Discovering that someone has blocked you on Discord can be disheartening. Unlike some social media platforms, Discord doesn’t explicitly notify you when you’ve been blocked. This ambiguity can leave you wondering whether the other person is simply offline, ignoring you, or has actually taken the step to block you. However, several telltale signs and methods can help you determine if you’ve been blocked on Discord. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various checks and indicators to help you ascertain your blocked status.
**Understanding the Implications of Being Blocked**
Before diving into the methods, it’s important to understand what being blocked on Discord entails. When someone blocks you on Discord, the following happens:
* **You can no longer send them direct messages:** Any attempt to send a DM will fail.
* **You can’t see their messages in mutual servers:** Their messages will be invisible to you, and vice-versa.
* **You can’t add them as a friend:** If you try to send a friend request, it won’t go through.
* **You won’t see their online status:** Their online status (online, idle, do not disturb, invisible) will not be visible to you.
* **You are effectively removed from their Discord world:** There’s no interaction possible unless you create a new account or they unblock you.
Knowing these implications helps you understand what to look for when trying to determine if you’ve been blocked.
**Method 1: Attempting to Send a Direct Message (DM)**
This is the most straightforward way to initially check if you might be blocked. Here’s how to do it:
1. **Open Discord:** Launch the Discord application on your computer or mobile device, or access it through your web browser.
2. **Locate the User:** Find the user you suspect has blocked you. You can search for them in your friend list (if you were friends), or in a mutual server where you both participate.
3. **Attempt to Send a Message:** Click on the user’s profile to open a direct message window. Type a message and press ‘Enter’ or click the ‘Send’ button.
4. **Observe the Outcome:**
* **If you are blocked:** Your message will likely appear to send normally from your side. However, there will be no ‘Delivered’ or ‘Read’ status updates below your message (the usual checkmarks that appear when a message is delivered and/or read). The message will appear to be perpetually ‘sending’. After a while, Discord might even display a warning message like “Your message could not be delivered. This is usually because they don’t share a server with you that you’re both in.”, even if you *do* share a server.
* **If you are not blocked:** Your message will typically show a ‘Delivered’ status (a single checkmark) relatively quickly, and potentially a ‘Read’ status (double checkmarks) if the user has seen the message.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Server Permissions:** If you share a server with the person, ensure you both have the necessary permissions to send direct messages. A misconfigured server can prevent DMs even if you are not blocked.
* **User Settings:** The person might have disabled direct messages from people who are not on their friend list. In this case, you won’t be able to send them a DM, even if they haven’t blocked you.
* **Discord Outages:** Occasionally, Discord experiences server issues. Before concluding you’re blocked, ensure that Discord is functioning correctly. Check Discord’s status page or social media channels for any reported outages.
**Method 2: Checking Mutual Servers**
This method involves examining your shared servers for the user’s activity. Blocking on Discord affects visibility within mutual servers.
1. **Identify Mutual Servers:** Determine which Discord servers you both are members of. This is crucial, as the test relies on your shared presence in a server.
2. **Search for the User:** Within the server, try to find the user in the member list. Most servers have a member list on the right-hand side of the screen (on desktop) or accessible via a member list icon (on mobile).
3. **Observe Their Messages:** If the user is active in the server, look for their messages. Also look for any messages where you know they would normally be responding to you.
4. **Analyze the Results:**
* **If you are blocked:** You will not see their messages in the server, even if other members confirm they are actively participating. You also won’t see them reacting to your messages, or see your reactions on their messages. It will be as if they simply don’t exist in that server for you.
* **If you are not blocked:** You will see their messages, reactions, and activity as usual.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Server Activity:** Ensure the user has been active in the server recently. If they haven’t posted in a while, their absence might be due to inactivity rather than being blocked.
* **Server Moderation:** Server moderators can mute or restrict users. If you suspect this might be the case, contact the server moderators for clarification.
* **Bot Interactions:** Some Discord bots can manage user visibility. While rare, it’s possible that a bot is interfering with your ability to see the user’s messages. However, if you suspect this is the case it is highly unlikely as these are very advanced features.
**Method 3: Attempting to Add the User as a Friend**
If you aren’t already friends with the person, attempting to add them is another potential indicator.
1. **Find the User’s Discord Tag:** You’ll need their Discord username and discriminator (the four-digit number after the # symbol, e.g., Username#1234). You can usually find this in a mutual server or through other means.
2. **Send a Friend Request:**
* **On Desktop:** Click the ‘Add Friend’ button at the top of your Discord window. Enter their Discord tag in the provided field and click ‘Send Friend Request’.
* **On Mobile:** Tap the three horizontal lines in the upper-left corner to open the menu. Tap your profile picture at the bottom right, then tap ‘Add Friend’. Enter their Discord tag and tap ‘Send Friend Request’.
3. **Observe the Outcome:**
* **If you are blocked:** The friend request might appear to send, but the user will never receive it. There will be no confirmation or notification on their end. The request will simply vanish into thin air. It is likely you will never be able to send them a friend request, as there may be a rate limit in place or the send request will immediately fail.
* **If you are not blocked:** The user will receive the friend request and can either accept or decline it.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Incorrect Discord Tag:** Ensure you’ve entered the correct Discord tag. A typo will prevent the friend request from being sent to the intended user.
* **User’s Privacy Settings:** The user might have their privacy settings configured to only accept friend requests from people who share a mutual server. In this case, not being able to add them doesn’t necessarily mean you’re blocked. However, if you *do* share a server, and the request still fails, it is much more likely you have been blocked.
* **Rate Limiting:** Discord may impose temporary rate limits on sending friend requests. If you’ve sent too many requests in a short period, you might be temporarily unable to send more.
**Method 4: Using an Alternate Account (The Definitive Test)**
This is the most reliable method to confirm whether you’ve been blocked. It involves using a separate Discord account to check the user’s status.
1. **Create a New Discord Account (If Necessary):** If you don’t have an alternate account, create one. You’ll need a separate email address for this.
2. **Log in to the Alternate Account:** Log in to the newly created or existing alternate Discord account.
3. **Search for the User:** Using the alternate account, search for the user you suspect has blocked you. You’ll need their Discord tag.
4. **Compare the Results:**
* **If you are blocked:** Using the alternate account, you will be able to find the user, view their profile (if public), send them a friend request, and see their messages in mutual servers (if any). This confirms that your primary account has been blocked.
* **If you are not blocked:** Using the alternate account, you will experience the same issues as your primary account (e.g., not being able to send a DM, not seeing their messages in mutual servers). This suggests the problem lies elsewhere, such as server permissions or the user’s privacy settings.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Discord’s Terms of Service:** Be mindful of Discord’s terms of service regarding the creation and use of multiple accounts. Avoid using the alternate account for malicious purposes or to circumvent server rules.
* **Account Verification:** Ensure your alternate account is properly verified to access all Discord features.
* **IP Address:** While not usually an issue, Discord might flag multiple accounts originating from the same IP address in extreme cases. However, for simply checking blocked status, this is extremely unlikely to pose a problem.
**Method 5: Asking a Mutual Friend (Use with Caution)**
This method involves asking a mutual friend to check the user’s status on Discord. However, it’s important to approach this method with caution and respect for privacy.
1. **Find a Trustworthy Mutual Friend:** Identify a friend who is also connected to the user in question.
2. **Ask Them to Check:** Politely ask your friend if they can see the user’s online status, send them a DM, or see their messages in a mutual server. Frame your request in a way that doesn’t reveal your suspicion of being blocked.
3. **Interpret the Results:**
* **If you are blocked:** If your friend can see the user’s online status and interact with them normally, while you cannot, this strongly suggests that you have been blocked.
* **If you are not blocked:** If your friend experiences the same issues as you (e.g., not being able to send a DM), the problem likely lies elsewhere.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Respect Privacy:** Be respectful of your friend’s and the user’s privacy. Avoid pressuring your friend or asking them to share private information.
* **Potential Awkwardness:** Asking a mutual friend can create awkwardness, especially if the user has blocked you for a specific reason. Consider the potential consequences before proceeding.
* **Misinformation:** Your friend might provide inaccurate information unintentionally. Verify the information through other methods if possible.
**Troubleshooting Steps When You Suspect You Are NOT Blocked**
If you’ve tried the above methods and still aren’t certain you’re blocked, or if the results are inconclusive, consider these troubleshooting steps:
* **Check Your Own Internet Connection:** A poor internet connection can prevent messages from sending or loading correctly.
* **Restart Discord:** Restarting the Discord application can resolve temporary glitches.
* **Clear Discord Cache:** Clearing the Discord cache can fix corrupted data that might be causing issues.
* **On Windows:** Press `Win + R`, type `%appdata%\discord`, and press Enter. Delete the ‘Cache’, ‘Code Cache’, and ‘GPUCache’ folders.
* **On macOS:** Open Finder, press `Cmd + Shift + G`, type `~/Library/Application Support/discord`, and press Enter. Delete the ‘Cache’, ‘Code Cache’, and ‘GPUCache’ folders.
* **Update Discord:** Ensure you’re using the latest version of Discord. Outdated versions can have bugs that cause communication problems.
* **Check Server Permissions:** Verify that you have the necessary permissions to send messages and view channels in mutual servers.
* **Contact Discord Support:** If you’ve exhausted all other options, contact Discord support for assistance. They might be able to identify any underlying issues.
**What To Do If You’ve Been Blocked**
Discovering you’ve been blocked can be upsetting. Here are a few things to consider:
* **Respect the Decision:** If someone has blocked you, respect their decision. Avoid creating alternate accounts to contact them or harass them.
* **Reflect on the Situation:** Consider why the person might have blocked you. If you can identify any issues, learn from the experience.
* **Focus on Other Connections:** Invest your time and energy in maintaining positive relationships with other friends and communities on Discord.
* **Move On:** Ultimately, the best thing to do is to accept the situation and move on. There are plenty of other people and communities to connect with on Discord.
**Conclusion**
While Discord doesn’t provide a definitive way to know if someone has blocked you, the methods outlined in this guide can help you make an informed determination. By carefully examining your interactions, checking mutual servers, attempting to add the user, and using an alternate account, you can gain a clearer understanding of your blocked status. Remember to respect privacy, avoid harassment, and focus on building positive connections on Discord. If you’re still unsure, contacting Discord support might provide additional insights. Ultimately, if you suspect you’ve been blocked and cannot resolve the issue, it’s best to respect the other person’s decision and move forward.