Messenger Viber remains one of the most popular methods of communication on Android, but along with convenience come unwanted messages: from annoying advertisers to scammers masquerading as acquaintances. Blocking such contacts is the first step to protecting your privacy and peace of mind. However, not all users know that in Viber there are several ways to block a number, including hidden functions for mass blocking or restoring the list after reinstallation.

In this article you will find step-by-step guide with pictures (for current versions Viber 2026–2026), a comparison of blocking methods, as well as answers to frequently asked questions - for example, what to do if a blocked contact continues to write through groups or how to unblock a number if you change your mind. Particular emphasis is placed on security: we will tell you what data is visible to a blocked user and how to avoid information leakage through public chats.

If you are faced with the fact that after blocking messages still arrive, or you cannot find the “Block” button in the new interface - there are solutions here. And for those who often change phones, we have added a section about backing up the block list so as not to set everything up again.

1. How to block a number directly from a chat in Viber

The fastest way is to block directly in the dialog window. It is suitable if you have already corresponded with an unwanted contact or received a message from him. Here's how to do it:

  1. Open a chat with the user you want to block.
  2. Tap on three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner of the screen.
  3. In the drop-down menu, select item Information (or Info in the English version).
  4. Scroll down to the block Actions and click Block.
  5. Confirm the action in the window that appears by selecting Block again.

After this, the contact will be added to black list, and all his messages will be automatically deleted from your chat. Important: Viber does not notify the user about blocking, but he can guess by indirect signs (for example, you do not answer and the “online” status is not displayed).

✔️ Messages from the contact are deleted from your dialogue

✔️ He will not be able to write to you in private messages

✔️ His calls will be automatically dropped

❌ He can still see your messages in general groups

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⚠️ Attention: If you block a contact, but remain with him in the general group, he will be able to see your messages there. To completely hide, leave the group or ask the administrator to remove you.

2. Blocking through Viber settings (if there is no chat)

Sometimes you need to block a number with which you have not yet had correspondence - for example, if someone added you by phone number, but you do not want to communicate. In this case, the section Settings:

  1. Open Viber and tap on the icon profile (or More → Settings in older versions).
  2. Go to Privacy → Black list.
  3. Click Add number (the "+" icon in the upper right corner).
  4. Enter the phone number in international format (for example, +79123456789) or select a contact from the phone book.
  5. Confirm the addition by pressing Done or Block.

This method is convenient if you want to block several numbers at once or add a contact to the blacklist who has not yet written to you. Here you can also manage already blocked users unblock or remove from the list.

Blocking method When to use Advantages Disadvantages
Through chat If there is correspondence Quickly, no need to look for the number Not suitable for prevention
Through settings For pre-blocking You can add several numbers You need to enter the number manually
Through a contact in the phone book If the number is saved No need to remember number Access to contacts required

Once a week|Once a month|Only when necessary|Never blocked-->

3. Mass blocking of spammers and bots

If you are inundated with messages from spam bots or scammers (for example, with offers of “winnings” or “quick loans”), manually blocking everyone is tedious. Unfortunately, Viber there is no mass blocking function, but there are workarounds:

  • 📱 Use the message filter: In the settings Privacy → Message filter enable the option Hide messages from strangers. This does not block them, but sends them to a separate folder Spamwhich can be cleared periodically.
  • 🔍 Spam complaints: In a chat with a spammer, click Complain (in the ⋮ menu). After several complaints Viber can automatically block such accounts.
  • 📋 Export/import blacklist: If you have a lot of blocked numbers, make a backup copy (more on this below) and restore it on a new device.

There is no official API for mass blocking, but some third-party applications (for example Viber There is no official API for bulk blocking, but some third party applications (eg. Cleaner for Viber) promise to automate the process. Be careful: such utilities require access to your data and may be unsafe.

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If a spammer writes from different numbers, try blocking not only the number, but also the account Viber (if it is linked to an email). To do this, in the chat, click Information → Block account

4. How to unblock a number in Viber

If you change your mind or block a contact by mistake, you can unblock it in a few steps:

  1. Open Settings → Privacy → Black list.
  2. Find the desired number or name is in the list.
  3. Swipe left on the entry or click on it and select Unblock.

After unblocking, the user will be able to write to you again, but correspondence history will not be restored all messages deleted during blocking will be lost forever. If it is important for you to save the dialogue, before blocking, take screenshots or export the chat (in the chat menu → Export history).

⚠️ Attention: Unblocking does not restore the user to your contacts Viber. If he disappeared from the list of chats, find it through the search or ask to write first.

5. Backing up the black list

When you reinstall Viber or change the phone, the black list is reset To avoid adding numbers again, make a backup. copy:

  1. Go to Settings → Account → Backup.
  2. Select Create a backup copy and confirm saving to Google Drive or to a memory card.
  3. Make sure that the option is enabled in the copy settings Save blacklist.

To restore:

  1. Install Viber on a new device and log in.
  2. In the same section Backup click Restore.
  3. Select the latest copy and wait for the process to complete.

Important: backups Viber are not encrypted by default. If you save them to Google Drive, make sure your account Google protected by two-factor authentication.

What to do if the backup is not restored?

If Viber gives an error during recovery, try:

1. Delete and reinstall the application.

2. Check your Internet connection (a copy is downloaded from Google Drive).

3. Use another account Googleif the current one has limited storage capacity.

4. Contact support Viber through the section Help in the settings, specifying the error code.

6. Frequent problems and solutions

Even after blocking, users sometimes encounter unexpected situations. Here are the most common ones and methods. eliminating them:

  • 📵 The blocked contact continues to write: Check whether you are in a common group with him. If so, leave the group or ask the administrator to exclude him.
  • 🔄 The number disappeared from the black list after the update: This is a bug of older versions. ViberUpdate the application to the latest version. in Google Play and restore the list from the backup.
  • 📞 Calls from a blocked number go through: Make sure that in the settings Privacy the option is enabled Block calls (sometimes it is reset).
  • 👥 I can’t. block a group: B Viber You cannot block entire groups, only individual members. Leave the group if it bothers you.

If the problem is not solved, try clear the cache Viber (in the phone settings → Applications → Viber → Storage → Clear cache). This will not delete your data, but it may clear temporary errors.

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Before contacting support Viber check whether the bug is related to your version of the application. Often problems are solved by a simple update.

Can a blocked user see that I am online?

No, after blocking he will not see your "online" status, but will be able to see the time of your last visit (unless this is disabled in the privacy settings). To hide this completely, disable the option Show time of last visit in Settings → Privacy.

How to block a number if I do not have an account in Viber?

Block without an account number in Viber impossible. However, you can:

  1. Install Viber and immediately block the number through the settings (even without activating the account).
  2. Use system blocking on the phone (in Contact → select the number → Block). This will not block him in Viber, but calls and SMS will stop coming.
How many numbers can you add to the blacklist?

There are no official restrictions, but problems may arise if you exceed ~1000 blocked contacts with application performance. If you need to block thousands of numbers (for example, for a business account), consider alternative solutions, for example, a separate number for work.

Is it possible to block a user without him knowing about it?

Viber never notifies about blocking, but the user may suspect it based on indirect signs:

  • Messages are not delivered (it has one tick instead of two).
  • Calls are dropped immediately.
  • Your profile is not updated (status, avatar).

To hide the blocking as much as possible, turn off the display of the time of the last visit and do not interact with the user in general groups.

What should I do if someone creates new accounts to write to me?

If the same person is stalking you, changing numbers:

  1. Collect evidence (screenshots of messages) and contact Viber support with a request to block the account by IP or other data.
  2. Set up a Viber filter for messages from strangers (Settings → Privacy → Message filter).
  3. Consider changing your phone number in Viber (in your account settings).