How to Know If Someone Blocked You on iMessage: 7 Clear Signs

We've all been there – you send a message to someone on your iPhone, but they never respond. Days pass, and you start to wonder: "Did they block me on iMessage?" It's a common concern in our digital age, where messaging apps are our primary communication tools.

Whether it's a friend who suddenly stopped responding, a family member you're trying to reach, or someone you've had a disagreement with, knowing if you've been blocked can help you understand the situation and decide what to do next. In this guide, we'll walk through seven clear signs that someone has blocked you on iMessage, helping you distinguish between being blocked and other innocent explanations.

1. No "Delivered" or "Read" Status Under Your Messages

One of the most telling signs that someone may have blocked you on iMessage is the absence of delivery notifications. When you send a message to someone who hasn't blocked you, you'll typically see "Delivered" appear beneath your text bubble once it reaches their device.

If the person has read receipts enabled, this will change to "Read" once they've opened your message. However, if you've been blocked, you might not see either of these status indicators.

Important: With iOS 16.5 and later updates, you may still see "Delivered" even if you've been blocked. Apple made this change to enhance privacy, making it harder to tell if someone has blocked you.

For example, if you normally text your friend Jamie and always see "Delivered" or "Read" beneath your messages, but suddenly those indicators disappear for new messages, it could be a sign that you've been blocked.

2. Your Calls Go Straight to Voicemail

When someone blocks your number on an iPhone, it affects both messages and calls. If you call someone who has blocked you, the call will typically ring once (or partially ring) before being directed to voicemail.

This is different from when someone's phone is turned off or out of service range, where you might hear several rings or a message saying the person is unavailable.

To test this: Call the person you suspect has blocked you. If your call consistently goes to voicemail after just one ring, it's a strong indicator that you've been blocked. The person who blocked you won't receive any notification that you called, and your voicemail will be filed in a separate "Blocked Messages" section that they rarely check.

3. iMessage Converts to Green Text Bubbles

In normal iMessage conversations between Apple devices, your messages appear in blue bubbles. If someone blocks you on iMessage, your messages might switch from blue to green bubbles, indicating they're being sent as standard SMS texts instead of through Apple's iMessage service.

However, this isn't a foolproof sign on its own. Green bubbles can also appear if:

• The recipient has turned off iMessage

• They've switched to an Android phone

• Their device doesn't have an internet connection

• There's a temporary iMessage service outage

If you notice your messages suddenly changing from blue to green when texting someone who normally receives blue iMessages, and this coincides with other signs on this list, it strengthens the possibility that you've been blocked.

4. FaceTime Calls Fail Immediately

Similar to regular calls, FaceTime calls to someone who has blocked you will fail almost immediately. Instead of ringing normally, you might see "FaceTime Unavailable" or the call might end automatically after just a second or two.

For example, if you normally FaceTime with your sister every weekend, but suddenly your calls don't connect and immediately fail, this could indicate you've been blocked – especially if this happens consistently and coincides with other signs from this list.

Keep in mind that FaceTime calls can also fail due to poor internet connections or if the recipient has disabled FaceTime entirely. However, if FaceTime calls consistently fail immediately while other signs point to being blocked, it strengthens the case.

5. No Focus Mode Indicators

With iOS 15 and later, when someone has enabled Focus mode (like Do Not Disturb), you'll see a notification in your iMessage conversation that says "[Contact name] has notifications silenced" with a moon icon.

If you can see this Focus mode indicator, it's actually good news – it means you haven't been blocked! When someone blocks you, you won't be able to see their Focus mode status at all.

For instance, if you text your colleague and see "Alex has notifications silenced" with a moon icon, you can be confident that you haven't been blocked – they're just using Focus mode to minimize distractions.

The Moon Icon Test: If you see a moon icon in your conversation, you are NOT blocked. The moon simply indicates the other person has enabled Focus mode.

6. No Automated Responses

When someone has Focus mode or Driving mode enabled on their iPhone, they can set up automated responses that are sent when they receive messages. If you receive an automated reply like "I'm driving with Do Not Disturb turned on. I'll see your message when I get where I'm going," it's a clear indication that you haven't been blocked.

These automated responses are only sent to contacts who aren't blocked. So if you get one, you can be certain that your number is still in their good graces, even if they're not responding immediately.

7. Check from Another Apple Device or Phone Number

If you're still unsure whether you've been blocked, you can try contacting the person from a different phone number or Apple device. This should only be done in important situations, like checking on an elderly relative who might have accidentally blocked you.

If messages or calls from your alternative number go through normally (showing "Delivered," ringing multiple times, or being answered), while your primary number exhibits signs of being blocked, it's a strong indication that your main number has indeed been blocked.

Important: This method should be used sparingly and only for legitimate concerns. Repeatedly trying to contact someone who has chosen to block you is invasive of their privacy and could constitute harassment.

When It's Not a Block: Other Scenarios to Consider

Before jumping to conclusions, consider these alternative explanations for communication issues:

Technical Issues

• Poor network coverage in their area

• iPhone software glitches or bugs

• iMessage service outages

• Their phone battery died

User Settings

• They've turned off iMessage

• They've disabled read receipts

• They're using Focus mode with filtered notifications

• They've switched to a non-Apple device

If you notice these signs suddenly appear during travel, bad weather, or when you know the person is in an area with poor reception, it's more likely to be a connectivity issue rather than being blocked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you still text someone who blocked you on iMessage?

Yes, you can still send messages to someone who has blocked you on iMessage, but they won't receive them. Your messages will appear to send normally from your end, but they won't be delivered to the recipient's device. If you're using iOS 16.4 or earlier, you might notice that your messages don't show the "Delivered" status. With iOS 16.5 or later, you'll still see "Delivered" even if you're blocked, as Apple changed this to enhance privacy.

Do blocked messages say "Delivered" on iMessage?

It depends on your iOS version. On iOS 16.4 and earlier, messages to someone who blocked you won't show "Delivered" underneath. On iOS 16.5 and later, you'll still see "Delivered" even if you've been blocked. This change was made by Apple to make it harder to tell if someone has blocked you, enhancing user privacy.

How can I confirm if I'm blocked on iMessage?

There's no 100% certain way to confirm you've been blocked without asking the person directly. However, if you experience multiple signs from this list simultaneously (calls going straight to voicemail, no Focus mode indicators, no automated responses, and possibly no "Delivered" status on older iOS versions), it strongly suggests you've been blocked. The most reliable indicator is if calls consistently go straight to voicemail after just one ring.

If someone unblocks me on iMessage, will I know?

There's no direct notification when someone unblocks you. However, you'll notice that the signs of being blocked disappear – your calls will ring normally, you might see "Delivered" and "Read" receipts again, and you might be able to see their Focus mode status. Messages sent while you were blocked won't be delivered retroactively; only new messages will go through.

Does a "Not Delivered" error mean I'm blocked?

No, a "Not Delivered" error with a red exclamation mark doesn't indicate you've been blocked. This error means your message failed to send due to network issues, service outages, or other technical problems. When you're blocked, your messages appear to send normally from your perspective – you just won't see "Delivered" (on older iOS versions) or get responses.

Respecting Boundaries: What to Do If You've Been Blocked

If multiple signs point to being blocked, it's important to respect the other person's decision. While it can be hurtful to discover someone has blocked you, remember that people set boundaries for various reasons – sometimes temporary, sometimes permanent.

Instead of trying to circumvent the block by using different numbers or accounts, consider:

• Giving the person space and time

• Reflecting on recent interactions that might have led to this decision

• If appropriate and possible, reaching out through mutual friends or in person to resolve any misunderstandings

• Moving forward and focusing on other relationships

Remember that digital communication has limitations, and sometimes misunderstandings occur that are better resolved through direct conversation when both parties are ready.