How Do You Unblock People on Twitter (X): The Steps Everyone Forgets

Maybe you’re cleaning house. Or maybe that heated argument about whether a hot dog is a sandwich finally cooled off after three years. Whatever the reason, you're sitting there staring at your screen wondering how do you unblock people on twitter without making it a whole thing. It happens to the best of us. We hit that block button in a moment of justified petty rage, but then curiosity—or professional necessity—kicks in.

Navigating the settings on X (formerly Twitter) can honestly feel like a maze these days. Since the platform rebranded and shifted its UI under Elon Musk’s leadership, things aren't always where they used to be. You'd think a "unblock" button would be front and center, but it's tucked away behind several layers of menus.

Finding Your List of the Banished

The easiest way to handle this is by looking at your master block list. If you don't remember the person's exact handle—maybe they changed it to something cryptic—this is your only real hope.

On the web version, look at the sidebar on the left. You’ve got to click "More," then "Settings and Support," and finally "Settings and privacy." It’s a lot of clicking. From there, head into "Privacy and safety" and look for "Mute and block." This is the nerve center for everyone you’ve ever decided you didn't want to hear from again.

When you click "Blocked accounts," you’ll see the full list. Honestly, it’s a bit of a trip down memory lane. You might see accounts from 2014 you don't even recognize. To unblock them, just hover over the red "Blocked" button next to their name. It turns into a "Unblock" button. Click it. Done. They’re free.

Doing It on Mobile (iOS and Android)

The app is slightly different. Tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Go to "Settings and Support" at the bottom, then "Settings and privacy." Much like the desktop version, you're looking for "Privacy and safety" followed by "Mute and block."

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Tap "Blocked accounts."

Here’s a weird quirk: Sometimes the app lags. If you unblock someone and they don't immediately disappear from the list, don't panic. Just pull down to refresh. X can be buggy, especially with the frequent backend changes the engineers have been pushing lately.

What Actually Happens When You Hit Unblock?

It’s not like they get a notification. X doesn't send a ping saying, "Hey, [Username] finally forgave you!" It’s silent.

But there is a catch. When you block someone, you automatically unfollow each other. Unblocking them does not restore that connection. If you want to see their tweets in your timeline again, you have to go to their profile and manually hit "Follow." This is the part where things get awkward. If they have a public profile, they might notice a new follow notification from the person who blocked them months ago.

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If they're private? You’ll have to send a new follow request. That’s a bold move.

Searching Directly for the Profile

If you know exactly who you're looking for, you don't need the list. Just type their handle into the search bar.

When you land on their profile, you’ll see a large button that says "Blocked." It’s basically a giant "No Entry" sign. Tap or click that button, and a confirmation toggle will pop up asking if you're sure. Confirm it. The profile will instantly transform from a blank "You have blocked this user" screen back into a regular feed.

Keep in mind that if you’ve been blocked back, the screen will still look restricted. Unblocking someone doesn't force them to unblock you. It’s not a two-way street.

Why the Block List is Better for "Digital Hygiene"

Sometimes you just need to see the scale of your filters. Research from the Pew Research Center has shown that social media users are increasingly using blocking and muting to curate "safer" digital spaces. If your list is hundreds of names long, scrolling through it can be a wake-up call.

I’ve seen people use the unblock feature for what’s known as a "soft block." This is an old-school Twitter trick. You block someone and then immediately unblock them. This forces them to unfollow you without them realizing it was a deliberate "remove follower" action. It’s a way to clean up your follower count without the drama of a permanent block.

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Troubleshooting the "Ghost" Block

Sometimes you try to unblock someone and it just... doesn't work. The button clicks, but the page refreshes and they’re still blocked.

This usually happens because of one of three things:

1. Cache Issues: Your browser or app is remembering the old state of the page. Clear your cache or restart the app.
2. API Limits: X has become much stricter with how many actions you can take in a short window. If you're trying to unblock 50 people at once, the system might flag you as a bot and temporarily throttle your ability to change settings.
3. Deactivated Accounts: If the person deactivated their account while they were blocked, unblocking them can be tricky. You might have to wait until they reactivate to fully clear them from your list.

Privacy Implications You Should Know

Once you unblock someone, they can see your tweets again if your account is public. They can also tag you in photos, add you to lists, and send you Direct Messages (depending on your DM settings).

If you're unblocking someone because you want to "keep an eye on them" but don't want them interacting with you, you might be better off just muting them. Muting is the "polite" version of blocking. They have no idea they’re muted, but you never have to see their nonsense again. It’s a great middle ground.

The Reality of X in 2026

The platform is different now. The algorithms favor engagement, which often means conflict. If you’re asking how do you unblock people on twitter, it’s worth considering if you’re doing it for your own mental peace or just out of curiosity.

If you find that unblocking someone leads to immediate regret, you can always re-block them. There’s no limit on how many times you can flip that switch, though doing it repeatedly in a few minutes might get your account flagged for suspicious behavior.

Actionable Next Steps for Managing Your Profile

• Audit Your List: Go to your Blocked Accounts settings once every few months. You'll likely find people you blocked for reasons that no longer matter.
• Check Your DMs: After unblocking, check your "Message Requests" folder. Sometimes unblocking triggers the delivery of filtered messages that were stuck in limbo.
• Update Your Filters: If you’re unblocking someone but still find them annoying, use the "Muted Words" feature in the same "Mute and block" menu. It lets you block specific topics or keywords without having to block the person entirely.
• Verify Your Following: Remember to manually re-follow anyone you unblock if you actually want to see their content; the system will not do this for you.