How to unblock someone on Facebook
To unblock someone on Facebook, go to your Settings, select Blocking under Privacy, and find the person's name in your blocked list. Click Unblock next to their name, then confirm. The person will not be notified that you unblocked them, but they will be able to see your profile, send you messages, and interact with your posts again.
The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on desktop and mobile. Once you unblock someone, you can block them again later if needed — there is no limit to how many times you can block and unblock the same person.
Key Takeaways
- Unblocking happens in Settings under the Blocking section, where you can see everyone you have blocked.
- The person you unblock will not receive a notification, but they will immediately regain the ability to message you and see your posts.
- You can block the same person again at any time without penalty or restriction.
- Unblocking does not restore old messages or undo any previous interactions — it only removes the current block.
- On mobile, the steps are identical to desktop, just accessed through the menu icon instead of a settings gear.
Step-by-step on desktop
Open Facebook and click the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left sidebar, click Blocking. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked under the heading "Block users." Find the person you want to unblock and click the Unblock button next to their name. A confirmation box will appear asking if you are sure — click Confirm to finish.
If you have blocked many people, you can type their name in the search box at the top of the blocked list to find them faster. Once you click Unblock and confirm, the block is removed immediately.
Step-by-step on mobile
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Blocking. You will see your blocked list under "Block users." Tap Unblock next to the person's name, then tap Confirm in the popup that appears.
On iPhone, the menu icon is in the bottom right. On Android, it may be in the top right depending on your version of the app. The blocking section is in the same place on both.
What happens when you unblock someone
When you unblock someone, they regain the ability to see your public posts, send you messages, add you as a friend, and tag you in photos or posts. They can also see your profile picture, bio, and any information you have set to public. However, they cannot see messages you sent before you blocked them, and old conversations do not reappear.
If you had unfriended them before blocking, unblocking does not automatically re-add them as a friend — they will need to send you a friend request again. Unblocking also does not undo any reports you made or any action Facebook took on their account.
Blocking someone again after unblocking
You can block the same person again whenever you want. There is no waiting period, no limit on how many times you can block and unblock, and no penalty for changing your mind. Simply go back to Settings, find their name, and click Block.
If you find yourself blocking and unblocking the same person repeatedly, you may want to consider other options like muting their posts (so you do not see their updates but remain friends) or unfriending them instead. Muting is less permanent and does not notify the other person.
If you cannot find someone in your blocked list
If you remember blocking someone but cannot find them in your blocked list, they may have deleted their account or changed their name. Try searching for them by their old name or email address if you remember it. If they changed their name, Facebook may show their new name in the blocked list instead.
If you still cannot locate them, the block may have expired or been removed by Facebook. You can always search for the person's current profile and block them again if needed. If you blocked them years ago and they no longer have an active account, there is nothing to unblock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I unblocked them?
No. Facebook does not send a notification when you unblock someone. They will only know if they try to message you or visit your profile and suddenly can again, or if you tell them directly.
Can I unblock someone without them seeing my old posts?
No. Once you unblock someone, they can see all your posts that are set to public or visible to friends, including old ones. If you want to hide specific posts from them, you will need to change the privacy settings on those posts individually or block them again.
What if I unblock someone by mistake?
You can block them again immediately. Simply go back to Settings, search for their name, and click Block. There is no penalty for blocking someone multiple times.
Does unblocking restore deleted messages?
No. Messages you deleted before blocking someone will not reappear. Unblocking only removes the current block — it does not restore any deleted conversations or undo past actions.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes. Blocking is silent — the person will not receive a notification. They will only realize they are blocked if they try to visit your profile, search for you, or message you and find they cannot.