How to Know If Your Number Was Blocked: Step-by-Step Guide

This updated guide explains how to Know If Your Number Was Blocked through clear steps, practical examples, and important checks that help prevent common errors.

Method 1 of 2:

Finding Out If You've Been Blocked

Call the contact who you suspect blocked you. You usually won't be able to tell whether or not a contact has blocked you by sending a text message, so you'll need to call them.^{[1]XResearch source}
Listen to the way the call ends. If the call ends after one ring (or, in some cases, half of a ring) and you are diverted to voicemail, you are either blocked or your contact's phone is dead.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Depending on your contact's carrier, you might hear a message telling you that the contact can't be reached. This generally applies to AT&T and Sprint, and it means you have been blocked.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Of course, if the contact answers your call, you haven't been blocked.
Call your contact again to confirm. Sometimes a call will divert to voicemail even if the line is clear and your phone unblocked; calling again will confirm the call's ending.
- If your call still ends after a ring or less and diverts to voicemail, your contact's phone is definitively dead or blocking your calls.
Call your contact back with a masked number. You can do this by typing "*67" before their phone number. While you can't feasibly expect anyone to pick up a call from a restricted number, calling in this way will verify the contact's phone status:
- If the call goes through like usual--e. g., five or more rings--then your contact has blocked your number.
- If the call still stops after a ring or less and diverts to voicemail, your contact's phone is dead.
Ask a friend to call your contact's number. If you've determined that you're blocked but would like verbal confirmation, you can ask a friend to call your contact and talk to them about the situation. Keep in mind that, as tempting as this may be, doing so might harm your friend's relationship with the contact who blocked you.

Method 2 of 2:

Circumventing a Block

Understand the potential consequences. If you were blocked in error, then the person probably won't be unhappy to hear from you. But it could be considered harassment for you to attempt to work around a block that somebody enacted to put distance between you and them. Be wary of the legality of disregarding a block in your region before proceeding.
Mask your phone number. You can do this by typing "*67" before the phone number you're trying to call; this will result in your call showing up as an unidentified number.
- Most people won't pick up if they see a "Restricted" or "Unknown" number calling them; this is because telemarketers often use this tactic to reach numbers on the do-not-call list.
Message your contact using an IM service. If, for example, you and your contact both use Facebook, you can use Messenger to try to reach out to them. The same concept applies to WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, or any other IMing services you share.
Leave a voicemail. Though your contact won't receive a notification of your call or your voicemail, it will still end up on their phone. You can use this loophole to communicate important information to them if need be.^{[4]XResearch source}
Attempt to get in touch via social media. If you absolutely have to get into contact with someone who has blocked you, you can email them or message them from various social media accounts. Again, consider your urgency here: if you're simply upset because they blocked you, it's best to leave the situation alone until both you and your contact have cooled off a bit.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Know If Your Number Was Blocked?

Start with the requirements in this guide, then follow each step in order. Check the result after every major change so problems are easier to identify.