How To Know If Someone Deleted Their Instagram Account Or Blocked You

Instagram allows users to control their privacy, sometimes making it difficult to determine if someone has deleted or blocked their account. 

If you can’t find a user’s profile, posts, or messages, you may wonder whether they have left the platform or restricted your access. While Instagram does not notify users about account deletions or blocks, you can use a few methods to determine what happened.

Searching for the Profile

The first step in determining if someone deleted their Instagram account or blocked you is searching for their username in the Instagram search bar. If their profile does not appear, it could mean one of two things: they have either deleted their account or blocked you.

To be sure, try searching for their username from a different account. If the profile appears on another account but not on yours, you have likely been blocked. However, if the profile does not appear for anyone, they may have deleted or deactivated their account.

Checking Old Messages

If you have had previous conversations with the person on Instagram, go to your direct messages (DMs) and check if their profile picture and username still appear. If you see “Instagram User” instead of their name and missing profile picture, they may have deleted or deactivated their account.

However, you will likely be blocked if their name is still visible, but you can no longer send them messages or see their profile. When someone blocks you, their previous messages remain, but you can no longer interact with them.

Looking for Their Profile Through a Web Browser

Sometimes, Instagram behaves differently on a browser than in a mobile app. Try typing www.instagram.com/username in a web browser, replacing “username” with the actual Instagram handle of the person you are trying to find.

If the page says, “Sorry, this page isn’t available,” it could mean that your account has been deleted or deactivated or that you have been blocked. To confirm, log out of your account or open the page in incognito mode. If the profile appears when you are logged out but not when you are logged in, then you have been blocked.

Checking Mutual Friends’ Following Lists

If you and the person had mutual friends, visit one of their profiles and check their following list. You have been blocked if the profile appears in their list, but you still cannot find it in your account. The account may have been deleted or deactivated if no one can see the profile.

Trying to Tag Them in a Post or Comment

Another way to check if someone has blocked you is by trying to tag them in a post, comment, or story. If you type their username and Instagram does not suggest their profile, it could indicate they have blocked you or deleted their account.

If they have blocked you, their username will not appear in the tag suggestions, but the same will happen if their account has been deleted. To confirm, check using another Instagram account.

Searching for Their Comments or Likes

If the person used to comment on or like your posts, scroll through your older posts and look for their interactions. If their comments still exist but you can no longer tap on their username to visit their profile, they may have deleted their account.

If their comments have disappeared entirely, they may have blocked you, as blocking removes all previous interactions, including likes and comments.

Creating a New Account or Asking a Friend

If you are unsure whether someone has deleted their account or blocked you, try searching for them using a new Instagram account. You can create a second account or ask a friend to search for their username.

If their profile appears for other users but not for you, they have blocked you. If no one can find the account, they may have deactivated or deleted it.

Checking Instagram on Different Devices

Sometimes, Instagram glitches temporarily disappear profiles. If you think someone has blocked you or deleted your account, try checking Instagram from a different device.

Log in from a different phone, tablet, or computer and search for their username. If their account appears, your primary device may have a glitch. However, if their account is missing on all devices, they may have deleted it.

Understanding the Difference Between Blocking and Deleting

If someone blocks you:

• You cannot find their profile, posts, or stories.
• Their past comments and likes on your posts will disappear.
• You cannot tag them in posts, comments, or stories.

If someone deletes or deactivates their account:

• Their profile will be missing for everyone, not just you.
• Their previous messages will show as “Instagram User.”
• Their comments and likes on your posts may still be visible without their username.
• Their account may reappear if they reactivate it later.

Determining whether someone deleted their Instagram account or blocked you can be confusing, but a few simple steps can help you find out. Searching for their username, checking direct messages, and using a different account to look for them are some of the most effective ways to figure it out.

If their profile is gone for everyone, they may have deleted or deactivated their account. They will likely block you if their profile appears for others but not for you. Whatever the case, it’s always best to respect people’s privacy and move forward positively.