Blocking someone on Facebook removes their ability to see your profile, message you, or find you in search
When you block a person on Facebook, they cannot see your posts, photos, or profile information. They cannot send you messages, add you as a friend, or tag you in photos. They also cannot find your profile by searching for your name — though if they log out or use a different account, they can still see your public information.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and send you messages. When you block them, neither of those things is possible. You can block someone whether or not you are currently friends with them.
Facebook does not notify the person you blocked that you blocked them. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see a message saying the profile is not available, or if they notice they can no longer find you in search.
Key Takeaways
- You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from your settings — all three routes take less than one minute.
- A blocked person cannot see your profile, send you messages, or find you in search, but they can still see your public posts if they log out or use a different account.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list in settings, and blocking them again will not restore old messages or friendships.
- If someone is harassing you across multiple accounts, blocking one account does not stop them from creating new ones — report the behavior to Facebook instead.
How to block someone from their Facebook profile
The fastest way to block someone is from their profile page. Open their profile, look for the three dots (called a menu button) in the top right corner of their cover photo, and tap or click it. A menu will appear with options including "Block".
Click "Block" and Facebook will ask you to confirm. The confirmation screen explains what blocking does — the person will not be able to see your profile or message you. Click "Block" again to finish. You are now blocking that person.
How to block someone from a conversation or message
If someone is messaging you and you want to block them without visiting their profile, open the conversation. Look for the person's name at the top of the chat window. Tap or click their name, and a panel will open on the right side showing their profile information.
Scroll down in that panel until you see the "Block" option. Click it, confirm, and the block is active. Any messages they sent you will remain in your inbox, but they will not be able to send new ones.
How to block someone from your settings
You can also block someone from your Facebook settings without visiting their profile. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines (on mobile), then select "Settings and privacy" and then "Settings".
On the left side, click "Blocking". You will see a section labeled "Block users" with a search box. Type the person's name and click their profile when it appears. Click "Block" next to their name and confirm.
What happens when you block someone
Once you block someone, the changes take effect when ready. They cannot see your profile, posts, photos, or friend list. If you were friends before blocking, that friendship is removed. Any messages in your inbox from them will stay there, but they cannot send new messages.
The person you blocked may still see your public posts if they are logged out of Facebook or viewing Facebook through a search engine. They may also see your name in comments on other people's posts or in shared photos, but they cannot click through to your profile.
How to unblock someone
If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. Go to Settings, click "Blocking" on the left, and scroll to the "Blocked users" section. Find the person's name in the list and click "Unblock" next to it.
When you unblock someone, you are not automatically friends again, and old messages do not reappear. They can now send you friend requests and messages, and they can see your profile again if you are not friends.
When blocking is not enough
If someone is harassing you, threatening you, or impersonating you, blocking one account may not stop them — they can create a new account and contact you again. In these cases, report the behavior to Facebook instead of only blocking.
To report someone, go to their profile, click the three dots menu, and select "Report". Choose the reason (harassment, threats, impersonation, or another option) and provide details. Facebook reviews reports and may remove the account or restrict what the person can do.
If the harassment is severe or involves threats of violence, you can also report it to local police. Keep screenshots of the messages or posts as evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error message, or if they notice they cannot find you in search. If they ask directly, you do not have to tell them.
If I block someone, can they still see my old posts?
No. Once you block them, they cannot see any of your posts, including ones they liked or commented on before. Those comments and likes will disappear from your posts.
What if I block someone and then want to be friends again?
Unblock them from your settings, and they can send you a friend request. You will not automatically be friends again, and old messages will not come back. You can accept or decline their request like any other.
Can I block someone without them knowing I blocked them?
Yes. Facebook does not notify them. However, if they try to message you, visit your profile, or search for you, they will realize something is wrong.
Does blocking someone on Facebook block them on Instagram or WhatsApp?
No. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are separate apps with separate blocking systems. You must block someone on each app individually if you want to block them everywhere.