What blocking does and why you might use it
Blocking someone on Facebook prevents that person from seeing your profile, finding you in search, messaging you, or viewing your posts and photos. They cannot tag you in posts, add you as a friend, or see your friend list. If you were already friends, blocking also removes them from your friends list.
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 profile is not available. Blocking is different from unfriending — when you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and find your profile, but you are no longer connected.
People block for different reasons: to stop harassment or unwanted contact, to create distance from someone after a breakup or conflict, to prevent someone from monitoring their activity, or simply to reduce contact with someone they no longer want to interact with.
Key Takeaways
- You can block someone on Facebook through their profile, through a message thread, or through your settings, and the process takes less than a minute.
- A blocked person cannot see your profile, message you, or find you in search, but they may realize they are blocked if they try to visit your profile.
- Blocking is not permanent — you can unblock someone at any time through your blocked list in settings.
- If someone is harassing you, blocking is a first step, but you can also report the behavior to Facebook for review.
How to block someone from their profile
The simplest way to block someone is to visit their profile and use the menu button. Open their profile, look for the three dots (•••) or the down arrow in the top right corner of their profile header, and tap or click it. A menu will appear with options including "Block."
On mobile, the menu button is usually in the top right corner next to their name. On desktop, it appears near the "Message" button. Select "Block" and confirm when Facebook asks you to verify. The block takes effect immediately.
How to block someone from a message or chat
If someone is messaging you and you want to block them without visiting their profile, you can block directly from the conversation. Open the message thread, tap or click the person's name at the top of the chat, and look for a "Block" option in the menu that appears.
On mobile, you may also see a block option if you long-press (hold down) on the conversation in your message list. This method is faster if you are already in a conversation and do not want to navigate to their profile.
How to block someone through Facebook settings
You can also manage blocks through your privacy settings. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down to "Settings & Privacy," then tap "Settings." Look for "Privacy" or "Blocking" in the menu. On desktop, click the down arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page, select "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings," and find "Blocking" in the left sidebar.
In the Blocking section, you will see a field that says "Block people." Type the person's name or email address and select them from the results. Click or tap "Block" to confirm. This method is useful if you want to block someone without visiting their profile or if you are not sure of their exact profile URL.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block someone, they lose access to your profile immediately. Any previous messages between you remain in your message history, but they cannot send you new messages. If you were in a group together, you both remain in the group, but they cannot see your posts or comments within that group.
If the person tries to visit your profile, they will see a message saying "User Not Found" or "This content is not available." They will not see a notification saying you blocked them, but they may realize it if they cannot find your profile or message you after previously being able to.
How to unblock someone
Blocking is not permanent. If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. Go to your settings, find the Blocking section, and look for "Blocked people" or "Blocked users." You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click or tap "Unblock" next to their name.
Unblocking someone does not automatically re-add them as a friend — you will need to send them a friend request again if you want to reconnect. They will not be notified that you unblocked them.
Blocking versus reporting harassment
Blocking stops someone from contacting you, but it does not report their behavior to Facebook. If someone is harassing you, threatening you, or posting content that violates Facebook's rules, you should report them in addition to blocking. To report someone, visit their profile, tap the three dots menu, and select "Report." Choose the reason for your report — harassment, hate speech, threats, or another violation — and Facebook will review it.
Reports are reviewed by Facebook's moderation team, and they may result in the person's account being restricted or removed if they have violated the platform's policies. Blocking only protects you; reporting helps protect other people from the same behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
They will not receive a notification, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and cannot find it, or if they try to message you and the message does not go through. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly on Facebook.
Can I block someone and still be in the same Facebook group?
Yes. If you are both members of a group, you will remain in the group after blocking. However, they will not see your posts or comments in that group, and you will not see theirs. You can leave the group if you want to avoid seeing them there.
What if someone blocks me?
If someone blocks you, you will not see a notification, but you will notice you cannot find their profile, message them, or see their posts. You can unblock yourself by asking them to unblock you, but they have to do it — you cannot override their block.
Can I block someone temporarily?
There is no temporary block feature on Facebook. You can block someone and then unblock them later, but there is no automatic expiration date. You have to manually unblock them when you are ready.
Does blocking someone delete our old messages?
No. Messages you sent before blocking remain in your message history, and you can still read them. The blocked person cannot see new messages from you, but old conversations stay in both of your inboxes.