When you block someone on Facebook, they can no longer see your profile, message you, or find you in search results
Blocking is Facebook's strongest privacy tool. The person you block loses access to your profile entirely — they cannot see your posts, photos, friends list, or any information you have shared. They cannot send you messages, see when you are online, or add you as a friend. If you were already friends, blocking also removes them from your friends list without notifying them that you did so.
The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile or search for you and cannot find you. Facebook does not send a message saying "You have been blocked." They simply discover they no longer have access.
Key Takeaways
- A blocked person cannot see your profile, posts, photos, or friends list, and cannot message you or find you in search.
- Blocking removes an existing friendship without sending a notification, though the person may realize what happened when they try to contact you.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your settings, and blocking does not prevent them from creating a new account to contact you.
- Blocking is different from unfriending — unfriending lets someone still see your public posts and find your profile, while blocking hides everything.
- If someone is harassing you, blocking alone may not be enough; Facebook also offers report and restrict options depending on the situation.
How blocking differs from unfriending or restricting
Unfriending and blocking are not the same. When you unfriend someone, they are removed from your friends list, but they can still see your public posts, visit your profile (if it is public), and search for you. Blocking is much more complete — it hides your entire profile from that person.
Restricting is a middle ground. When you restrict someone, you stay friends, but their posts appear less often in your feed, and they cannot see when you are online or whether you have read their messages. You can restrict someone without them knowing, and you can still see their posts. Restricting is useful when you want to keep a connection but reduce interaction.
What the blocked person can and cannot do
A blocked person cannot message you through Facebook Messenger, cannot see your profile when they search for you by name, and cannot see any posts you have made — even old ones. They cannot tag you in photos or posts, cannot see your friends list, and cannot see groups you belong to. If you comment on a mutual friend's post, the blocked person will not see your comment.
However, blocking does not prevent them from seeing posts or comments you made before the block was in place, if those posts are on someone else's profile or in a group. For example, if you commented on a mutual friend's photo before blocking them, that comment remains visible to them on that friend's photo. Blocking only hides your own profile and new activity.
How to block someone on Facebook
On the Facebook app or website, visit the person's profile. Tap or click the three dots (menu icon) in the top right corner of their profile. Select "Block" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm, and the block takes effect immediately.
You can also block someone from a conversation in Messenger. Open the conversation, tap or click the person's name at the top, scroll down, and select "Block." Or block them from your friends list by clicking the three dots next to their name and choosing "Block."
How to unblock someone
Go to your Facebook settings by clicking the downward arrow in the top right corner of the page (on desktop) or tapping the menu icon (on the app). Select "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Blocking." You will see a list of people you have blocked under "Block users."
Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Once you unblock them, they can see your profile again, message you, and add you as a friend — but you will not automatically become friends again.
What happens if someone creates a new account to contact you
Blocking applies only to the specific account you blocked. If the person creates a new Facebook account, that new account is not blocked, and they can message you, add you as a friend, or view your profile from the new account. Facebook does not automatically block someone across multiple accounts.
If someone is repeatedly trying to contact you from different accounts, that is harassment. You can report the behavior to Facebook by going to the message or profile, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Report." Facebook can take action against accounts used for harassment, including temporary or permanent suspension.
When to block versus report
Blocking is for controlling who can contact you and see your profile. Reporting is for telling Facebook that someone is breaking the platform's rules — such as posting threats, sharing explicit images without consent, or impersonating someone. You can do both at the same time.
If someone is harassing you, threatening you, or posting content that violates Facebook's community standards, report them in addition to blocking. Reporting helps Facebook identify patterns of abuse and can result in the person's account being suspended or removed. Blocking alone only stops that one account from contacting you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile, search for you, or message you and discover they cannot. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly if they actively try to contact you.
Can I block someone and still see their posts?
No. When you block someone, you cannot see their profile, posts, or activity. If you want to see their posts but prevent them from seeing yours, use the restrict feature instead. Restricting lets you stay friends while controlling what they see.
Does blocking someone delete our old messages?
Blocking does not delete past messages from your Messenger inbox. You can still see the conversation history, but the blocked person cannot send you new messages. If you want to delete the conversation, you can do that separately from blocking.
What if I block someone by accident?
You can unblock them at any time through your blocking settings. Go to Settings, then Blocking, find their name, and click Unblock. Once unblocked, they can see your profile and message you again, though you will not automatically become friends if you were not friends before the block.
Can I block someone without them being my friend?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether you are friends with them or not. Blocking someone who is not your friend prevents them from viewing your profile, sending you a friend request, or messaging you.