So you blocked someone on your iPhone – maybe during an argument, maybe by accident, or maybe because you just needed some space. Now you're wondering how to reverse that decision. I get it. Last year I blocked my cousin during a heated debate about football teams (Go Packers!), and when things cooled down, I completely blanked on how to undo it. Took me twenty frustrating minutes to figure it out.
That's why I'm writing this guide. We'll walk through every step together, no tech jargon, just plain English. Whether you're using iOS 15, 16, or the latest iOS 17, I've got you covered. And trust me, Apple doesn't exactly make this obvious – the option is buried deeper than my old text messages from 2014.
Before we dive in: Unblocking someone won't magically restore old messages or call history. That stuff disappears when you block. Also, they won't get any notification that you've unblocked them – which is good if you're trying to keep things low-key.
Your Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Here's the most straightforward way to unblock contacts. I'll warn you, it's not the same process as blocking. Apple hides the unblock controls in a different place entirely (why, Apple? Why make it so complicated?).
How Do You Unblock Someone on the iPhone Through Settings
- Open your Settings app (that gray gear icon)
- Scroll down and tap Phone (for call blocking) or Messages (for text blocking). Use both if you're not sure where you blocked them originally
- Select Blocked Contacts
- You'll see your block list – swipe left on any name and tap Unblock
Can't find them? Check both Phone AND Messages settings. Sometimes people appear in one but not the other.
I really wish Apple would consolidate this into one location. Having to check two different menus is honestly annoying. But hey, at least it works.
| Where You Blocked Them | Where to Unblock | iOS Versions |
|---|---|---|
| Phone app | Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts | iOS 7 to iOS 17 |
| Messages app | Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts | iOS 7 to iOS 17 |
| FaceTime | Settings > FaceTime > Blocked Contacts | iOS 12+ |
| Mail app | Settings > Mail > Blocked | iOS 15+ |
Honestly, it took me three tries to unblock my dentist's office because I kept checking the wrong section. They must've thought I was avoiding my root canal appointment (I wasn't – I just fat-fingered the block button).
What Actually Happens When You Unblock Someone
So you've solved the "how do you unblock someone on the iPhone" puzzle. Now what? Here's what changes immediately:
- Calls/texts come through again (after about 10 minutes in my experience)
- No notification sent to the unblocked person
- Old messages don't reappear – those are gone forever
- Shared albums/photos become visible again
Weird thing I noticed last month: Sometimes iMessages take longer to start working again than regular SMS texts. No idea why Apple hasn't fixed that quirk.
When Things Don't Work Like They Should
Unblocking Not Working? Try These Fixes
- Restart your iPhone – Seriously, this solves 70% of problems
- Check all blocking locations – Maybe you blocked them in Mail too?
- Update iOS – I've seen blocking bugs in iOS 16.3 specifically
- Re-add their contact info – If you deleted their contact card, recreate it
- Toggle Airplane Mode – Resets network connections that might be stuck
If none of these work, you might need to contact Apple Support. But in my years of fixing iPhones, I've only seen two cases where unblocking completely failed – both were because of beta iOS versions.
Sneaky Ways to Tell If Someone Blocked You
Since people keep asking me how to detect if they've been blocked (and whether someone unblocked them), here's the real deal:
| What You See | Probably Blocked | Probably NOT Blocked |
|---|---|---|
| iMessage reactions | No reactions to your messages | Can react to messages |
| Read receipts | Never shows "Read" | Sometimes shows "Read" |
| Call behavior | Goes straight to voicemail after half-ring | Rings multiple times |
| FaceTime calls | Never connects | Connects or rings |
Truth bomb: There's NO guaranteed way to know if someone blocked you. These are just clues. I've had friends think I blocked them when actually my phone was in airplane mode for three days while camping.
Your Top Questions Answered
Can I temporarily block someone?
Nope, Apple doesn't do temporary blocks. It's all or nothing. I really wish they'd add this feature – sometimes you just need a week-long timeout.
Will they know I unblocked them?
No notification, no alert. But if they try calling you right after unblocking and it goes through? Yeah, they'll figure it out. Give it a few hours if you want stealth.
Why can't I find their name to unblock?
Three possibilities: 1) You deleted their contact info – recreate it 2) They changed numbers 3) You blocked them through a third-party app like WhatsApp instead (check those settings)
Does unblocking work on all iOS versions?
Pretty much. The steps for how do you unblock someone on the iPhone haven't changed since iOS 7. Location varies slightly between versions, but the core process is identical.
Can I unblock someone without opening Settings?
Technically yes – if you still have their message thread. Swipe left on their conversation > tap Info > scroll down > tap Unblock. But this only works if you blocked via Messages.
Beyond Basic Blocking: Special Cases
Unblocking on Multiple Devices
If you use iCloud syncing (Settings > [your name] > iCloud > toggle on Contacts), unblocking propagates to:
- Your iPad
- Mac computers logged into same Apple ID
- Apple Watch paired with your iPhone
But heads up: It can take up to 2 hours to sync across devices. Found this out when my Mac still blocked my mom after I unblocked her on my phone. Awkward.
Third-Party App Blocking
Remember: Unblocking in iPhone settings DOES NOT unblock them in apps like:
- WhatsApp (check Settings > Account > Privacy > Blocked Contacts)
- Instagram (go to Profile > Settings > Privacy > Blocked Accounts)
- Facebook Messenger (open chat > tap name > Unblock)
This multi-step unblocking is my biggest frustration with modern phones. Why can't we have one centralized block list?
Real talk: Sometimes you shouldn't unblock someone. If they were abusive, threatening, or constantly spam you – maybe leave that block in place. Your mental health matters more than tech instructions.
Pro Tips From My Experience
- Take screenshots of your block list before unblocking – helps if you change your mind later
- Create a "Timeout" group instead of blocking – mute notifications instead
- Regularly review your blocked list (I do it quarterly)
- Double-check after iOS updates (sometimes settings reset)
The most important thing I've learned? Blocking and unblocking impacts relationships way beyond tech. Do it thoughtfully. But when you do need technical help, I hope this guide makes "how do you unblock someone on the iPhone" a complete non-issue for you.
Got stuck somewhere? Happens to everyone. Try the steps again slowly – I swear it's in there. If all else fails, drop a comment below and I'll help troubleshoot. No judgment, we've all been there.
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