Blocking a Facebook friend removes their access to your profile and messages
When you block someone on Facebook, they cannot see your profile, posts, or photos. They cannot send you messages or friend requests. They cannot tag you in posts or see you in their friends list. The block is one-way — they may not know you blocked them, though they will notice they can no longer find your profile if they search for you.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and search for your profile — the connection just ends. A block is more complete: it hides you from that person almost entirely on the platform.
You can block someone from your friends list, from their profile page, or from a post or comment they made. The steps are the same on desktop and mobile, though the menu locations differ slightly.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Facebook hides your profile, posts, and messages from them completely, and they cannot send you new friend requests.
- You can block someone from your friends list, their profile page, or any post or comment they made.
- The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they cannot find your profile.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your Settings, selecting Blocking, and clicking Unblock next to their name.
- Blocking does not delete past messages or comments — it only stops new contact going forward.
How to block someone from your friends list
Open Facebook and go to your profile by clicking your name or profile picture in the top left corner. Click the Friends tab to see your full friends list. Scroll to find the person you want to block, or use the search box at the top of the Friends section to type their name.
Hover over or tap the three dots next to their name. A menu will appear with options including "Unfriend" and "Block." Click or tap "Block." Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Block [Name]" to finish. The person is now blocked.
How to block someone from their profile page
Search for the person's name in the Facebook search bar at the top of the page. Click their profile to open it. In the top right corner of their profile, you will see a three-dot menu button. Click it and select "Block" from the dropdown menu.
A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to block this person. Click "Block" to confirm. You will be taken back to your own profile, and the block is complete.
How to block someone from a comment or post
If someone has commented on your post or you see a post from them in your feed, you can block them directly from there. Hover over or tap the three dots in the corner of their comment or post. A menu will appear with several options.
Click or tap "Block" or "Block [Name]." Confirm the block when prompted. This method is useful when you want to block someone without visiting their full profile.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block someone, they cannot see your profile when they search for you. Any posts you made before the block remain on Facebook's servers, but they cannot view them. If you had sent them messages before, those messages stay in your message history, but they cannot send you new messages or see that you are online.
The person cannot tag you in photos or posts. They cannot add you as a friend. If you are in a group together, they can still see the group and your posts within it, but they cannot message you or see your profile from the group page.
Past comments you made on their posts will remain visible to others, but they cannot see new comments you make. If you commented on a mutual friend's post before the block, both of you can still see that thread, but you cannot interact with each other within it.
How to unblock someone
If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. Click the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner on mobile, or the downward arrow in the top right on desktop. Select "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings."
Scroll down and click "Blocking" on the left side. You will see a list of people you have blocked under "Blocked people." Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when prompted. They can now send you friend requests and see your profile again.
Blocking versus other privacy options
Facebook offers several ways to limit contact, and blocking is the strongest. If you only want to hide your posts from one person, you can unfriend them instead — they will not see your profile in search results, but mutual friends can still see you both. If you want to keep the friendship but limit what they see, you can use Facebook's custom privacy settings to hide specific posts from certain people.
You can also mute someone, which stops their posts from appearing in your feed without ending the friendship or blocking them. Muting is useful when you want to avoid someone's content but do not want to take the stronger step of blocking. To mute someone, click the three dots on one of their posts and select "Mute [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 search for your profile and cannot find it, or if they notice they can no longer see your posts. There is no way for them to know for certain from Facebook itself.
Can I block someone and then unblock them later?
Yes. You can unblock someone at any time by going to Settings, clicking Blocking, and selecting Unblock next to their name. After you unblock them, they can send you friend requests again and see your profile in search results.
If I block someone, will our old messages disappear?
No. Messages you sent before the block remain in your message history. The block only stops new messages from being sent going forward. You can still read old conversations, but the blocked person cannot message you or see that you are online.
Can I block someone who is not my friend?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether they are your friend or not. You can block someone from their profile page or from a comment they made on a public post. Blocking a non-friend prevents them from sending you friend requests and viewing your profile.
What if I block someone but we are in the same Facebook group?
You will both remain in the group and can see each other's posts within the group. However, they cannot message you or view your profile from outside the group. If you want to avoid seeing them entirely, you may need to leave the group.