Your block list is in Settings under Privacy, and it shows every account you have blocked

To find your block list on Facebook, open your profile menu (the downward arrow in the top right corner), select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left sidebar, click Privacy, and you will see a section called Blocking. The names of every person, page, or group you have blocked appear in a list below that heading.

The block list itself does not show why you blocked someone or when you blocked them — only the account names. If you want to unblock someone, you can click the Unblock button next to their name. Once you unblock them, they can see your profile again, message you, and interact with your posts the same way they could before you blocked them.

Key Takeaways

  • Your block list is located in Settings and privacy > Settings > Privacy > Blocking, and only you can see it.
  • Facebook shows you the names of blocked accounts but not the date you blocked them or your reason for blocking.
  • Blocking someone prevents them from finding your profile, seeing your posts, or sending you messages, but they are not notified that you blocked them.
  • You can unblock anyone at any time from the same block list, and they will regain access to your profile immediately.

What a blocked person can and cannot see

When you block someone on Facebook, they cannot search for your profile by name, see your posts or photos, view your friends list, or send you messages. If you were friends before you blocked them, the friendship is removed. They also cannot tag you in photos or posts, and you will not see their activity on mutual friends' posts.

Blocked accounts do not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error message. If they search for you and your profile does not appear in their results, they may suspect you have blocked them, but Facebook does not tell them directly.

How to block someone from their profile

You do not have to use your block list to block someone — you can block them directly from their profile or from a post they made. Visit their profile, click the three dots in the top right corner of their cover photo, and select Block. On a post or comment they made, click the three dots next to their name and choose Block from the menu.

You can also block someone from a message thread. Open the conversation, click the person's name at the top, scroll down, and tap Block. All of these methods add them to your block list immediately, and you can view or unblock them from the same Privacy section in Settings.

Blocking pages and groups instead of people

Your block list includes pages and groups as well as individual accounts. If you block a page, you will not see its posts in your feed, and it cannot message you or see your profile. Blocking a group works differently — it removes you from the group and prevents you from joining it again without the group admin adding you back.

To block a page, visit the page and click the three dots, then select Block page. For a group, go to the group, click the three dots next to the group name, and choose Block group. Both will appear in your block list under the same Privacy section, alongside any people you have blocked.

Unblocking someone and what happens next

To unblock someone, go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Privacy > Blocking, find their name, and click Unblock. They will not be notified that you unblocked them. Once you unblock them, they can search for you again, see your public posts, and send you messages if you allow it in your message settings.

Unblocking does not automatically restore a friendship if you were friends before the block. They will have to send you a friend request again, and you will have to accept it. If you want to block them again in the future, you can do so at any time.

Finding your block list on mobile

On the Facebook mobile app, the process is nearly identical. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Privacy, and you will see Blocking listed there. Your blocked accounts appear in the same list, and you can unblock them by tapping the Unblock button next to their name.

The mobile version shows the same information as the desktop version — only the account names, with no dates or reasons. The steps are the same whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or tablet.

What your block list does not show you

Your block list shows only the names of accounts you have blocked. It does not show when you blocked them, why you blocked them, or how many times you have blocked and unblocked the same person. Facebook keeps no visible record of the history of your blocks.

If you want to keep track of why you blocked someone, you will need to write that information down separately. Some people keep a note on their phone or in a document so they remember the context if they consider unblocking that person later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

They are not notified, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error, or if they search for you and cannot find you. Facebook does not tell them directly that you blocked them.

If I block someone, do our mutual friends know?

No. Your mutual friends cannot see your block list, and Facebook does not notify them that you blocked someone. Only you can see who you have blocked.

Can I block someone without them seeing my profile first?

Yes. You can block someone from their profile, a post they made, or a message thread without them knowing you looked at their profile. Blocking does not leave any trace that you visited their account.

What happens if I block someone by accident?

You can unblock them immediately from your block list in Settings and privacy > Settings > Privacy > Blocking. They will not be notified, and they will regain access to your profile right away.

Does blocking someone delete our past messages?

No. Messages you sent before blocking them remain in their inbox, and messages they sent remain in yours. Blocking only prevents future communication and hides your profile from them going forward.