Blocking someone on Instagram is easy one tap, and their presence disappears from your digital world. But what many users don’t realize is that the action of blocking also affects everything connected to that person: DMs, likes, mentions, tags, and importantly, their comments on your posts.
So what happens after you unblock them?
Do those comments magically return?
Can you restore them manually?
Is there any workaround to retrieve deleted interactions?
This article breaks down the full truth with clear explanations, tested insights, and simple steps that reflect how Instagram’s moderation system works today.
What Happens to Instagram Comments When You Block Someone?
Before understanding restoration, it’s essential to know what Instagram actually does at the moment of blocking.
When you block someone on Instagram:
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All existing comments they made on your posts are automatically removed.
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All likes they left also disappear.
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They cannot see your posts, stories, or profile.
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Past DMs remain but move to Message Requests.
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Mentions or tags using your username may still exist on their side but become inactive.
Instagram treats blocking as a privacy reset, removing all traces of engagement for safety reasons.
Do Comments Return After Unblocking? The Straightforward Truth
The answer many users don’t want to hear:
❌ No Instagram does NOT restore deleted comments after unblocking someone.
Once those comments are removed due to blocking, they are permanently deleted from your side. Instagram currently has no feature that reverses this action.
Why doesn’t Instagram restore comments?
According to Instagram’s privacy guidelines:
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Blocking is meant to be a strong protection action.
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Data removed for safety reasons should not reappear automatically.
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Restoring deleted interactions could violate user expectations and privacy boundaries.
This is why, technically and policy-wise, comments cannot be recovered.
Can You Restore Instagram Comments Through Any Settings or Tools?
Here’s what users commonly try and the reality behind each method:
1. “Recently Deleted” Folder
Instagram does provide a Recently Deleted section for:
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Posts
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Reels
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Stories
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Videos
But comments are not stored there.
2. “Download Your Data” Request
Instagram allows you to download:
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Messages
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Posts
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Profile data
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Likes
But deleted comments do not appear, because Instagram doesn’t archive them once removed due to blocking.
3. Third-party recovery tools
Dangerous and ineffective.
No external app can access or restore deleted Instagram comment history.
4. Asking the person to re-comment
This is the only functional solution.
But it must be done manually after unblocking.
How to Get Comments Back After Unblocking Someone (The Only Real Option)
Even though Instagram won’t restore old comments automatically, you still have one practical workaround:
➡️ Ask the person to comment again on your posts.
This is the only method that works because:
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Your posts become visible to them after unblocking.
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They can engage again as normal.
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New comments will appear as fresh interactions.
Tips to make this easier:
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Send a simple message:
“Hey, just letting you know I unblocked you. Your previous comments disappeared, so feel free to comment again if you want.” -
If the comments were important (feedback, instructions, business conversation) ask them to resend the same thoughts.
What If Their Comments Still Don’t Show After Unblocking?
In some cases, unblocking doesn’t restore visibility immediately. Here’s what to do.
1. Check if the unblocking worked
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Go to their profile → if you can see posts, the unblock is active.
2. Ask them to follow you again
Sometimes engagement is restricted until follow relationships are restored.
3. Check your Restricted List
Instagram’s Restrict feature can block comments from appearing publicly.
4. Review Comment Filters
If you have filters enabled:
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Go to Settings → Privacy → Hidden Words
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Disable comment filtering temporarily.
5. Log out and re-login
Refreshes the activity feed and comment visibility cache.
Why Instagram Removes Comments After Blocking: The Privacy Logic Explained
Instagram’s decision to permanently remove comments is rooted in user safety priorities.
Blocking often happens due to:
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Harassment
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Spam
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Personal disputes
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Privacy boundaries
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Security concerns
Allowing comments to reappear after unblocking could:
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Re-trigger emotional distress
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Recreate unwanted history
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Lead to privacy violations
Instagram’s approach ensures users feel safe during actions like blocking/unblocking, even if it comes at the cost of data loss.
FAQs
1. Can I restore someone’s comment after unblocking them?
No. Instagram permanently deletes comments when someone is blocked.
2. Can I see deleted comments anywhere in my account?
No. Deleted comments cannot be viewed or recovered.
3. Will their likes return after unblocking?
No. Likes are also permanently removed.
4. Can Instagram support restore comments for me?
No. Instagram support does not restore deleted engagement data.
5. Does blocking delete my comments from their posts?
Yes your comments will also disappear from their posts.
6. Is there a workaround?
The only workaround is asking the person to comment again manually.
Conclusion
Restoring comments on Instagram after unblocking someone simply isn’t possible under current platform rules. Once deleted, those interactions are gone forever. While this can be frustrating especially if the comments were meaningful the policy exists to protect privacy and safety across the platform.
Still, you’re not entirely without options. A simple conversation with the person you unblocked can help recreate the important comments you lost.
If this guide helped, share it with others, leave a comment, or explore more Instagram tips on our blog.
