Deleting a friend on Facebook removes them from your friends list and stops them from seeing your posts
When you delete someone as a friend, they won't see your future posts unless your profile is set to public. They also won't be able to message you directly or see your friend list. Facebook doesn't notify them that you've removed them, though they may notice if they look at your profile and no longer see the "Friends" label. The person can still add you again later if they want to.
The process takes about 10 seconds and works the same way on a computer, phone, or tablet. You don't need to block the person or unfriend them through a settings menu — Facebook puts the delete option right where you need it.
Key Takeaways
- You can delete a friend from their profile, your friends list, or a post they've made, and the result is the same each time.
- Deleting a friend is different from blocking them — the person can still see your public posts and add you again.
- Facebook does not send a notification to the person you've removed, but they may notice if they visit your profile.
- If you change your mind, you can add the person back as a friend at any time.
Delete a friend from their profile
The fastest way is to go to the person's profile and use the button at the top. Open Facebook and search for the person's name, or click on their name if they've recently commented on one of your posts. Once you're on their profile, look for a button that says "Friends" with a checkmark next to it.
Click or tap that button. A small menu will appear with several options, including "Remove Friend" or "Unfriend." Click that option, and the person is deleted from your friends list immediately. You're done — no confirmation screen or second step.
Delete a friend from your friends list
If you want to see all your friends and remove someone from that view, go to your own profile and click on the "Friends" section. This shows everyone on your friends list as a grid of profile pictures. Hover your mouse over (or tap and hold on mobile) the person's profile picture until a small menu appears.
You'll see an option that says "Remove Friend." Click it, and that person is deleted. This method works well if you're going through your list and removing several people at once, since you can see everyone in one place.
Delete a friend from a post or comment
You can also remove someone as a friend while you're looking at their post or comment. If they've commented on something you posted, or you're looking at one of their posts, hover over their name or profile picture until a small menu appears. Look for the option to remove them as a friend and click it.
This is useful if you're scrolling through your feed and decide you want to unfriend someone in the moment, without having to navigate to their full profile.
The difference between deleting a friend and blocking
Deleting a friend and blocking are two separate actions that do different things. When you delete someone as a friend, they can still see your public posts, send you a message request (which goes to a separate folder you can ignore), and add you as a friend again. They just won't be on your active friends list anymore.
Blocking is much stronger. A blocked person cannot see your profile, send you messages, or add you as a friend. They also can't find you in search. Use blocking if you want to cut off all contact with someone; use deleting if you just want to remove them from your friends list but don't need to hide everything from them.
What happens after you delete someone
Once you delete a friend, they lose access to your posts that were set to "Friends Only." Any old conversations you had with them stay in your message history, but they won't be able to send you direct messages anymore — their messages will go to your message requests folder instead. You'll still be able to see their public posts if they appear in your feed, and you can still comment on them if you want to.
If you regret the decision, you can add the person back as a friend at any time. Just search for their name and send a new friend request. There's no waiting period or penalty for re-adding someone you've deleted before.
Removing multiple friends at once
Facebook doesn't have a built-in tool to delete many friends in one action. You have to remove them one at a time, either from their individual profiles or from your friends list. If you're removing a large number of people, the friends list method is fastest because you can see everyone in one place and don't have to navigate to separate profiles.
Some third-party tools claim to let you delete multiple friends at once, but Facebook's terms of service don't allow these tools to access your account. Using them risks your account being locked or suspended. Stick with Facebook's official delete option, which takes only a few seconds per person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I deleted them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you remove someone as a friend. However, they may notice if they visit your profile and see that the "Friends" label is gone, or if they realize they can no longer see your posts. There's no way for them to know for certain unless they check.
Can I delete someone without them seeing it?
Yes. Facebook doesn't notify the person, and the deletion happens instantly. If your profile is private, they'll lose access to your posts right away. If your profile is public, they can still see your public posts, but they won't know when the deletion happened.
What's the difference between unfriend and remove friend?
These terms mean the same thing on Facebook. "Unfriend" and "remove friend" both delete someone from your friends list. The button may say either one depending on where you are on the site, but the result is identical.
Can I delete a friend and then add them back later?
Yes. You can add anyone back as a friend at any time by searching for their name and sending a new friend request. There's no cooldown period or restriction on re-adding someone you've deleted before.
If I delete someone, can they still message me?
They can send you a message, but it will go to your message requests folder instead of your main inbox. You don't have to read it or respond. Once someone is no longer your friend, their direct messages are treated as requests from a non-friend.