---
locale: "en"
updated_at: "2025-10-24T16:14:02.896Z"
canonical: "https://www.isdecisions.com/en/userlock/docs/reference/access-policies/block-a-user"
---

# Block a user

Temporarily or permanently block user logins.

## Typical use cases

- Respond instantly to a suspicious or compromised account.
- Block a user who continues to violate access policies.
- Temporarily suspend an account while investigating unusual activity.

## Key points to know

### How to block

- From the user dashboard → click **Block the user** in the user actions.
- From a user table → click **Block the user **in the inline actions.
- A dialog opens, allowing you to configure the block settings.

![Block user activity alert](https://a.storyblok.com/f/122374/896x756/d233a961fa/block-user-activity-alert.png)

### Message

- When blocked, the user sees a customizable message at their next logon attempt.
- Example: “Your account is blocked.”

### Action on sessions

- **Force logoff for all existing sessions** → immediately ends all of the user’s sessions. No warning, unsaved work will be lost.
- **Leave existing sessions open but refuse new logins** → prevents new logins but lets current sessions continue.

### Display

- In the users table, the status shows **Blocked**.
- In the user dashboard, a banner indicates the user is blocked.
  ![](https://a.storyblok.com/f/122374/1264x55/1381bc8dcd/blocked-user-banner.png)

### Scope

- UserLock only blocks the types of sessions it monitors.
- Example: if UserLock only monitors workstation and terminal sessions, blocking will not prevent Wi-Fi, VPN, or IIS sessions unless those are also monitored.

### Unblock a user

- From the user dashboard → click **Unblock user** in the banner.
- From a user table → click **Unblock the user***** ***in the inline actions.
- Once unblocked, the user is again subject to their usual access rules and restrictions.