Help talk:Blocking users

Don't leave red links lying around!
Per the deletion rationale maybe "nobody cares" (although I doubt it, since somebody created the link) but if that's true it's incumbent on the deleting admin to remove the incoming links, especially from the Help namespace. One red link here becomes thousands if this is propogated to every Mediawiki installation in the world.

For now I am assuming that somebody does care and listing this is a needed page. --kingboyk 17:20, 15 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Yeah we have been leaving red links lying around in the Help:Contents, kind of as prompt to create missing content, but we've reached the point now where it's actually useful to copy the help pages we have so far. As such, we should start avoiding red links i.e. ensure that the Help pages are a consistent self contained set which are "complete" as far they go, at any given time... either that or create a downloadable "release" bundle, at times when all red links are eliminated. -- Harry Wood 11:09, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

Configuration section
I'm currently debating with myself as to whether this section should be part of this page or moved to the appropriate Manual page instead. The reason for this is outlined on Project:PD help where it states "The PD help pages do not contain information for server administrators, about how to install, configure, or maintain MediaWiki software." However, I felt that sysops wondering why they don't have a certain checkbox on the interface would be curious as to why they don't have it, which is why I included it. I do realize that Manual:Block and unblock exists and would be a perfect spot for this information, but that would then cause an extra page load for said curious sysops. Your opinions please! -- Skiz zerz  22:57, 1 August 2008 (UTC)


 * I moved that section to Manual:Block and unblock where it belongs (although we can link it from this page). The Public Domain Help Pages do not mention config settings (except maybe as small "admin tips"). We need to be quite strict about this because there's lots of places where we could mention them, but we need to limit the scope. -- Harry Wood 16:21, 30 October 2008 (UTC)

Prevent account creation - temporary or permanent if account is blocked indefintely?
If the Prevent account creation is checked when a user is blocked indefinitely, will the IP address then be prohibited indefinitely from creating new accounts as well, or does the latter block expire after a while? - Tournesol (talk) 20:48, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

Alternate URL: Special:Blockip
For some reason, my MediaWiki 1.9.3 installation does not have a Special:Block page, nor a redirect built in. Eventually I found Special:Blockip which judging by this guide is 90% similar (some wording changes and a few options not shown). Should it be listed as an alternate URL here, e.g. "visit Special:Block (or in version x.x.x+, Special:Blockip)" ? I think it may be helpful for others. --208.86.172.1 15:33, 1 March 2018 (UTC)

Datetime picker for Special:Block
Hello all,

The Anti-Harassment Tools team made improvements to Special:Block to have a calendar as datetime selector to choose a specific day and hour in the future as expire time. The new feature was first available on the de.wp, meta, and mediawiki.org on 05/03/18. For more information see Improvement of the way the time of a block is determined - from a discussion on de.WP or (T132220) Questions? or want to give feedback. Leave a message on meta:Talk:Community health initiative/Blocking tools and improvements, on Phabricator, or by email. SPoore (WMF) (talk) 20:20, 15 May 2018 (UTC)

Need advice and help at Wikivoyage
We have a problem on English Wikivoyage from a user that is constantly adding new accounts and create trivial pages and edits. Never responds on talk pages. Will create a page with one account then edit with another making only one or two edits with each. Here are a few examples, but by no means all. A recent example Moulay Bousselham. Is there a way to not allow edits from users of a specific internet provider and have unregistered email address? Or do you see another way of blocking this disrupting editing? Could someone with good technical knowledge help out here. Appears none of exiting Sysops have the required knowledge. --Traveler100 (talk) 10:46, 21 June 2018 (UTC)
 * If you are an administrator, try looking into the abuse filter functionality. From what I saw, however, it seems to be a person, that is manually (not in an automated fashion) and deliberately going about this repetitive behaviour, so you might have a challenge on your hands. Good luck. --Hamilton Abreu (talk) 12:58, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

Looking for input on adding specific block actions
Hi all, the Anti-Harassment Tools team is seeking input on adding specific block actions to the Block form. These include


 * Block user from uploading files
 * Block user from creating pages
 * Block user from moving pages
 * Block user from sending thanks
 * Block user from marking edits as minor

These features have been long requested by the community. We have created some design mocks and laid out some considerations on this meta page for your feedback. Please take a few minutes to review it and tell us your thoughts. Thank you. -- NKohli (WMF) (talk) 12:52, 7 April 2021 (UTC)

Deprecated element "Editing"
The checkbox named "Editing" is not around anymore. I would guess that it's always set, but I don't know enough about this special page to update the text. Sebastian Berlin (WMSE) (talk) 13:03, 15 October 2021 (UTC)