WhatsApp remains the most popular messenger in world, but even experienced users sometimes encounter unexpected problems. One of them is the random blocking of a contact, after which messages stop coming and the correspondence history disappears. Unlike iOSwhere the messenger interface is more standardized, on Android unblocking a subscriber may depend on the version of the application, the smartphone shell (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS) and even on whether synchronization with Google Drive was enabled.

In this article we will analyze all the current unlocking methods - from standard settings to restoring through backups and workarounds for difficult cases. We will pay special attention to the nuances that are often missed in typical instructions: what to do if a contact has disappeared from the blocking list, how to get back the correspondence history after unblocking, and why sometimes forced updating of WhatsApp to the latest version can solve the problem without additional manipulations.

Why a contact can be blocked in WhatsApp

Before moving on to unlocking, it is important to understand the reasons for the blocking. In 80% of cases, this happens at the user’s initiative, but there are other scenarios:

  • 👤 Manual blocking — you yourself added the contact to the blacklist through the chat menu or profile.
  • 🤖 Automatic blocking — WhatsApp can temporarily restrict a contact if he sends spam or his account is marked as suspicious.
  • 📱 Synchronization failure — when you transfer an account to a new phone or restore from a backup, sometimes the old blocking settings are “pulled up.”
  • 🔄 Double blocking —if you and your interlocutor have blocked each other, unlocking on one side will not restore communication.

Accidental blocking often occurs when trying to clear the chat: users confuse the buttons Delete chat and Block, especially in older versions of the application, where the interface was less intuitive. Blocking can also be triggered when you click on a spam notification - WhatsApp offers “Block and report” in one click.

⚠️ Attention: If the contact is blocked automatically (for example, due to complaints from other users), unblocking through the settings may not work. In this case, you will have to wait until WhatsApp removes the restriction on its own (usually up to 7 days).

Method 1: Standard unlocking through WhatsApp settings

This is the simplest and most obvious method that works in 95% of cases. The instructions are relevant for the latest versions of WhatsApp (2.23.x and newer) on all Android smartphones:

  1. Open WhatsApp and click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner (menu).
  2. Select Settings → Account → Privacy.
  3. Scroll down to the section Blocked contacts and tap on it.
  4. In the list, find the desired contact and swipe it to the left (or click on the trash can icon in the right corner).
  5. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

After this, the contact will appear in your chat list again, and the correspondence history (if it was saved) will be restored automatically. If the contact does not appear in the blocked list, try updating WhatsApp via Google Play —sometimes this helps to tighten up the hidden settings.

Check the version of WhatsApp on Google Play|Make sure the contact is saved in the phone book|Close all background applications before unlocking|Restart your smartphone if the blocked list is not updated-->

On some firmware (for example, MIUI on Xiaomi), the path to the settings may be slightly different: Settings → Chat → Blocked. If you don’t find the section, use the search in settings (magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner).

Method 2: Unblocking through a contact profile

If the first method did not work or the contact does not appear in the blocked list, try unblocking it through profile. This method is suitable even if the correspondence history has been deleted:

  1. Open WhatsApp and go to the tab Contact (little man icon at the bottom of the screen).
  2. Find the desired contact in the list or use the search (magnifying glass icon at the top).
  3. Tap on a contact to open its profile.
  4. In the upper right corner, click on the three dots and select Unblock.

If there are no buttons Unblock this means that the contact is not blocked at the WhatsApp level. There may be a problem with the phone settings (for example, the contact has been added to the black list at level Android) or the interlocutor’s account has been deactivated.

Never|1-2 times a year|Every month|More often than once a week-->

Method 3: Restoring from a backup (if the blocking occurred after a reset)

If you recently transferred WhatsApp to a new phone or restored it from a backup, the blocking could be “pulled up” from the old backup. In this case, restoring from an earlier copy will help:

  1. Delete WhatsApp from your smartphone (don't forget to save important media files first).
  2. Install the application again from Google Play.
  3. When you first start, enter your phone number and wait for the offer to restore chats from the backup.
  4. Select Restore and indicate the date of the copy that was created before blocking contact.

WhatsApp backups are stored in Google Drive (if synchronization is enabled) or locally in the phone memory along the path: /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases. Copy files have the format msgstore.db.crypt14 (where the number may differ depending on the version).

Copy type Where it is stored How to restore
Local Phone memory (/WhatsApp/Databases) Rename the file to msgstore.db before installing WhatsApp
Google Drive Cloud, linked to account Google Select when you first launch WhatsApp
iCloud (for former iPhones) Not available on Android Requires transfer through third-party tools
⚠️ Attention: Recovering from backup copy will delete all messages received after creating this copy. If the blocking occurred a long time ago, and the correspondence is important, first save the current chats manually (for example, through export to email).

Method 4: Unblocking through the settings file (for advanced users)

If standard methods do not help, you can try editing the WhatsApp settings file manually. This method requires root access or access to the file system via ADB, therefore it is suitable only for advanced users.

Instructions:

  1. Connect the smartphone to the PC and turn on USB debugging in the developer settings.
  2. Open the command line and run: 
    adb pull /data/data/com.whatsapp/shared_prefs/com.whatsapp_preferences.xml

    This will copy the settings file to your computer.

  3. Open the downloaded file in any text editor and find line: <set name="blocked_contacts">
  4. Remove the number of the blocked contact from the list (in the format +7XXXXXXXXXX).
  5. Save the file and download it back: 
    adb push com.whatsapp_preferences.xml /data/data/com.whatsapp/shared_prefs/
  6. Restart WhatsApp.

This method is risky - if there is an editing error, WhatsApp may begin to work incorrectly. If after the changes the application stops launching, uninstall it and install it again, first saving a backup copy of the chats.

What to do if you do not have root access?

Without root access, it is impossible to directly edit the settings file, but you can try an alternative method:

1 Install a file manager. with ADB support (for example, FX File Explorer).

2. Connect to the device via adb connect (USB debugging enabled is required).

3. Go to the folder /data/data/com.whatsapp/shared_prefs/ through the file manager and copy the file com.whatsapp_preferences.xml to an accessible location.

4. Edit and return the file (write permissions will be required).

Method 5: Bypass blocking through a second account (if the contact is not visible in the list)

In rare cases, a blocked contact may “disappear” from the blocking list, but correspondence with him remains unavailable. This occurs due to a synchronization failure between WhatsApp servers and local settings. Solution:

  1. Install a second instance of WhatsApp via Parallel Space, Island or the built-in app cloning feature (available at Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung).
  2. Register a new account with a different phone number.
  3. Find the blocked contact through search and check if it shows up as blocked.
  4. If yes, unblock it through the second account, then return to the main one.

This method works because WhatsApp synchronizes some settings (including locks) between devices linked to one account. If the contact does not appear as blocked even in the second account, the problem may be on the side of the WhatsApp servers - in this case, you can only wait or contact support.

💡

If you often encounter blocking problems, enable two-step verification in WhatsApp (Settings → Account → Two-step verificationThis will protect your account from unauthorized changes, including accidental blocks.

What to do if unlocking does not work

If none of the methods helped, check the following points:

  • 📵 The contact has been deleted from the phone book — WhatsApp does not display blocked contacts if they are not saved in the phone's memory. Add the number again.
  • 🔄 Synchronization is disabled — go in Settings → Account → Google → Account synchronization and enable contact synchronization.
  • 📱 Outdated version of WhatsApp — update the application via Google Play or download the latest version from the official website (whatsapp.com/android).
  • 🚫 Blocking at the Android level - check the blacklist in your phone settings (Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Permissions).

If the problem persists, try clearing the WhatsApp cache: Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Memory → Clear cache. This will not delete the correspondence, but may clear temporary errors.

⚠️ Attention: In rare cases, blocking may be associated with a WhatsApp account ban (for example, for using unofficial clients like GBWhatsApp). Check if you can send messages to other contacts. If not, the problem is more global, and unblocking one contact will not help.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about unlocking in WhatsApp

Can I unblock a contact if I do not have access to the old phone?

Yes, if you have a backup copy of chats in Google Drive. Install WhatsApp on your new phone, restore the data from the copy, then unblock the contact through the settings. If there is no copy, unlocking is only possible if the contact has not been deleted from the phone book.

Why was the correspondence history not restored after unlocking?

This happens if:

  • You restored WhatsApp from a backup, created after blocking.
  • The contact deleted the chat on its part (in WhatsApp, the history is stored only on the devices of the participants in the dialogue).
  • In the settings, saving media files is disabled (Settings → Data and memory → Saving media).

Try to ask your interlocutor to export the chat in the format .txt or .zip.

Is it possible to unlock a contact without deleting WhatsApp?

Yes, in most cases standard unlocking through the settings is enough (Method 1 or 2). Reinstalling the application is only required if:

  • The settings file is damaged.
  • You are restoring an old backup.
  • WhatsApp is unstable (for example, it constantly crashes).
How can I find out if my interlocutor has blocked me on WhatsApp?

There is no direct notification, but there are indirect signs:

  • ✅ Messages are sent but not received (one checkmark instead of two).
  • ✅ Last visit and "online" status are not displayed.
  • ✅ Profile photo is not updated (if previously visible).
  • ✅ Calls are dropped immediately or not pass.

Please note: the same symptoms can appear if the interlocutor’s Internet is turned off or he has changed the privacy settings.

What happens if you unblock a contact who has blocked me?

Nothing will change until the interlocutor unblocks you himself. You will be able to:

  • See his status and profile photo (if they are not hidden in the privacy settings).
  • Send messages, but they will only arrive after mutual unblocking.
  • Call, but calls will be automatically dropped.

WhatsApp does not notifies users about unblocking, so the other person will not know that you have removed the restriction.

1. Availability of a contact in the phone book.

2. Current version of WhatsApp.

3. Synchronization with Google Drive.

4. No ban on your account.-->