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How to block or unblock someone on the Signal secure-messaging app in just a few taps

Signal Messaging App
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If you use Signal, a messaging app that boasts end-to-end encryption for highly secure text, voice, and video communication, you might occasionally need to block unwanted Signal users from contacting you. You can do this in just a few taps. 

How to block someone on Signal

1. Open the Signal app on your mobile device.

2. From your inbox, open a conversation with the person you want to block.

3. Tap the name of the person at the very top of the screen to open their user profile page. 

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After tapping a conversation, tap the person's name at the very top of the screen.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

4. Tap "Block User" at the bottom of the screen and then confirm you want to do this by tapping "Block" in the pop-up window.

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Tap "Block User" at the bottom of the screen to keep the person from contacting you.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

5. Tap "OK" in the pop-up to confirm this user is now blocked. 

How to unblock someone on Signal

It's easy to tell when someone is blocked on Signal. For example, you'll see "Blocked" appear below the user's name in conversations in your inbox. If you want to unblock this person, you can easily do so. Just tap a conversation with the user and then tap "Unblock" at the bottom of the screen. 

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After blocking someone, the option to unblock them appears prominently in saved conversations.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

You can also tap the name of the person at the top of the screen and tap "Unblock User" on their user profile page. 

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Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.