You can see your blocked list in Facebook Settings, and unblock anyone whenever you want
Facebook keeps a record of every person you've blocked, and you can view that list anytime. The blocked list lives in your account settings under Privacy, not in your main menu. Once you're there, you'll see the names of everyone you've blocked, and you can unblock any of them with one click if you change your mind.
The process is the same whether you use Facebook on a computer or phone, though the menu paths differ slightly. Blocked people cannot see your profile, send you messages, or find you through search — but that changes immediately if you unblock them.
Key Takeaways
- Your blocked list is in Settings & Privacy > Settings > Blocking, not in your main Facebook menu.
- You can see the full names of everyone you've blocked, and the list shows them in the order you blocked them.
- Unblocking someone takes one click, but they won't be notified that you've unblocked them.
- A blocked person cannot message you, see your posts, or find your profile through search, but these restrictions end immediately when you unblock them.
Finding your blocked list on a computer
Open Facebook in your web browser and look for the menu icon — it's three horizontal lines in the bottom left corner of the screen. Click it to open your menu. Scroll down until you see "Settings & Privacy," then click that option. A submenu will appear; click "Settings."
Once you're in Settings, look for "Blocking" in the left sidebar. Click it. Your blocked list will appear, showing the name of each person you've blocked. The list is ordered by when you blocked them, with the most recent blocks at the top.
Finding your blocked list on a phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon — three horizontal lines — in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings & Privacy," then tap "Settings." Scroll down to find "Blocking" and tap it.
Your blocked list will appear on the screen. On a phone, the names may be harder to read if the list is long, so scroll slowly to make sure you see everyone. The order is the same as on a computer: most recent blocks first.
What you can do from your blocked list
Next to each blocked person's name, you'll see an "Unblock" button. Clicking or tapping it removes that person from your blocked list. They will not receive a notification that you've unblocked them, and you won't see a record of the unblock in your activity log.
Once you unblock someone, they can immediately see your profile again, send you messages, and find you through Facebook search. They cannot, however, see posts you made while they were blocked — those remain hidden. If you block them again later, your previous posts stay hidden again.
What blocking actually prevents
A blocked person cannot send you friend requests, messages, or see your profile when they search for you. They cannot see your posts, comments, or likes. They cannot tag you in photos or posts. If you were friends before you blocked them, that friendship ends immediately.
Blocking does not prevent someone from seeing you if you both comment on a public post or a mutual friend's post — your comments will still be visible to them in that context. Blocking also does not hide your past comments on their posts; those remain visible to them unless you delete the comments yourself.
Reasons your blocked list might look different than expected
If you blocked someone years ago and forgot about it, they'll still appear on your list. Facebook does not remove old blocks automatically. If you're looking for a specific person and don't see them, they may have deactivated or deleted their account — deactivated accounts still appear on your blocked list, but deleted accounts may not.
If you see a name you don't recognize, it's possible the account was created under a different name than the person uses in real life, or the person changed their name after you blocked them. Facebook shows the current name, not the name at the time you blocked them.
Unblocking and re-blocking the same person
You can unblock and block the same person as many times as you want. There's no limit, and Facebook won't flag your account for doing this. However, if you unblock someone and then block them again within a short time, they may notice the pattern if they check whether they can find you.
If you're trying to hide from someone temporarily, unblocking them gives them full access to your profile again. If you want to limit what they see without fully unblocking, consider using Facebook's privacy settings to hide your profile from specific people instead — though that option is more limited than blocking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will someone know if I unblock them?
No. Facebook does not send notifications when you unblock someone, and there's no way for them to see that you've unblocked them unless they try to visit your profile or search for you and suddenly can again. Even then, they won't know the exact moment you unblocked them.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes. The person you block won't receive a notification. They'll only realize they're blocked if they try to visit your profile, search for you, or message you and find they can't. Some people figure it out; others never notice.
What happens to messages I sent before I blocked someone?
Messages you sent before blocking remain in their inbox, and they can still read them. Messages they sent to you before the block also remain in your inbox. Blocking only stops new messages from being sent going forward.
If I block someone, do my old comments on their posts disappear?
No. Your comments stay visible on their posts unless you delete them yourself. Blocking only prevents new interactions and hides your profile from them — it doesn't erase your past activity on their content.
Can I block someone without being their friend first?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether you're friends with them or not. You can block someone from their profile page, from a comment they made, or from your blocked list by searching for their name.