Save the messages before you block, report or delete anything. UK prosecutors and US government guidance both tell people to keep messages and a record of what happened. Then report it to the police, or to your employer if it’s happening at work. If you’re in immediate danger, call your local emergency number first.
This is general information and it isn’t legal advice. The law depends on where you live.
If the person can see your phone
Read this first if the person harassing you is a partner, an ex or anyone who can get to your phone. Gathering evidence can carry its own risk:
- Refuge warns that changing things on your phone “might alert an abuser”, so save what you need before you change anything, and use a safer device to contact a helpline.
- The National Network to End Domestic Violence warns that some abusers escalate when they find out someone is documenting the abuse.
- The Hotline advises storing records somewhere your abuser is unlikely to look.
Free, confidential help is available:
- UK: domestic abuse helplines are 0808 2000 247 in England, 0800 027 1234 in Scotland, 0808 80 10 100 in Wales and 0808 802 1414 in Northern Ireland, with 0808 801 0327 for men. On a mobile, if you can’t speak on a 999 call, press 55. The National Stalking Helpline is 0808 802 0300.
- US: The Hotline is 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.
- Elsewhere: NO MORE lists helplines by country.
What to keep
- Keep the phone and the chat. Don’t delete anything. UK police guidance tells victims not to tamper with or dispose of a phone or SIM without first asking the investigating officer.
- Check for disappearing messages. If they’re on in that chat, save what’s there straight away.
- Take screenshots of the worst messages. The UK Crown Prosecution Service says victims should be encouraged to “store/screenshot messages”. Capture the person’s name and number, and the date. Our guide to WhatsApp screenshots shows how.
- Export the whole chat with media. This gives you the chat in order, with the dates, though a very long chat may not export in full. Our guide shows how to export a chat. Keep the file somewhere the person can’t reach.
- Keep a log. Write down the date, the time, what happened, how it affected you and who saw it. The CPS says a diary can help, and SPARC has a free template.
- Keep voice notes too. They come with the export if you include media. See voice notes as evidence.
View once messages can’t be exported or saved. If you receive one, write down what it showed and when.
Should you reply or block
Replying. A US Attorney’s office advises people being stalked to stop all contact. At work, the EEOC’s advice for young workers is that, if you feel comfortable, you can tell the person to stop. If you do, say it once, in writing, and don’t get drawn into an argument.
Blocking. On WhatsApp, blocking stops new messages and calls, and your existing chat stays in your list. UK guidance tells police to be “mindful not to advise” victims to block a suspect. Messages you never receive can’t show a pattern. So save your evidence first and ask the police or a support service if you can. If blocking is what you need to feel safe, do it. Your safety comes first.
Reporting to WhatsApp
- On Android: open the chat, tap the three dots, then More, then Report.
- On iPhone: tap the contact’s name, then Report.
WhatsApp receives up to five of the last messages, and the person isn’t told. It acknowledges your report but won’t contact you again. Reporting a user doesn’t stop their messages unless you block them too. On Android, WhatsApp says reporting a group removes you from it, and its iPhone page describes a choice between Report and Report and exit. So save your copy first. A report to WhatsApp isn’t a report to the police, and it leaves you with nothing to show anyone.
Reporting to the police
UK. Call 999 in an emergency or 101 otherwise. In England and Wales, harassment means a course of conduct, which needs at least two occasions and includes causing distress. Threats of death or serious harm sent by message are a separate offence, as are indecent or grossly offensive messages sent to cause distress.
US. Call 911 in an emergency, or your local police otherwise. Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, though the laws vary. Federal law also covers some harassment by electronic means.
India. Report online at cybercrime.gov.in. The 1930 helpline is mainly for financial fraud. Women can also call the National Commission for Women helpline on 14490.
Canada. Canada’s Department of Justice says the police need as much evidence as possible, including phone messages.
Take your log and your copies with you. The police may also want to see the phone itself.
If it’s happening at work
Tell your employer or HR if you feel able to, and keep records of what you report. Acas in the UK suggests keeping a diary with evidence such as screenshots. Deadlines are short. In England, Wales and Scotland, most tribunal claims now have 6 months minus 1 day, and events before 1 October 2026 generally have 3 months minus 1 day, so check which applies to you. US EEOC charges have 180 or 300 days. Our page on WhatsApp messages in workplace disputes has more.
Making it easy to read
A long chat is hard for anyone else to follow on a phone. If it’s safe to do so, you can open your export on Chatonfile.com and read and search it for free on your device. If you need to hand it over, you can order a dated PDF with every message numbered and each voice note written out. It doesn’t replace the phone or the export, so keep those too.
Common questions
How do I report harassment on WhatsApp?
On Android, open the chat, tap the three dots, then More, then Report. On iPhone, tap the contact's name, then Report. WhatsApp receives up to five of the last messages. This doesn't replace reporting to the police, and it doesn't give you a copy of anything.
Should I block someone who is harassing me on WhatsApp?
Save the evidence first. UK police guidance tells officers to be careful about advising victims to block. If you can, ask the police or a support service before you do. If blocking is what you need to feel safe, your safety comes first.
Will the person know if I report them on WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp says the user or group won't be notified of your report. A person you block may notice that their messages only show one gray check mark.
Can the police get messages from WhatsApp itself?
WhatsApp says it doesn't store delivered messages and can't provide their content. It can provide some account details with the right legal process. That's why the copy on your phone matters so much.
