You can block friend requests entirely, limit who can send them, or delete requests one at a time

Facebook gives you three separate controls over friend requests. You can turn off requests from everyone except people already connected to you, you can block specific people from ever sending you a request, or you can simply delete requests as they arrive without blocking anyone. Which one you choose depends on whether the problem is a few persistent people or a constant stream from strangers.

The fastest fix for most people is changing your privacy settings so only friends of your friends can send requests. This cuts down random requests without blocking anyone or hiding your profile. If someone specific keeps requesting after you delete their request, you can block them — they won't be able to send another request, message you, or see your profile.

Key Takeaways

  • You can restrict friend requests to only people who are friends with your friends, which stops most unwanted requests without blocking anyone.
  • Deleting a request does not block the person — they can send another request later, so use this only for one-time requests.
  • Blocking someone prevents them from sending you any friend request, message, or seeing your profile, and they won't know you blocked them.
  • If you block someone by mistake, you can unblock them later, but they won't automatically know you unblocked them.
  • These settings work the same way on Facebook's website and mobile app.

Restrict friend requests to friends of friends only

This is the single most effective way to reduce unwanted requests. When you turn on this setting, only people who are already friends with at least one of your friends can send you a request. Strangers and bots cannot reach you.

On the Facebook website: Click the down arrow in the top right corner, select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Privacy. Find the line that says "Who can send you friend requests?" and click the dropdown next to it. Choose "Friends of friends" instead of "Everyone".

On the Facebook mobile app: Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right (Android) or top right (iPhone), scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Privacy, then find "Who can send you friend requests?" and change it to "Friends of friends".

This change takes effect immediately. People who are not friends with anyone you know will see a message saying they cannot send you a request, but you will not get a notification about this. Existing pending requests from people who don't meet this rule will stay in your requests list until you delete them.

Delete a single friend request without blocking

If you get a request from someone you simply don't want to connect with, you can delete it. The person will not be notified, but they can send you another request later — usually after 48 hours.

On the Facebook website: Go to your friend requests by clicking the friend icon in the top navigation bar, then click "View all" or "See all". Find the request you want to remove and click the X button on the right side of their name.

On the Facebook mobile app: Tap the friend icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap "See all" next to "Friend requests". Swipe left on the request (iPhone) or tap the three dots and select "Delete request" (Android).

Use this approach for requests that seem harmless but you're just not interested in connecting. If the same person keeps requesting after you delete, that's when blocking becomes the better choice.

Block someone from sending requests or contacting you

Blocking is stronger than deleting a request. When you block someone, they cannot send you a friend request, message you, see your profile, or find you in search. They won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see a message saying the account is not available.

On the Facebook website: Find the person's profile by searching for their name. Click the three dots in the top right of their profile and select "Block". Confirm by clicking "Block [name]".

On the Facebook mobile app: Open the person's profile, tap the three dots in the top right, and select "Block". Confirm the action.

From a pending friend request: You can also block someone directly from their request. On the website, click the three dots on their request and select "Block". On the app, swipe left (iPhone) or tap the three dots (Android) and select "Block".

Blocking is permanent until you undo it. If you block someone by mistake, you can unblock them later through your settings, but they won't automatically know you unblocked them — they'll have to send a new request if they want to connect.

Unblock someone if you change your mind

If you blocked someone and want to reverse it, you can unblock them from your privacy settings. They will not be notified that you unblocked them.

On the Facebook website: Click the down arrow in the top right, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Click Privacy on the left side. Scroll down to "Blocking" and click "See your blocked list". Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name.

On the Facebook mobile app: Tap the three lines, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Privacy, then scroll to "Blocking" and tap "See your blocked list". Find the person and tap "Unblock".

After you unblock someone, they can send you a friend request again, but they won't know you unblocked them. If you want to reconnect, you may need to send them a request yourself or reach out through another way to let them know you're open to connecting.

What happens when you delete versus block

These two actions do different things, and it helps to know which one you need. Deleting a request is temporary — the person can send another request in a couple of days. Blocking is permanent until you undo it, and it stops all contact, not just friend requests.

If someone is harassing you, sending repeated unwanted messages, or you feel unsafe, blocking is the right choice. If you simply don't want to be friends with someone but they're not bothering you, deleting the request is fine. If they keep requesting after you delete, then block them.

Neither action is visible to the other person in the way you might think. They won't see a notification saying you deleted their request or blocked them. They'll only know if they try to contact you and can't, or if they search for you and can't find your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

Not directly — Facebook doesn't send a notification. But if they search for you and can't find your profile, or try to visit a link to your profile and see a message saying it's not available, they may figure it out. There's no way to block someone invisibly.

If I change my setting to "friends of friends only", what happens to old requests?

Requests that are already sitting in your queue stay there. You'll need to delete them manually if you don't want them. The new setting only stops new requests from people who don't meet the rule.

Can I block someone without them knowing I looked at their profile?

Yes. Blocking someone does not notify them that you viewed their profile. They only know you blocked them if they try to contact you or search for you and can't find you.

What if I block someone and then unblock them — will they know?

No. Unblocking sends no notification. They won't know you unblocked them unless you tell them or send them a friend request.

Does blocking stop someone from seeing my old comments or posts they're tagged in?

No. Blocking stops future contact and hides your profile from them going forward, but it doesn't remove past interactions. If they're tagged in a photo with you or you commented on a mutual friend's post, they can still see that.