Blocking stops someone from contacting you and seeing your profile

When you block someone on Facebook Messenger, they cannot send you messages, see that you are online, or view your profile picture and status. The block works across both Facebook and Messenger — if you block them on one, they are blocked on both. They will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they will notice they cannot message you or find your profile when they search.

Blocking is different from muting or ignoring a conversation. If you mute someone, their messages still arrive but do not trigger notifications. If you ignore a conversation, the messages go to a separate folder and the person does not know you have read them. Blocking is the strongest option and is permanent until you choose to unblock.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking someone on Messenger prevents them from sending you messages, seeing your online status, or viewing your profile.
  • You can block someone directly from a Messenger conversation or from their Facebook profile.
  • The person you block will not be notified, but they will see that they cannot message you.
  • You can unblock someone at any time through your blocked list in Messenger settings.
  • Blocking does not delete past messages — those remain in your chat history unless you delete the conversation.

How to block someone from an open Messenger conversation

Open the conversation with the person you want to block. At the top of the chat window, look for the person's name. On mobile, tap the name at the top of the screen. On desktop, click the information icon (a circle with an "i") next to their name.

A menu will open showing options for that conversation. Scroll down until you see "Block" or "Block [Person's Name]". Tap or click it. Messenger will ask you to confirm — select "Block" again. The conversation will remain in your message list, but you will no longer receive messages from that person.

How to block someone from their Facebook profile

Go to the person's Facebook profile. On mobile, tap the three dots (more options) in the top right corner of their profile. On desktop, click the three dots next to the "Message" button. A dropdown menu will appear.

Select "Block" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm that you want to block this person. Tap or click "Block" again. This blocks them on both Facebook and Messenger at the same time.

How to block someone you have not messaged yet

If someone is trying to contact you but you have not opened a conversation with them yet, their message may appear in your message requests folder instead of your main inbox. Open Messenger and look for "Message Requests" — this is usually at the bottom of your conversation list on mobile or in a separate section on desktop.

Find the person's message request and swipe left on mobile or hover over it on desktop. You will see options including "Block". Tap or click "Block" to prevent them from sending you any further messages. You can also delete the message request without blocking if you straightforward want to ignore it.

What happens to old messages when you block someone

Blocking does not automatically delete your message history with that person. The conversation will still appear in your chat list, and you can still read the old messages. However, you will not receive any new messages from them.

If you want to remove the conversation entirely, you can delete it. On mobile, swipe left on the conversation and tap "Delete". On desktop, hover over the conversation and click the trash icon. Deleting the conversation removes it from your view, but the person can still see their side of the conversation on their account.

How to unblock someone

Open Messenger and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner on mobile, or click your profile picture in the top left on desktop. Select "Settings & Privacy" and then "Settings". Scroll down and tap or click "Blocked".

You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and tap or click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm the action. Once unblocked, they can message you again and see your profile.

Blocking versus other ways to control who contacts you

Messenger offers several levels of control depending on what you need. Muting a conversation silences notifications but keeps messages arriving — useful if someone messages you often but you do not want constant alerts. Ignoring a conversation sends their messages to a separate folder and they cannot see if you have read them — useful for unwanted contact that is not quite harassment. Blocking stops all contact and hides your profile from them — the right choice for someone you do not want to interact with at all.

You can also adjust your privacy settings so only friends can message you, or so only people you follow can contact you. These settings explore to new messages, not to people who already have an open conversation with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

They will not receive a notification, but they will realize it when they try to message you and see that the message cannot be sent, or when they try to view your profile and cannot find it. If they search for you, your profile will not appear in their results.

Can I block someone without them seeing our old messages?

No. Blocking only stops future contact — it does not hide or delete past messages. If you want to remove the conversation from your view, you can delete it, but they will still see their copy of the conversation on their account.

What if someone keeps trying to contact me after I block them?

They cannot send you messages once blocked. If they create a new account to contact you, that is harassment and you can report it to Facebook. Go to the message, tap the three dots, and select "Report". Facebook takes repeated contact after blocking seriously.

Can I block someone on Messenger without blocking them on Facebook?

No. Blocking on Messenger automatically blocks them on Facebook too, and vice versa. The block applies across both platforms at the same time.

How do I know if someone has blocked me?

You cannot see a list of people who have blocked you. You will notice if you try to message someone and your message will not send, or if you search for their profile and cannot find it. You can also try to visit their profile directly — if it does not load, they may have blocked you or deactivated their account.