Why Do I Still Receive Old Messages from Someone I Blocked on Kik After Unblocking Them?

When you block someone on Kik, the app prevents that person from sending you new messages. However, if you unblock them, any messages they sent while they were blocked may still appear in your chat history. This occurs because blocking them does not automatically delete their messages; it simply stops new ones from being delivered. Below, we explore the reasons behind this behavior and provide solutions to avoid seeing those old messages.

Understanding the Message Queue

One reason you might still receive old messages after unblocking someone is due to the message queue. If the person sent messages while they were blocked, those messages may have been queued and delivered once you unblocked them. The Kik server continues to try to deliver these messages until you became available to receive them again. Unlike WhatsApp, where messages expire and are deleted if not delivered, Kik retains older messages until they are successfully delivered or manually deleted.

Excluding Chat History

Unblocking someone does not erase your chat history with them. This means that any messages they sent before you blocked them will still be visible once you unblock them. Kik stores these old messages in your chat history, either with an S (sent) or a faded D (delivered) status. Thus, merely unblocking does not alter the stored messages in the history. If you want to avoid seeing these old messages, you need to manually delete the chat history after unblocking the person.

App-Specific Behavior

Kik handles blocked messages differently compared to other messaging apps. Some apps may completely prevent any communication until you unblock, while Kik allows queued messages to be sent once you unblock the sender. This behavior can be confusing and may lead to the persistence of old messages in your chat history.

Solutions to Avoid Seeing Old Messages

If you want to avoid receiving old messages from someone you blocked on Kik, consider the following solutions:

Manually Delete Chat History: Go through your chat history with the person and manually delete the messages you no longer want to see. Once you unblock them, the chat history will be visible again. Manually deleting the chat can help clear out old, unwanted messages. Clear Notifications: If you're still receiving notifications for old messages, consider clearing the notifications from your device. This can be done in the app settings, where you can manage notifications for specific apps. Block and Unblock Multiple Times: Occasionally, blocking and then unblocking the person multiple times can help refresh the chat history and force the app to rebuild the history without old messages. Contact Kik Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Kik support for further assistance. They may provide specific guidance or updates that can resolve the issue.

By understanding the underlying reasons for the persistence of old messages and implementing these solutions, you can manage your chat history more effectively on Kik.

Thanks for reading! If you have any further questions or need more assistance, feel free to reach out.