If someone you care about has blocked your number, unfriended you on social media, or is ignoring you on WhatsApp, it’s normal to feel uneasy or even emotionally hurt. If you’re angry or sad, don’t be too hard on yourself—it's a completely normal reaction to being shut out by someone you once liked. That’s why we’re here to show you what you can do to try to win them back. If they don’t change their mind, we’ll also guide you on how to move on. This says more about them than it does about you, so try not to be too hard on yourself.
Confirm that they have indeed blocked you.
They may have just lost their phone or temporarily stopped using social media. For social media, try sending them a message online. If the message shows that it cannot be sent, it means they have blocked you. On some sites, when you visit their profile, you may also receive a message saying you have been blocked. On the phone, try calling and texting them. If you receive a message saying your text cannot be sent and the phone indicates that the number is "unavailable," it means they have blocked you.
Depending on the carrier, if you call and the phone rings once, beeps continuously, or is busy, your number may be blocked.
On some social media sites, it’s impossible to know if they have blocked you or just deleted their profile. Log out of your account and try searching for them online. If they don’t appear, it means they have deleted their profile.
Take some time before contacting the person who blocked you.
While it may be tempting to reach out, waiting is usually a good idea. It’s completely natural to want to know what went wrong. However, you may not get answers right now—especially when both you and the other person are angry. That’s why it’s especially important to give yourself some time to cool down. Wait at least 24 hours before doing anything.
Wanting answers is reasonable, but confronting someone or asking them to talk is unlikely to get you what you want.
Reflect on your recent behavior online or when interacting with the person who blocked you. Have you written or commented on something that goes against their beliefs, opinions, or philosophy? Objectively examine your own online behavior to see if you may have offended them.
If you just broke up, let it go.
Moving on is usually the best option, especially if they are an ex. Being blocked can be painful, but the most reasonable solution is likely to continue living your life and forget about them (at least for now). This is especially true if you just broke up. People often cut off contact with their exes after a breakup to give themselves space to heal.
If they are a lifelong friend or partner, you have reason to want to know more. In this case, it’s okay to investigate and find out what happened.
In case they are playing games with you and this block is just temporary, it’s best not to engage.
If you’ve never met them in real life, forget about them.
If you met this person online, don’t overthink it. Don’t assume you did something wrong. Unfortunately, many people do this when they feel they don’t click with someone. They won’t politely message to say they think you’re not a match; they’ll just block you. That’s their issue, not yours, so don’t worry.
Don’t be upset about this. Some people just don’t know how to be direct.
Wait for them to reach out.
If they blocked you after an argument, give them time to cool off. If this block happened after a heated argument, give them a few days (or weeks, depending on the severity). The person who blocked you may just need some space to calm down, and once they’re ready to talk, they will lift the block. Just give them space.
This is likely if they have previously blocked and unblocked you.
If you both didn’t argue, they may have been offended by something you said or did. It’s best to wait for them to cool off for a while.
If you can’t change it, find a way to accept it. It can be distressing when we can’t change the course of things. By practicing acceptance and acknowledging the fact that it cannot be changed, you may be able to let it go and move on.
Resist the urge for revenge.
If you’re angry, that’s understandable, but throwing a tantrum won’t help. Don’t show up at their workplace to embarrass them, and don’t knock on their door in the middle of the night to disturb them. Not only will this not make you feel better, but it will completely ruin any chance of reconnecting. Remember, their decision to do this says more about them than it does about you. Don’t give them a reason to think otherwise.
There’s a saying that if your ex blocks you, you’ve won. This means that if you want to “get back” at them, you’ve already done your best. You either won because you can move on, or you won because you are such a powerful force in their life that they can’t even stand to see you online.
Talk to mutual friends about them.
If you want to send them a message, seek help. If you want to know why they blocked you, you’re likely to get more accurate information by seeking a neutral third party. The person who blocked you may currently have negative feelings towards you, but they should be honest with others.
Ask them to discreetly bring up your request for the best effect. You could say, “Hey, Melissa blocked me, and I don’t know what I did wrong. Can you ask her about it the next time you see her? Just pretend you’re curious.”
Send them a letter.
If you have a lot of feelings to share, write them down. Writing a letter is more personal and reasonable than trying to call them from an unblocked number or adding them with a fake social media account. Additionally, they can process it at their own pace, making it easier to understand. Take your time, jot down your feelings, and then send the letter or have a friend deliver it to them.
This is especially reasonable if you have had a long-term relationship with someone and things ended suddenly.
You can write an apology letter, ask yourself where you went wrong, plead for their acceptance, or reminisce about the good times you had together. There are no right or wrong answers; it depends on what you want to convey to them.
Ask yourself if you could have done or said something differently and determine if an apology is necessary. Could you have expressed your point of view in a different way? Try to articulate it better.
Don’t send dozens of letters. This will convey the wrong vibe and, to some extent, it’s unfair to their wishes.
Get rid of everything that reminds you of them.
If you can clear your space, moving on will be much easier. If you have gifts they gave you or photos hanging in your room, put them all in a shoebox and shove it under your bed. You can always revisit these things later, but for now, getting rid of reminders will help you push them out of your mind so you can move on.
If you find yourself stressed and constantly reminiscing about photos and trinkets, give them to a friend to help you store them. At least for a little while.
Take a break from social media.
If you find yourself frequently checking these accounts, do a digital detox. If you find yourself compulsively checking to see if they have unblocked you, it will be much harder to shake off the negative emotions you’re experiencing. Purify your social media. Temporarily delete your accounts and wait a few days. You’ll feel better soon.
If possible, give yourself a month off. 30 days is usually enough to truly process your feelings and return to a previous state.
Spend time with your friends and family.
Being around those who care about you will lift your spirits. If you haven’t spent time with those who genuinely rejoice in your life, it’s easy to feel down about being blocked by someone you truly like. Accept every outing invitation from friends and reach out to people you haven’t seen in a while. You’ll soon forget the fact that you were blocked!
Get out as much as possible. If you’re home alone, you’re more likely to want to reach out to them or check their social media accounts. Plus, if you get active, you’ll feel better.
Reassess your life goals.
Take a step back and ask yourself why this situation is bothering you so much. If you just can’t move on, it may be a signal that it’s time to reassess. Perhaps it’s a sign that you should take a break from dating and focus your energy on your studies or career. Maybe you can use the newfound free time to return to things you love.
Whatever makes you feel fulfilled and focused in life, go do it.
Recognize that feeling hurt temporarily is very normal, especially if you’ve been dating this person for a while.
Take this as a learning opportunity—extract lessons from the relationship or interaction and then move on.
If you did something wrong, you can find ways to make amends by volunteering, spreading kindness and forgiveness, and choosing to make healthy, positive choices in the future.
Try to reconnect in the distant future.
If they still don’t accept you, you may just need time for them to let go. If you’ve invited friends to contact you, written them a letter, and waited a few weeks, and they still don’t respond, it may take some time. Wait a few more months. If you still want to reach out, try giving them a call, sending a text, or messaging them. If they still don’t respond, you can try again in about a year.
This may seem like a daunting request, but if you two are meant to be (or meant to be friends), waiting a few months to a year may be worth it.