It's normal to feel upset or even traumatized if someone you care about blocks your number, unfriends you on social media, or ignores you on WhatsApp. If you're angry or sad, don't be too hard on yourself—it's a perfectly normal reaction to someone you used to like turning your back on you. That's why we're here to show you what you can do to try and win them back. And if they don't change their minds, we'll guide you on how to move on. It's more about them than yourself, so try not to be too hard on yourself.
Make sure they have indeed blocked you.
They might have simply lost their phone or temporarily stopped using social media. For social media, try messaging them online. If the message cannot be sent, they've blocked you. On some websites, you might also receive a message saying you've been blocked when you visit their profile. On the phone, try calling and texting them. If you receive a message saying your text message cannot be sent and the phone call mentions the number is "unavailable," they've blocked you.
Depending on the carrier, your phone number may be blocked if it rings once, keeps beeping, or the line is busy when you make a call.
On some social media websites, it's impossible to know if someone has blocked you or simply deleted their profile. Log out of your account and try searching for them online. If they don't appear, it means they've deleted their profile.
Take some time before contacting the person who has blocked you.
While it may be tempting to reach out and contact the other person, waiting is usually a good idea. It's perfectly natural to want to know what went wrong. However, you might not get an answer right now—especially when both you and the other person are angry. That's why giving yourself some time to calm down is particularly important. Wait at least 24 hours before doing anything.
Wanting an answer is reasonable, but confronting someone or asking them to talk to you is unlikely to get you what you want.
Examine your recent online behavior or interactions with people who have blocked you. Have you written or commented on content that contradicts their beliefs, opinions, or philosophies? Objectively review your online behavior to see if you have offended them.
If you've just broken up, don't do this again.
Moving on is usually the best course of action, especially if they are exes. Being blocked can be painful, but the most reasonable solution is likely to move on with your life and forget about them (at least for now). This is especially true if you've just broken up. People typically cut off contact with their exes after a breakup to give themselves time to heal.
If they are lifelong friends or partners, you have every reason to want to know more. In this case, it's okay to investigate and find out what happened.
If they are playing a game with you and this obstruction is only temporary, it's best not to participate.
If you've never met them in real life, then forget about them.
If you meet this person online, don't overthink it. Don't assume you've done anything wrong. Unfortunately, many people do this nowadays when they feel they don't click with someone. Instead of politely messaging you to say they don't think you're a good match, they simply block you. It's their problem, not yours, so don't worry about it.
Don't get upset about this. Some people just don't know how to speak their minds.
We await their help.
If they block you because of an argument, give them time to calm down. If the blocking occurred after a heated argument, give them a few days (or weeks, depending on the severity). The person blocking you may just need some space to cool down, and they will unblock you once they are ready to talk. Just give them space.
This is most likely to happen if they previously blocked you and then unblocked you.
If you two haven't argued, they might have been offended by something you said or did. It's best to wait for them to calm down.
If you can't change it, try to accept it. It can be frustrating when we can't change how things unfold. By practicing accepting and embracing the fact that you can't change it, you might be able to let it go and move on.
Resist the urge to retaliate.
If you're angry, that's understandable, but getting angry won't do any good. Don't embarrass them at their workplace, and don't disturb them by knocking on their door in the middle of the night. This won't make you feel better, and it will completely ruin any possibility of reconnecting. Remember, their decision to do this reflects more on themselves than on you. Don't give them a reason to think about other things.
There's a saying that if your ex blocks you, you win. This means that if you want to "get back at" them, you've done your best. You either win because you can move on, or you win because you're such a powerful force in their lives that they can't even stand seeing you online.
Ask mutual friends to talk to them.
If you want to convey a message to them, seek help. If you want to know why they've blocked you, you'll likely get more accurate information by seeking a neutral third party. The person blocking you may have negative feelings towards you right now, but they should be honest with others.
Ask them to make your request discreetly for best results. You could ask, "Hey, Melissa blocked me, and I don't know what I did wrong. Could you ask her next time you see her? Just pretend you're curious."
Send them a letter.
If you have a lot to share, write it down. Writing a letter is more personal and reasonable than trying to call them from an unblocked number or add them with fake social media accounts. Plus, they can process it at their own pace, making it easier to understand. Take your time, write down your feelings, and then mail the letter to them or have a friend deliver it to them.
This is a particularly plausible idea if you're in a long-term relationship with someone and things suddenly end.
You could write an apology letter, ask yourself what you did wrong, ask them to accept you, or reminisce about the time you spent together. There's no right or wrong answer; it depends on what you want to tell them.
Ask yourself if you could have done or said something different, and determine if an apology is necessary. Could you have expressed your point of view in a different way? Try to express it in a better way.
Don't send dozens of letters. This will create the wrong atmosphere and, to some extent, is unfair to their wishes.
Throw away everything that reminds you of them.
If you can declutter 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 shoeboxes and under your bed. You can always look back at these things later, but for now, getting rid of reminders will help drive them out of your mind so you can move on.
If you find yourself under a lot of stress and constantly reminiscing about photos and trinkets, give them to a friend and let them keep them for you, at least for a little while.
Stay away from social media for now.
If you find yourself frequently checking these accounts, then do a digital detox. If you find yourself compulsively checking to see if they've unblocked you, then getting rid of the negative emotions you're experiencing will be much harder. Perform a social media cleanup. 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 get back to your previous state.
Spend time with your friends and family.
Being with people who care about you will uplift your spirits. It's easy to feel frustrated by being blocked by people you truly like if you don't spend time with those who are genuinely happy for your life. Accept every invitation from friends to go out and reconnect with people you haven't seen in a while. You'll soon forget you've been blocked!
Get out and about as much as possible. If you're home alone, you're more likely to want to contact them or check their social media accounts. Plus, you'll feel better if you're active.
Rediscover your life goals.
Take a step back and ask yourself why this is bothering you so much. If you just can't move on, it could be a sign that it's time to reassess. Maybe it's a sign that you should take a break from dating and focus your energy on your studies or career. Perhaps you can use your newfound free time to return to something you love.
Whatever makes you feel fulfilled and focused in life, do it.
It’s perfectly normal to feel hurt temporarily, especially if you’ve been dating this person for a while.
Treat this as a learning opportunity—learn from the relationship or interaction, and then move on.
If you have done something wrong, you can find ways to make amends by voluntarily participating in charitable activities, spreading kindness and forgiveness, and choosing to make healthy and positive choices in the future.
Try to reconnect in the distant future.
If they still don't accept it, you may just need time to let them get over it. If you've already asked friends to contact you, written to them, and waited weeks, and they still haven't responded, then it might take a while. Wait a few more months. If you still want to reach them, try calling, texting, or messaging them. If they still don't respond, you can try again in about a year.
This may seem like a very difficult request, but if you two are destined (or destined to be friends), waiting a few months to a year may be worthwhile.