I blocked someone on my iPhone but we are both in the same group chat. I’m curious about how this affects group messages. Will I still see their messages or will they see mine? I need help understanding what happens in this situation.
If you block someone on your iPhone and you’re both in the same group chat, the block doesn’t work there. Yep, I know—super annoying and kinda pointless, right? You’ll still see their messages in the group chat, and they’ll still see yours. Apple doesn’t remove their messages or silence them for you in group texts because the block function only applies to direct communications, like one-on-one texting, calls, and FaceTime. Group chats, unfortunately, are like some weird neutral zone where the block doesn’t fully kick in.
If seeing their messages irks you, the only real solution is to leave the group chat altogether. Otherwise, you’re stuck with their messages showing up alongside everyone else’s. Oh, and FYI, they won’t get notified that you blocked them, in case you were worried about drama escalating. But yeah, blocking someone and still having to deal with them in group chats = the tech equivalent of trying to ghost someone at a party and they just keep popping up in every conversation. Not ideal.
Blocking someone on your iPhone has basically zero influence on group chats, which is probably super frustrating for anyone dealing with awkward situations. Like @sonhadordobosque mentioned, the block function doesn’t apply in group threads. Their messages will still appear in the chat, and they’ll see yours too. Totally defeats the purpose of blocking in this context, right?
Here’s the thing—when you block someone, it’s really only effective in direct interactions like texts, calls, or FaceTime. Apple hasn’t designed the block feature to filter or mute people in a group setting, which might be due to the fact that group chats are shared spaces. Essentially, the group chat exists independently of personal blocks, so it doesn’t respect your decision to avoid someone.
If ditching the group is not an option for you (maybe it’s an essential chat, like work or family), you could consider muting the group or turning on “Hide Alerts.” Sure, it doesn’t solve the problem entirely because you’ll still see their messages if you check, but at least you won’t get notifications every time they post something.
Honestly, Apple could improve this. They should let people have granular control over whose messages they see in shared spaces. For now, though, you’re stuck with their group messages unless you manually scroll by them without reading—or just dodge the group altogether. Tech ghosting fail. 
So here’s the tea—blocking doesn’t give you magical powers in iPhone group chats. When you block someone, it’s like slamming a door… but group chats? They’re the wide-open windows. As mentioned by others, group chats don’t care about your block list. You’ll still see every eye-roll-worthy comment they make, and they’ll absolutely see your messages too. Fun, right?
Let’s break it down differently though:
1. Why does this even happen?
- Think of a group chat as a communal space. Your block affects just your direct, one-on-one connection with that person—but iPhone treats the group chat as a shared zone. Apple hasn’t tuned their block function to respect individual preferences in group contexts. It’s like Apple saying, “Yeah, this is your mess to deal with.”
2. What Apple could do better here
- Honestly, Apple should let users mute or filter specific people even in group threads. Imagine being able to toggle a “block-from-group” option… Unfortunately, we’re not there yet. Apple gives you no granular control here, which feels like a missed opportunity.
3. Alternatives you have now
- Muting/Hide Alerts: If you don’t want constant notifications, you can mute the group or turn on “Hide Alerts.” It’s an okay workaround but doesn’t actually block their input.
- Leaving the group: Yep, the nuclear option. If the vibes are unbearable, bailing on the group is your ultimate escape route. Only works if you’re not tied to that chat for work, family, or crucial updates.
The Upside of the Current iPhone Block System
- No awkward dramas. Blocked contacts won’t know they’ve been blocked unless they’re tech-savvy and start piecing things together (e.g., your calls don’t go through). But in a group chat? It’s 100% silent treatment vibes; they’ll have no idea you’ve tried to block them unless you tell them.
The Downside
- Utter frustration. Why even have a block feature if it doesn’t translate everywhere? You’ll still have to see everything they say in the group, which completely undermines what a block is supposed to achieve. Plus, there’s no way to selectively filter or opt out without major inconveniences.
Some might be fine with the workaround others mentioned, but personally, ditching and rebuilding group chats with trusted people feels like less hassle long-term. Competitor apps like WhatsApp or Telegram handle blocking rules differently, where at times, you may get partial or full isolation from blocked users in groups. If you’re considering a group chat platform, those might solve for this weird “neutral zone” Apple leaves open. For now, though, iPhone group chats just roll with everyone’s input—blocked or not. Classic ghosting fail! 