What blocking does and doesn't do

Blocking someone on Facebook stops them from seeing your profile, sending you messages, finding you in search, or adding you as a friend. They cannot see your posts, photos, or comments you make on other people's pages. If you were already friends, blocking also removes them from your friends list.

Blocking is not the same as unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and send you a message request. When you block them, neither of those things is possible. 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 and see a message saying the account isn't available.

If you want to hide posts from someone without fully blocking them, Facebook also offers the "Restrict" feature, which lets them stay on your friends list but limits what they can see. You can also mute someone to stop seeing their posts without unfriending them.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you in search, and removes them from your friends list if you were already connected.
  • You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from your settings — the result is the same regardless of which method you use.
  • Blocking is not permanent; you can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list in settings.
  • The person you block will not get a notification, but they may discover it if they try to visit your profile or search for you.

How to block someone from their profile

Open Facebook and search for the person's name or navigate to their profile. Look for the three dots (•••) in the top right corner of their profile header, next to the "Message" button or "Add Friend" button. Click those dots to open a menu.

Select "Block" from the menu that appears. A window will pop up asking you to confirm. Click "Block" again to finish. The person is now blocked, and their profile will no longer be visible to you either.

How to block someone from a conversation

Open your Messages and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Click the person's name at the top of the chat window. A panel will open on the right side showing their profile information.

Scroll down in that panel until you see "Block" and click it. Confirm your choice when prompted. The conversation will remain in your message list, but you will not receive new messages from them, and they will not be able to message you.

How to block someone from your settings

Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (next to your profile picture) and select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Privacy," then scroll down to find "Blocking."

Under the "Block users" section, type the person's name in the text box and click "Block." You can block multiple people this way. This method is useful if you want to block someone without visiting their profile.

What happens after you block someone

Once you block someone, they cannot see your profile, posts, photos, or comments. Any messages you sent them before the block remain in their inbox, but they cannot reply to you. If you were tagged in photos together, those tags remain visible to mutual friends, but the blocked person cannot see them.

If you and the blocked person have mutual friends, those friends can still see both of your profiles and posts. The block only affects the relationship between you and that person. You will not see the blocked person's profile in search results, and they will not appear in your friends list or suggestions.

How to unblock someone

Click the downward arrow in the top right corner and select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Click "Privacy" on the left, then "Blocking." You will see a list of all the people you have blocked under "Blocked users."

Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when prompted. Unblocking someone does not automatically add them back as a friend — you will both need to send friend requests again if you want to reconnect.

Blocking on mobile devices

On the Facebook app for iPhone or Android, open the person's profile and tap the three dots (•••) in the top right. Scroll down and tap "Block," then confirm. You can also block someone from a message by opening the conversation, tapping their name at the top, scrolling down, and tapping "Block."

To unblock on mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, go to "Settings and privacy" then "Settings," tap "Privacy," then "Blocking," and tap "Unblock" next to the person's name.

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 and see a message saying it is not available, or if they notice you have disappeared from their friends list. There is no way to block someone without them eventually discovering it if they look for you.

Can I block someone and still see their posts?

No. When you block someone, you cannot see their profile, posts, or comments anywhere on Facebook. If you want to stay friends but hide their posts from your feed, use the "Restrict" feature instead, which lets you remain connected while limiting what they see from you.

What if I block someone by accident?

You can unblock them at any time through your Blocking settings. Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Privacy, then Blocking, and click "Unblock" next to their name. Unblocking restores their ability to message you and see your profile, but does not automatically re-add you as friends.

Does blocking someone delete our message history?

No. Messages you sent before blocking remain in both inboxes. The blocked person can still read old messages from you, but they cannot reply. If you want to delete a conversation entirely, you can delete it from your message list, but that only removes it from your view.

Can I block someone without them seeing that I unfriended them first?

Blocking automatically removes them from your friends list, so they will see that you are no longer friends. There is no way to block someone without them noticing the friendship has ended, though they may not know the specific reason why.