Users who don’t know you need to send an invitation to chat. To protect you, Hangouts filters spam invitations into a separate screen. If a spam invitation isn't filtered, or if you don't feel comfortable in a Hangout with someone, you can block them. When you block someone, they can see you’re online but can't send you Hangouts messages.
Tip: If you are contacted by strangers or spammers, choose who can contact you directly.
Block someone
- Open the Hangouts app
.
- At the bottom, tap the Conversations tab
.
- Open a Hangout conversation.
- At the top right, tap More
People.
- Select the person to block
Block user.
- Tap Block.
Unblock someone
- Open the Hangouts app
.
- At the top left, tap Menu
.
- Tap Settings
Blocked people.
- Find the person you want to unblock. Tap their name.
- At the top right, tap More
People.
- Select the person you want to unblock.
- Tap Unblock user.
Things to keep in mind
- All text messages, voicemails, and calls from a blocked phone number to your Google Voice number will be blocked in both Hangouts and Google Voice.
- When you block someone in Hangouts, the person or phone number will also be blocked in other Google services, including Google Voice, Google+, Google Photos, and Google Chat in Gmail. Learn how to block someone using other Google services.
- If you block someone in Google+ or Google Chat, or block a phone number in Google Voice, the person or phone number will also be blocked in Hangouts.
- Unblocking the person or phone number in Hangouts will also unblock them in Google Voice, Google+, and Google Chat.
Individual conversation:
- You can’t send or receive Hangouts messages from the person. Your Hangout with the blocked person will be archived. Learn how to archive a Hangout.
- Calls sent directly to your phone aren't blocked.
- If you use Hangouts as your default text messaging app, text messages will be blocked. If you use another messaging app for your texts, text messages aren't blocked.
Group Hangouts conversation:
- The person you blocked will remain in the conversation.
- You'll get a notification that someone you've blocked is also in the Hangout and, if you choose to open the Hangout, you'll be able to see the person's messages.
- Other people in the group won't be notified that you've blocked the person.
- You won't be notified when the person sends new messages, but they will still be notified when you send new messages.
- Everyone in the group will be able to view all messages sent and received.
- The person you blocked will still be able to join other group conversations that you're in.
Video call:
- To join a video call with someone that you’ve blocked, unblock the person first.
- If someone you've blocked tries to join a video call you're in, they'll be notified that someone in the Hangout has blocked them and won’t be allowed to join.