The quickest way to unblock someone on Facebook

To unblock a friend on Facebook, go to your Settings, select Blocking under Privacy, find the person's name in your blocked list, and click Unblock next to their name. The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Once you unblock them, they can see your profile again and send you messages, but Facebook does not automatically re-add them to your friends list — you will need to send them a new friend request if you want to be connected again.

The blocked person will not receive a notification that you have unblocked them. They will only know if they try to visit your profile and see that access has been restored, or if you send them a new friend request.

Key Takeaways

  • Unblocking someone takes less than a minute and requires only your Settings menu and the Blocking section.
  • Unblocking restores their ability to see your profile and message you, but does not automatically refriend them.
  • The person you unblock will not be notified by Facebook that you have unblocked them.
  • You can block and unblock the same person multiple times without any permanent record or restriction.
  • Unblocking on Facebook does not affect your connections on Instagram or other Meta platforms unless you unblock them separately there.

Step-by-step instructions for unblocking on desktop

Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of your screen. Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings. On the left side menu, scroll down and select Blocking.

You will see a section labeled Block users with a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click the Unblock button next to their name. A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure — click Unblock again to confirm. That is all you need to do.

How to unblock someone on the Facebook mobile app

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings. Tap Blocking under the Privacy section.

Your blocked list will appear. Find the person you want to unblock and tap Unblock next to their name. Confirm by tapping Unblock again when the confirmation prompt appears. The person is now unblocked and can interact with your profile again.

What happens after you unblock someone

Once unblocked, the person can see your public posts, visit your profile, and send you messages. However, they will not automatically appear in your friends list. If you want to be friends again, you will need to send them a new friend request, or they can send you one. Any messages they sent you while blocked will not appear in your inbox — those are permanently deleted.

If you had previously shared photos, posts, or comments with this person before blocking them, those items will become visible to them again once you unblock them. Your past interaction history does not disappear; it simply becomes accessible to them again.

Unblocking someone on Instagram if you also blocked them there

Blocking someone on Facebook does not automatically block them on Instagram, and unblocking on Facebook does not unblock them on Instagram. If you blocked the same person on both platforms, you will need to unblock them separately on each one.

To unblock on Instagram, open the app and go to your profile. Tap the menu icon (three lines) and select Settings and privacy. Tap Blocking, find the person, and tap Unblock. The process is nearly identical to Facebook, but the two platforms maintain separate block lists.

If you want to block them again later

You can block and unblock the same person as many times as you need to. There is no limit to how many times you can block or unblock someone, and Facebook does not flag or restrict accounts for doing this. If you unblock someone and later decide you want to block them again, you can follow the same blocking process from your Settings menu.

Blocking is a private action — the person you block will not see a record of how many times you have blocked and unblocked them. Each block is independent, and there are no consequences to your account for changing your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I unblocked them?

Facebook does not send a notification when you unblock someone. They will only know if they try to visit your profile and notice they can now see it, or if you send them a new friend request. There is no automatic alert.

Do my old messages reappear after I unblock someone?

No. Messages sent by someone while they were blocked are permanently deleted and will not reappear in your inbox after you unblock them. You will only see messages exchanged before the block was put in place.

If I unblock someone, are we automatically friends again?

No. Unblocking only removes the block — it does not restore your friendship. You will need to send them a new friend request, or they can send you one. You can unblock someone without ever becoming friends again.

Can I unblock someone on Facebook but keep them blocked on Instagram?

Yes. Facebook and Instagram maintain separate block lists, so you can unblock someone on one platform and keep them blocked on the other. You control each block independently through each app's settings.

What if I cannot find the person in my blocked list?

Make sure you are in the correct Blocking section of your Settings. If you still cannot find them, they may have already been unblocked, or you may have blocked them under a different name or account. Try searching for their exact profile name in the blocked list.