How to Unblock Comments on Instagram

Can't see comments from a specific user on Instagram and think you might have blocked them by mistake? Or perhaps you've decided to let someone back into your community conversation? This guide will walk you through exactly how to unblock comments, why the feature exists, and how to better manage your comment section for a healthier online community. We’ll show you precisely where to find your blocked list and how to adjust your settings in just a few taps.

Why Can't I See Someone's Comments? Understanding the Block Feature

First, it’s helpful to understand what’s even happening when you block just their ability to comment. On Instagram, you have layers of control over how people interact with you. Blocking comments from a specific person is different from blocking their entire account. When you block just their ability to comment:

• They can still see your posts, Reels, and Stories.
• They can still send you Direct Messages (DMs).
• They can still follow you (or continue following you).

The only thing they can't do is leave a new comment on any of your posts. From their perspective, they might type out a comment and hit "post," but it will never appear publicly or show up in your notifications. It effectively becomes invisible to everyone but them. This is a targeted tool used to quiet a specific individual - whether they’re a spammer, a troll, or just someone whose input you no longer wish to see - without the finality of a full account block.

It's an easy feature to use, which also means it's one you can use by accident. Don't worry - getting them off that list is just as simple.

How to Unblock Comments from a Specific Person on Instagram

There are two primary methods to unblock someone's comments. The first lets you see your entire blocked-comment list at once, while the second is faster if you already know exactly who you want to unblock.

Method 1: Unblocking Through Your Privacy Settings

This is the most thorough way to manage your blocked list, especially if you can’t remember every single user you might have restricted over time. It gives you a bird's-eye view of everyone who is blocked from commenting on your content.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to your profile page by tapping your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner to open the main menu.
3. Select "Settings and privacy" from the top of the list.
4. Scroll down until you see the section titled "How others can interact with you." In this section, tap on "Comments."
5. Tap on "Block comments from."
6. You'll now see a complete list of every account you have blocked from commenting. Just find the user you want to forgive and tap the "Unblock" button to the right of their username.

That's it! As soon as you tap "Unblock," that user will immediately be able to comment on all your posts again. You can repeat this for any user on the list.

Method 2: Unblocking Directly from Their Profile Page

If you know the specific person you want to unblock, you can do it right from their profile page. This saves you several steps of navigating through the privacy settings.

Here’s how it works:

1. Use the search bar in the "Explore" tab to find the person's profile.
2. Navigate to their profile page.
3. Tap the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of their profile.
4. A menu will pop up from the bottom of the screen. If you have blocked this person's comments, you will see an option that says "Unblock comments."
5. Tap "Unblock comments," and you're done. Their ability to comment is instantly restored.

A quick note: If you don't see the "Unblock comments" option in their profile menu, it simply means you haven't blocked their comments in the first place. The comment issue might stem from something else, which we’ll cover next.

Are They Restricted or Blocked? Understanding the Difference

Sometimes, what seems like a comment block is actually another Instagram feature at play. The two most commonly confused actions are "Restrict" and "Block Account." Understanding the differences can help you diagnose exactly what’s going on.

Restricted Accounts: The "Soft Block"

The "Restrict" feature is a more subtle way to limit unwanted interactions without the user knowing they've been muted. When you restrict someone:

• Their comments are hidden by default. A comment from a restricted user is only visible to you and them. Your other followers won't see it unless you manually "Approve" it. You won’t receive any notification about their new comments either.
• Their DMs go to your "Message Requests" folder. You won't get a notification, and they won't be able to see when you're online or if you've read their messages.

If someone is complaining that their comments aren't showing up, you might have restricted them instead of blocking their comments. To check, go to "Settings and privacy," scroll down, and tap "Restricted." Here you can see a list and "Unrestrict" anyone by mistake.

Blocked Accounts: The Full Stop

This is the most "final" option. Blocking an account cuts off all contact. A blocked user cannot:

• Find your profile in search.
• See your posts, stories, or Reels.
• Comment on any of your content (past or present).
• Send you DMs.

If you unblock their account completely, their ability to comment will also be restored (unless you separately keep them on the "Block comments from" list). To see your blocked accounts list, go to "Settings and privacy" and tap "Blocked."

Proactive Comment Management: Beyond Just Blocking

Unblocking people is just one piece of managing a healthy Instagram community. Taking a proactive approach can often prevent needing to block users in the first place. Instagram provides several powerful tools to filter out negativity automatically.

Checking Your Hidden Words and Manual Filters

Are comments mysteriously disappearing even when you haven't blocked the user? Your "Hidden Words" filter is likely the cause. This feature automatically hides comments that contain offensive words, phrases, or emojis, and you can even add your own custom list.

To review these settings:

1. Head to "Settings and privacy" >,, "Hidden Words."
2. Under "Manage custom words and phrases," you can review the list of words you’ve specifically told Instagram to hide. It's possible you added a word or phrase that's now causing benign comments to get filtered out.
3. You can also turn on "Advanced comment filtering" to more aggressively hide potentially harmful content. If this is on, some comments that tread the line might not be showing up.

These hidden comments aren't deleted. They are moved to a separate "Hidden comments" folder found at the bottom of your comment section on a post, where you can review, approve, or delete them.

Limiting Who Can Comment on Your Posts

Instead of blocking users one by one, you can also set broader rules for who is allowed to comment at all. This is useful if you are receiving a wave of spam or unwanted attention from accounts that don't follow you.

To adjust these permissions, go to "Settings and privacy" >,, "Comments." At the top, you'll see "Allow comments from." From there you can choose:

• Everyone: The default, open to all users. Best for creators and brands building a community.
• People you follow: Only accounts you follow can comment.
• Your followers: Only people who follow you can comment.
• People you follow and your followers: A combination of the above, a great setting for personal accounts.

Final Thoughts

Managing your Instagram comments is an essential part of shaping your online space, and knowing how to unblock comments gives you the flexibility to correct a mistake or change your mind. Whether you're lifting a restriction on a single user, tweaking your hidden word filters, or setting a broader comment policy, you have full control over the conversation surrounding your content.

Dealing with comments one-by-one feels manageable on a single platform, but it becomes a huge drain on your time when you're active on multiple social channels. We built Postbase to solve this by bringing all your conversations from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more into a single, organized inbox. This way, you spend less time app-switching and more time engaging with your audience without ever missing an important interaction.

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