Short answer
Go to your Followers list, open the More menu next to the person and choose Remove this follower; they stop following you and aren't notified, but they can follow again unless you protect your account or block them.
Key takeaways
- Remove follower is a quiet unfollow on their behalf; they're not told.
- To stop them refollowing, protect your posts or block.
- Muting hides their posts from you without changing anything on their side.
Sometimes you want someone off your followers list without the drama of a block. X added a proper "remove follower" option in 2021, replacing the old block-and-unblock trick.
How do I remove a follower?
From your Followers list, open the More menu next to them and choose Remove this follower.
- Go to your profile and tap Followers.
- Find the person.
- Tap the More (three dots) icon next to them.
- Choose Remove this follower and confirm.
What's the difference between remove, block and mute?
| Remove follower | Mute | Block | |
|---|---|---|---|
| They stop following you | Yes | No | Yes |
| They're notified | No | No | No (but they see it on your profile) |
| They can follow again | Yes | n/a | No |
| You see their posts | Depends if you follow them | No | No |
| They can reply to you | Yes | Yes (you won't see it) | No |
| They see your public posts | Yes | Yes | Yes (since Nov 2024) |
How do I stop them following again?
Protect your posts so new followers need approval, or block them.
With protected posts on, removed followers would have to send a request you can ignore. Read privacy settings explained.
Should I remove bot followers?
If you have many, removing obvious bots keeps your audience numbers honest, but it won't change much else.
See how to identify bots for the signs.
When is removing a follower the right call?
When someone makes you uncomfortable but you don't want the confrontation a block can cause.
Common reasons: an ex, a coworker you'd rather not have reading along, an account that screenshots your posts to mock them, or an obvious bot. Removal is quiet. If the person is harassing you, block and report instead; removal does nothing to stop replies or mentions.
What about followers I can't identify?
Check their profile, posts and join date; if it looks automated, remove it or leave it.
Bot followers don't hurt your account much, but a large share of fake followers distorts your analytics and makes your audience look less engaged to partners. If you notice a sudden wave of strange followers, protecting your account for a few days stops new ones while you clean up. Our bot-spotting guide lists the signs.
Questions people ask
Will the person know I removed them?
X doesn't notify them. They may notice if they visit your profile and see the Follow button again.
Can I remove many followers at once?
X doesn't offer bulk removal. Protecting your account and approving followers individually is the practical alternative.
What's 'soft blocking'?
The old trick of blocking and immediately unblocking to force an unfollow. Remove follower does the same thing cleanly.