Snapchat doesn’t announce when someone blocks you. You won’t get a pop-up. No alert. Just a quiet shift, someone’s name disappears, the chat fades, and you’re left unsure whether it’s a glitch, a settings change, or something more personal.
And that’s the hard part. The line between being blocked, removed, or just ignored isn’t always clear. But if you’re noticing something off, there are ways to check without guessing. This article covers those steps clearly, without drama. Just the signs to look for, how to double-check them, and what each one actually means.
What Happens When Someone Blocks You on Snapchat?
Before diving into the signs, it helps to understand what blocking does on Snapchat.
When someone blocks you:
- Their profile becomes invisible to you.
- You can’t search for them or see their Bitmoji.
- Your chat history disappears.
- You can’t send them messages or view their stories.
- They won’t receive anything from your side, even if you try.
But none of this comes with a label. That’s why the only way to figure it out is through observation.
How to Check If Someone Blocked You on Snapchat

There’s no single button that confirms you’ve been blocked, but Snapchat leaves behind quiet clues. If you know where to look, the signs add up. Below are the key checks people use to figure it out. Each one tells part of the story.
1. Start With the Obvious: Search for Their Username
If you think someone might have blocked you, the simplest place to start is with the search bar. Open Snapchat. Tap the magnifying glass at the top. Type their exact username, if you know it. If not, try their full name.
What to look for:
- If they show up when you search their exact username: You’re likely not blocked. However, if they’ve removed you and have private settings, their profile may still not appear.
- If they don’t show up: It could mean they blocked you or deleted their account entirely.
Usernames are unique, but display names aren’t. If you search by name and find multiple results, go by the one that matches their Bitmoji or profile image, if visible.
2. Check Your Chat History: Is the Conversation Gone?
If you’ve messaged this person recently, another clue lies in the chat tab. Go to the Chat tab (speech bubble icon). Look for your conversation with them.
What to notice:
- If the chat is gone: If the chat has disappeared and you didn’t delete it, it could mean you’ve been blocked, though chats can also vanish due to manual deletion.
- If it’s still there: Try sending a message. If it goes through, you’re not blocked. If it fails, or you get a message like “Failed to send”, and your connection is fine, that’s a red flag.
A “pending” label could mean you’ve been removed but not blocked.
3. Use Another Account to Cross-Check
Still unsure? This method helps confirm things quietly. Ask a friend to search for the person on their Snapchat. Or log out and create a new account (or use a different device if you don’t want to sign out).
Here’s what this tells you:
- If the other account finds the user: You’ve been blocked.
- If no one finds them: They may have deleted their account entirely or changed their username.
Creating a second account can feel a bit much, so if you’re on the fence, asking a friend is often the better move. It’s quicker and doesn’t require starting over.
4. Check Your Friends List
Snapchat lets you scroll through your full list of friends. If someone was there recently and now they’re not, that’s a clue:
- Tap your profile icon.
- Scroll down to My Friends.
- Use the search bar to look for their name.
If they’ve vanished, you’ve likely been either blocked or removed.
Snapchat sometimes caches friends lists. If they still appear after blocking you, log out and log back in to refresh the list.
Blocked vs Removed: What’s the Real Difference?
These two actions are often confused, but they’re not the same thing.
What Happens If You Were Removed
Getting removed on Snapchat isn’t the same as being blocked. It’s more like being unfriended. You won’t get a notification, but a few quiet changes start to show up. Here’s what to expect if someone simply took you off their friends list.
You Can Still Find Them in Search
If someone just removed you from their friends list, you’ll still be able to search their name or username and see their profile.
You Might Still See Their Public Stories
If their stories are set to “Everyone” instead of “Friends Only,” you’ll still be able to view them even after being removed.
You Can Send Them Snaps, but They Might Not Be Delivered
Your messages or Snaps may go through from your side, but depending on their privacy settings, they may never actually see them.
They Won’t Appear in Your Friends List Anymore
One of the clearer signs: if you check your list and they’re gone, it means they’ve removed you, though not necessarily blocked you.
What Happens If You Were Blocked
Getting removed on Snapchat isn’t the same as being blocked. It’s more like being unfriended. You won’t get a notification, but a few quiet changes start to show up. Here’s what to expect if someone simply took you off their friends list.
They Won’t Show Up in Search at All
If you try to find them by username or name and get nothing, it’s a strong sign you’ve been blocked.
You Can’t See Anything They Post
You typically won’t see anything they post after being blocked, unless their Stories are set to public and visible to all.
Messages Won’t Go Through
If you try to message them, you’ll likely get a failure notice, or your Snap will stay stuck with no delivery.
Your Entire Chat History Disappears
Even if you messaged them recently, the whole conversation vanishes from your chat tab once you’re blocked.
Other Clues That May Point to a Block

Not everything shows up clearly, but here are some subtle signs that can help build the case:
- No story visibility: If you used to see their stories and now they’re gone, and others still can, you might be blocked.
- Your snaps never open: If everything you send them stays unopened for days or weeks, something’s off.
- Bitmoji or profile disappears: If you suddenly can’t see their avatar or Snap Score, that’s another strong sign. This can happen due to unfriending or blocking.
These clues aren’t definitive on their own, but in context, they help round out the picture.
What About That “Couldn’t Find [Name]” Error?
If you try to add someone back and Snapchat says, “We couldn’t find [name],” that’s Snapchat-speak for: you’re blocked or the account doesn’t exist anymore.
Snapchat doesn’t want to point fingers, so they keep messages vague. But that particular phrase tends to come up when you’ve been cut off.
Is It Worth Making a New Account Just to Check?
Technically, yes, you can confirm whether someone blocked you by searching for them from a clean, new Snapchat account. If they show up, that confirms it.
But be careful. If you’re going out of your way to do this, ask yourself what your goal is. Are you just curious? Looking for closure? Or still hoping to reconnect?
Sometimes it’s better to let it go. People have all kinds of reasons for stepping back online, and blocking isn’t always personal.
Quick Recap: How to Check If Someone Blocked You on Snapchat
Here’s a simple breakdown of the main steps:
- Search their username: If they don’t appear, you may be blocked or they deleted their account.
- Check the Chat tab: If your chat is gone, that’s a strong sign of being blocked.
- Use another account to search: If they appear for someone else but not you, you’ve been blocked.
- Look at your Friends list: If they disappeared from the list, it could mean a block or a removal.
- Try messaging them: If it fails repeatedly and your connection is fine, you might be blocked.
What to Do Next
If you find out you were blocked, the next step is simple: respect it. As tempting as it is to reach out through other platforms or dig for a reason, it usually does more harm than good.
People block others for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it’s temporary. Sometimes it’s not even about you. Either way, forcing contact tends to backfire.
Take it as a sign to give space. You’ll be better off for it.
Final Thoughts
Snapchat doesn’t make it easy to know when you’ve been blocked, and that’s intentional. But with a few quiet checks, you can usually figure it out without creating more awkwardness.
Use the steps above, stay grounded, and don’t fall into the rabbit hole of obsessing over a disappearing name. If someone blocked you, the best response isn’t to chase. It’s to take the hint, hold your head up, and move forward.
Blocking may feel harsh, but it’s a part of life online. It doesn’t define your worth, and it doesn’t need to derail your day.
FAQ
Can I still message someone who blocked me on Snapchat?
No. If you’ve been blocked, your chat history with that person disappears, and any new messages you try to send won’t go through. You might see a “Failed to send” message, or nothing at all. Even if you try snapping them, it won’t deliver.
How do I know if I was blocked or just removed from their friends list?
That’s the tricky part. If you’ve just been removed, you can still find them in search and maybe even send messages or see public stories. If you’ve been blocked, their account vanishes from search, your chat disappears, and everything gets cut off. Searching from another account helps confirm the difference.
If I can’t find someone on Snapchat, does that always mean I’m blocked?
Not necessarily. They might’ve deleted their account, changed their username, or blocked you. To know for sure, ask someone else to search for them. If the person still shows up for others but not you, then yeah, you’ve likely been blocked.
What happens to my Snaps if I send one after being blocked?
They don’t go anywhere. Snapchat won’t notify you directly, but your Snap will stay in a pending or undelivered state forever. The other person won’t see it, and the app won’t tell you why it failed. It just quietly doesn’t send.
Can someone block me and still appear in my Friends list?
Temporarily, yes. Sometimes blocked users might still appear until you refresh your Friends list by logging out and back in. After that, they’re usually gone for good from your side.
Should I create a new account just to check if I was blocked?
Technically, it works. But be honest with yourself, if you’re doing that, is it about getting clarity or holding on? If someone blocked you, trying to circle around it might do more harm than good. Sometimes it’s better to respect the distance and move on.

