How to block someone on Messenger

Open the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap or click the person's name or profile picture at the top of the chat. Scroll down to find "Block" and tap it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — select "Block" again. That person can no longer message you, see when you're online, or find your profile through search.

On desktop, the steps are the same: open the chat, click their name at the top, scroll down, and select "Block". On mobile, you can also swipe left on a conversation (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then tap "Block".

Once you block someone, they won't know immediately — Facebook doesn't send a notification. But they will notice they can't reach you, can't see your profile, and can't find you in search results.

Key Takeaways

  • You can block someone directly from an open conversation by tapping their name and selecting "Block".
  • A blocked person cannot message you, see your online status, view your profile, or find you through search.
  • Facebook does not notify the blocked person that you blocked them, though they will notice they can't contact you.
  • You can unblock someone later by going to Settings, then Blocking, and selecting "Unblock" next to their name.

What blocking actually prevents

Blocking stops the other person from sending you messages, but it does more than that. They also cannot see your profile, call you on Messenger, add you as a friend, or see posts you've shared publicly. They won't appear in your friends list, and you won't appear in theirs.

One thing blocking does not do: it doesn't delete old messages. Conversations you had before blocking remain in your chat history. The blocked person can still see those old messages on their end, but they can't send new ones or reply to old ones.

If you and the blocked person have mutual friends, they can still see each other's posts and profiles — blocking only affects the relationship between you two. Your mutual friends won't be notified that you blocked this person, and the block won't change what they can see.

Blocking versus other options

Facebook offers a few ways to control who can reach you, and blocking is the strongest one. Muting a conversation silences notifications from that person but doesn't stop them from messaging you — you just won't see the alerts. Restricting someone limits what they can see on your profile but doesn't block messages.

If you want to stop messages without the person knowing you blocked them, muting is quieter. If you want to stay connected but reduce what they see, restricting works. Blocking is for when you want no contact at all.

How to unblock someone

Go to Settings (the gear icon on desktop, or the three lines on mobile). Select "Blocking" or "Privacy and Safety". You'll see a list of people you've blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and tap or click "Unblock".

Unblocking doesn't automatically restore your friendship or reopen old conversations. The person can message you again, but you'll both start fresh — they won't see old messages unless you were friends before the block. If you want to reconnect, you may need to send them a message first or add them as a friend again.

Blocking across Facebook and Messenger

When you block someone on Messenger, you're also blocking them on Facebook itself. They can't message you through either platform, and they can't see your profile on either one. It's a single block that covers both apps.

If you block someone on Facebook's main app but not through Messenger, they're still blocked everywhere — Facebook treats it as one action. You don't need to block them twice. The block applies to all Facebook services you use, including Instagram if your accounts are linked.

What to do if someone keeps trying to contact you

If someone creates a new account to message you after you've blocked them, that's called evading a block, and Facebook takes it seriously. Block the new account as well. If it keeps happening, report the behavior to Facebook by opening the conversation, tapping their name, scrolling down, and selecting "Report".

Choose "It's pretending to be someone else" or "It's harassing me" depending on what's happening. Facebook reviews reports and can take action against accounts that repeatedly evade blocks, including permanent suspension. Document the pattern if you can — screenshots of multiple attempts help Facebook understand the scope of the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

Facebook doesn't send a notification, but they'll figure it out when they try to message you and can't, or when they search for your profile and don't find it. There's no way to block someone without them eventually realizing it.

Can I block someone if we're not friends?

Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook or Messenger, whether you're friends or not. You don't need to be connected to block someone from contacting you.

If I block someone, can they still see old messages I sent?

Yes. Blocking stops future messages but doesn't erase the past. They can still read conversations you had before the block, but they can't reply or send new messages.

What's the difference between blocking and deleting a conversation?

Deleting a conversation only removes it from your chat list — the person can still message you. Blocking prevents them from messaging you at all. Deleting is just cleaning up your inbox; blocking is stopping contact.

Can I block someone temporarily?

Not built-in. You can mute notifications from someone if you want a break but don't want to fully block them. If you want to block temporarily, you'll need to unblock them manually when you're ready to reconnect.