocked list. Give it some time to load everything.

Update importance: The app works best when it’s up to date. Older versions might not show everything correctly or might be missing some features you need to unblock people.

In spite of that, just like on iOS, unblocking someone doesn’t add them back to your friends list. 

You’ll need to find their username and send a new friend request to reconnect.

The person’s name vanishes from your blocked list as soon as you unblock them. They can now find your profile when they search, but they won’t know you’ve unblocked them.

The web version at web.snapchat.com can’t help you manage blocked users. You’ll need to use the mobile app on either iOS or Android to handle your blocked contacts.

What Happens When You Unblock Someone on Snapchat

Your Snapchat experience changes in several ways after you complete the unblocking process. You need to know what it all means, especially when you have friend connections, past messages, and content visibility.

Friend status after unblocking

The previous friendship connection doesn’t automatically come back after you unblock someone. Your relationship status goes back to being strangers once you unblock a user.

The person you unblocked won’t get any notification about being removed from your block list. So, they won’t know you’ve unblocked them unless they look for your profile or you message them first.

You’ll need to follow these steps to fully reconnect with someone after unblocking:

1. Search for their username
2. Send them a new friend request
3. Wait for them to accept your request

They might need to send you a friend request instead. Limited interaction capabilities will remain until this step is completed.

The unblocked person can see your profile again when they search for it now. This is different from before because blocked users couldn’t find your profile through Snapchat’s search function.

Message history and recovery

Previous conversations don’t come back after you unblock someone. Snapchat permanently removes your shared chat history at the time you block someone. This deletion stays permanent even after unblocking.

All saved messages, memorable conversations, and vital information you exchanged before the block are gone forever. This differs from just removing someone as a friend, which keeps your chat history intact.

The permanent deletion affects:

• Text messages
• Snaps you’ve exchanged
• Saved chat messages
• Group conversations with both users

You start with a clean slate once you unblock and become friends again. New messages appear in a fresh chat thread without any previous interactions.

Snapchat has limited options to save important conversations. Messages can be set to last 24 hours instead of disappearing right away, but you need to do this before any blocking happens.

Story visibility changes

Story visibility works differently after unblocking. The blocked person can’t see any of your Stories at first. After unblocking, your privacy settings determine if they can see your content.

Snapchat’s default Story privacy is “My Friends.” The unblocked person won’t see your Stories with this setting unless you become friends again. They can view your Stories if they’re set to 

“Public,” regardless of friend status.

Snapchat’s “Custom” privacy option gives you more control. You can choose specific users who can view your Stories, even from your friends list.

Privacy settings stay the same for content posted with those settings, even if you change them later. To cite an instance, a Story posted with “Friends Only” visibility keeps those settings even after switching to “Public.”

Group chats work differently after unblocking too. Messages from both you and the unblocked person become visible in shared groups. Their messages in shared groups were hidden from you before unblocking.

Unblocking someone on Snapchat brings back simple visibility and search features, but you need to take specific steps to rebuild your previous connection.

Common Issues When Unblocking People on Snapchat

You might run into some roadblocks even after taking all the right steps to unblock someone. Let me help you deal with these common Snapchat issues quickly and painlessly.

24-hour restriction period

Snapchat needs a cooling-off period after you unblock someone. You won’t be able to block the same person again for 24 hours. This built-in feature stops users from repeatedly blocking and unblocking others.

The app will show an error message if you try to block someone before this period ends. This rule applies to both iPhone and Android users, without any way around it.

The unblocked person can reach out to you during this time if you add each other back. You’ll need to wait out the restriction period if you’ve unblocked someone by mistake.

Can’t find the unblocked user

Not being able to find someone after unblocking them can be really frustrating. Here’s what might be happening:

• They might have blocked you too
• Their account could be deleted
• Your search might have sync issues

Deleted Snapchat accounts sometimes still show up until you sign out and back in. Remember that unblocking doesn’t automatically make you friends again – you’ll need to look them up yourself.

Try these steps if you can’t find them and you’re sure they haven’t blocked you:

1. Give it a few minutes and restart Snapchat
2. Check your internet connection
3. Sign out and back into your account
4. Make a new account to check if their profile still exists

App glitches and solutions

Technical problems can sometimes mess with the unblocking process. You might see error messages, frozen screens, or incomplete unblocks.

Here’s what usually works:

1. Check for updates: Old versions of Snapchat often have problems with blocked lists
2. Clear app cache: iPhone users should tap Clear Conversations under Account Actions in Snapchat settings
3. Restart the app: A quick close and reopen often fixes small issues
4. Reboot your device: Starting your phone fresh can solve many app problems

A complete reinstall of Snapchat might help with stubborn issues. This will wipe out any problematic local data. Just save your login details first – you’ll need them to sign back in.

The app’s settings menu has a direct line to Snapchat support. You can also shake your device to report bugs if nothing else works.

How to Re-add Friends After Unblocking

Unblocking someone on Snapchat doesn’t automatically put them back on your friends list. They’re just removed from your blocked users. Here’s how you can reconnect with them properly.

Searching for their username

You’ll need to use Snapchat’s search function to find their profile again after unblocking them. Here’s what to do:

1. Tap the 🔍 search icon at the top of your screen
2. Type in their exact username or display name
3. Look through the search results for their profile

Make sure you’ve spelled their username right if you can’t find them. The search results might take a few minutes to show up after unblocking – that’s normal. You might need to restart the app and try again.

Their profile might not show up because they’ve either blocked you back or deleted their account. Note that you won’t be able to add them if they’ve deleted their account.

Sending a new friend request

Their profile won’t be on your friends list when you find it. Here’s how to reconnect:

1. Tap on their profile to open it
2. Look for the “+ Add” button next to their name
3. Tap this button to send a new friend request

They’ll get a notification about your friend request. The good news is Snapchat doesn’t tell them you had blocked them before. It looks just like a regular friend request to them.

You could also ask them to search for your username and send you a request that you can accept.

What to expect after reconnecting

Your friendship starts fresh when you add each other again. The app deletes your previous chat history when you block someone, so those conversations won’t come back.

You’ll get all these features back once they accept your request:

• Sending and receiving Snaps
• Exchanging text messages
• Viewing each other’s Stories
• Seeing each other in mutual group chats

You’ll have to start a new Snap streak if you had one before. It might help to send them a friendly message about what happened, especially if they’re wondering why you disappeared from their friend list.

Conclusion

When you unblock someone on Snapchat, you start fresh without access to previous chats. You’ll need to send a new friend request to reconnect. The unblocking process is different between iPhone and Android devices, but the simple steps remain the same. A mandatory 24-hour cooling period applies before you can block the same person again.

FAQs

Q1. How do I unblock someone on Snapchat using an iPhone? 

Open the Snapchat app, tap your profile icon, then the settings gear. Scroll to “Blocked” under Privacy Controls, find the user you want to unblock, and tap the X next to their name. Confirm your choice when prompted.

Q2. What’s the process for unblocking a user on Snapchat for Android? 

On Android, open Snapchat, tap your profile icon, then the settings gear. Scroll to “Account Actions” and tap “Blocked”. Find the user you want to unblock, tap the X beside their name, and confirm your decision.

Q3. What happens to my previous conversations when I unblock someone? 

Unfortunately, unblocking someone doesn’t restore your previous conversations. When you block someone, Snapchat permanently deletes your shared chat history, and this deletion is irreversible even after unblocking.

Q4. Can I immediately block someone again after unblocking them? 

No, Snapchat imposes a 24-hour restriction period after unblocking someone. During this time, you won’t be able to block the same person again. This cooling-off period is designed to prevent repeated blocking and unblocking.

Q5. How do I reconnect with someone after unblocking them? 

After unblocking, you’ll need to manually re-add the person as a friend. Search for their username, tap on their profile, and select the “+ Add” button to send a new friend request. They’ll need to accept your request to fully reconnect.