What blocking does and doesn't do
Blocking a friend on Facebook prevents that person from seeing your profile, sending you messages, finding you in search results, or seeing your posts and comments anywhere on the platform. They won't get a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see a message saying the content isn't available.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and send you messages — they just won't see your friends list or private content. Blocking cuts off all contact and visibility. If you want to stay connected but just hide certain posts, you can use Facebook's privacy settings instead to limit what specific people see.
Once you block someone, you cannot see their profile either. If you change your mind later, you can unblock them, and the block will be removed completely — no record of it stays on either account.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Facebook hides your profile from them completely and stops all messages and friend requests from that person.
- The person you block will not receive a notification, but they may discover the block if they search for your name or try to visit your profile.
- You can block someone from their profile, from your friends list, or from a message or comment they sent you.
- Unblocking is permanent and immediate — there is no waiting period, and the person can contact you again right away.
- If you want to hide posts from someone without blocking them completely, use Facebook's custom privacy settings instead.
How to block someone from your friends list
Open Facebook and go to your friends list by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner, then selecting "Friends." Scroll through your list until you find the person you want to block.
Hover your mouse over their name or profile picture. A menu icon (three dots) will appear on the right side of their name. Click it and select "Block" from the dropdown menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again in the confirmation window.
The block takes effect immediately. That person is now removed from your friends list, and they cannot see your profile or contact you.
How to block someone from their profile
Navigate to the person's Facebook profile by searching for their name or clicking on their profile from a comment or message. Once you are on their profile page, look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their profile header (near the "Message" or "Add Friend" button).
Click the three-dot menu and select "Block" from the options. Confirm the block when prompted. This method works whether the person is currently your friend or not.
How to block someone who messaged you
Open your Facebook messages by clicking the messenger icon (speech bubble) in the top right corner of the page. Find the conversation with the person you want to block.
Click the three-dot menu icon at the top of that conversation thread. Select "Block" from the menu. You will see a confirmation screen — click "Block" to finish. The conversation will remain in your message history, but that person cannot send you new messages.
How to block someone from a comment or post
If someone has commented on your post or a shared post, you can block them directly from the comment. Hover over their comment and click the three-dot menu that appears on the right side of it.
Select "Block" from the options. This removes their comment from the post and prevents them from contacting you or seeing your profile going forward.
What happens after you block someone
The person you blocked will no longer see your profile when they search for you, and any previous messages between you will still exist in your message history but they cannot reply to them. If you were friends before blocking, they will be removed from your friends list.
If the person tries to visit your profile directly (for example, if they have a saved link), they will see a message saying the profile is not available or that the content cannot be displayed. They may also notice they can no longer find you in search results.
You can see a list of all the people you have blocked by going to Settings, clicking "Blocking" in the left menu, and scrolling through the "Blocked people" section. This is also where you can unblock someone if you decide to remove the block later.
How to unblock someone
Go to your Facebook Settings by clicking the down arrow in the top right corner and selecting "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." In the left menu, click "Blocking."
Scroll down to the "Blocked people" section. Find the person you want to unblock and click the "Unblock" button next to their name. Confirm when prompted. The block is removed immediately, and that person can now see your profile, send you messages, and add you as a friend again.
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 find your profile and cannot, or if they notice they can no longer see your posts. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly.
Can I block someone without unfriending them first?
No. Blocking automatically removes the person from your friends list. You do not need to unfriend them separately — the block does that for you.
What if I only want to hide my posts from one person?
Use Facebook's privacy settings instead of blocking. Go to any post, click the three-dot menu, select "Edit post privacy," and choose "Custom." You can then hide that post from specific people without blocking them entirely. You can also adjust your overall privacy settings to limit what certain friends see.
Can a blocked person still see my old comments on mutual friends' posts?
No. Once you block someone, they cannot see any of your comments, posts, or profile information anywhere on Facebook, including on other people's pages.
If I unblock someone, will they know?
Unblocking does not send a notification. The person will only know if they try to contact you or visit your profile and find that they can again.