Bulk Deleting Contacts from Blocked or Stopped Folders

RapidPro.app lets you permanently delete selected contacts directly from the Blocked or Stopped folders (without archiving first), which is useful for targeted cleanup of spam/abuse or opted-out contacts—but deletion is irreversible, so you should carefully review selections and use Archived + Delete All for large-scale, reviewable deletions.
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4–5 min read
Category
Contacts
Updated on
Updated on: 05/01/2026

Delete contacts from Blocked or Stopped (without archiving first)

If you just need the essentials, follow this:

  1. Open Contacts and switch to Blocked or Stopped
  2. Select the contacts you want to permanently remove
  3. Click the Trash/Delete icon in the toolbar
  4. Confirm the deletion (irreversible)
  5. Use Archived + Delete All for large, reviewable cleanup instead

You’re done. The selected contacts are permanently removed from your workspace.

Step-by-Step Process

1
Know when this option is appropriate

You can permanently delete contacts directly from the Blocked or Stopped folders.

Deleting contacts from these folders is useful when:

  • you want to permanently remove spam or abusive contacts (Blocked)
  • you want to clean up contacts who have opted out and should not be retained (Stopped)
  • you are reducing database size after review

Deleting contacts removes them entirely from your workspace, including history and metadata.

⚠️
Important: Once contacts are deleted, they cannot be recovered. Always review the selected contacts carefully before confirming deletion.

2
Open the Blocked or Stopped folder

  1. Go to Contacts.
  2. Click the Blocked or Stopped folder in the left sidebar.

[CAPTURE: Contacts page showing the Blocked and Stopped folders.]

3
Select the contacts and delete them

  1. Select the contacts you want to delete by checking the box next to their names.
  2. Click the Trash/Delete icon that appears at the top of the list.
  3. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

[CAPTURE: Blocked or Stopped contacts list with multiple contacts selected.]
[CAPTURE: Contacts toolbar showing the trash icon enabled.]
[CAPTURE: Delete confirmation dialog warning that deletion is permanent.]

That’s it — the selected contacts are permanently removed from your workspace.

4
Understand the difference vs archiving workflows

Blocked / Stopped deletion

  • Deletes contacts immediately
  • No need to move them to Archived first
  • Best for targeted cleanup

Archived deletion

  • Requires archiving first
  • Better suited for large bulk cleanup workflows
  • Supports review before final deletion
💡
Best practice: Use Blocked/Stopped deletion for targeted cleanup, and use Archived + Delete All for large-scale database maintenance.

5
Best practices before you delete

  • Review contacts carefully before deleting
  • Prefer Blocked for abuse and spam, Stopped for opt-outs
  • Use Archived for large, reviewable deletions
  • Treat deletion as a final step, not a reversible action

Common Issues & Quick Fixes

Problem: I don’t see the trash icon.

Fix: Select at least one contact first, and confirm you’re viewing the Blocked or Stopped folder (the delete icon only appears when contacts are selected in those folders).

Problem: I deleted the wrong contact.

Fix: Deleted contacts cannot be restored. To prevent mistakes, always double-check your selection before confirming deletion.

Problem: Why can I delete from Blocked/Stopped but not Active?

Fix: This is expected behavior. Active contacts must first be moved to Archived before deletion to reduce the risk of accidental data loss.

Related Resources
Manually Blocking an Unwanted Contact
Managing Opted-Out Contacts (‘Stopped’ Status)
Permanently Deleting a Contact (Pre-Archiving Required)