Where to find your blocked list on Facebook
Your blocked list lives in Facebook Settings, not in your Friends section. Open Facebook on a computer or phone, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll down to Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, look for Blocking — it's usually near the bottom of the menu. Click it, and you'll see everyone you've blocked listed by name.
On mobile, the path is the same: menu icon, Settings and Privacy, Settings, then scroll to find Blocking. The list displays the same way on both phone and computer. Facebook shows you the full name of each blocked person, though it doesn't show when you blocked them or why.
If you don't see a Blocking option in your Settings menu, your account may be set to a different language or region. Try searching "blocked" in the Settings search bar at the top — Facebook will jump you directly to the Blocking section.
Key Takeaways
- Your blocked list is in Settings under Blocking, not in your Friends section or privacy settings.
- Facebook shows you the names of everyone you've blocked, but not the date you blocked them or your reason.
- You can unblock someone from the same Blocking page by clicking Unblock next to their name.
- Blocking someone prevents them from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you in search — but does not delete past messages or comments.
- A blocked person cannot tell they're blocked by looking at your profile; they'll only know if they try to message or search for you.
What happens when you block someone
Blocking is stronger than unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and search for your profile. When you block them, they cannot see your profile at all, cannot message you, and cannot find you through Facebook search. Any messages you sent them before the block stay in their inbox, but they cannot reply to you.
The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them. If they try to visit your profile or search for your name, they'll see a message saying the profile isn't available, but Facebook doesn't tell them why. They may figure out they're blocked if they remember your name and cannot find you, but Facebook keeps the reason private.
Comments and posts you made on their timeline before the block will usually stay visible to them, though the exact behavior depends on your privacy settings at the time you posted. If you want to remove old comments, you'll need to do that separately — blocking doesn't erase your past activity on their account.
How to unblock someone
Go back to Settings, click Blocking, and find the person's name in the list. Click the Unblock button next to their name. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click Unblock again. The person is now unblocked and can message you, see your profile, and search for you again.
Unblocking does not automatically re-add them as a friend. You'll both need to send friend requests again if you want to be connected. Facebook does not notify the unblocked person that you've unblocked them, so they won't know unless you reach out or send a friend request.
Why your blocked list might be empty
If you go to Blocking and see no names, it means you haven't blocked anyone on this account. Some people confuse blocking with unfriending or muting. Unfriending removes someone from your Friends list but doesn't block them. Muting hides their posts from your feed without blocking them. Neither of these actions appears in your Blocking section.
If you think you blocked someone but don't see them in the list, they may have deactivated or deleted their account. Facebook keeps deactivated accounts off the Blocking list, though the block remains in effect if they reactivate later.
Blocking versus other privacy controls
Facebook offers several ways to limit contact, and they work differently. Blocking is the strongest: the person cannot see you or contact you at all. Restricting a friend lets them stay on your Friends list but hides your posts from them — they can still message you and see your profile if they visit it directly. Muting hides someone's posts from your feed without changing your relationship at all.
You can also control who can message you without blocking. Go to Settings, click Inbox, and choose who can send you messages — you can limit it to friends only, or to friends of friends. This doesn't block anyone; it just filters incoming messages into a separate folder.
If someone is harassing you, blocking is usually the right choice. If you just don't want to see their posts, muting is faster. If you want to stay friends but limit what they see, restricting works. Your Blocking list shows only the strongest action — actual blocks.
What to do if you've blocked someone by mistake
Go to Settings, Blocking, find the person's name, and click Unblock. You can unblock someone immediately after blocking them, or months later — there's no time limit. Once you unblock them, they can message you and see your profile again right away.
If you blocked someone and want to explain, you'll need to reach out through another method — Facebook doesn't send a notification when you unblock. You could message them through Messenger (once they're unblocked), send them an email, or call them directly. Many accidental blocks happen during arguments, so a direct conversation outside Facebook often helps more than unblocking alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see a list of people who have blocked me?
No. Facebook does not show you who has blocked you. You can only see people you have blocked. If you suspect someone blocked you, try searching for their name or visiting their profile — if you cannot find them and they don't appear in mutual friends' profiles, they may have blocked you, but you cannot confirm it through Facebook.
If I block someone, will they see my old comments on their posts?
Usually yes. Blocking prevents future contact and hides your profile from them, but it typically does not delete comments you made before the block. If you want to remove old comments, you need to delete them yourself from their post. Go to the post, find your comment, click the three dots, and select Delete.
Does blocking someone on Facebook block them on Instagram and WhatsApp too?
No. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are separate apps with separate block lists, even though Meta owns all three. You must block someone separately on each platform if you want to block them everywhere. A block on Facebook does not carry over to Instagram or WhatsApp.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes. Facebook does not notify someone when you block them. They will only know if they try to message you, search for you, or visit your profile and see that it's unavailable. Even then, Facebook doesn't tell them they're blocked — they have to figure it out.
What if I blocked someone years ago and forgot who it was?
Your Blocking list shows everyone you've ever blocked on that account, going back as far as you've had the account. The list doesn't show dates, so you cannot sort by when you blocked them, but the names stay there until you unblock them. If the list is long, you may need to scroll through it to find the person you're thinking of.