What blocking someone on Messenger actually does
When you block someone on Messenger, they can no longer send you messages, see when you are online, or access your profile. The block works across both Facebook and Messenger — if you block them in one place, they are blocked in 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 message, it goes to a separate folder and the sender does not know you have read it. Blocking cuts off contact entirely, which is the right choice when someone is harassing you or you need a hard boundary.
One thing to know: if you and the blocked person have mutual friends, those friends can still see both of you and talk about you in group chats. Blocking only affects direct contact between the two of you.
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 by opening the chat, tapping the person's name, and selecting the block option.
- On desktop, right-click the conversation and choose "Block" from the menu, or go to their profile and use the three-dot menu.
- Blocked people will not be notified, but they will realize they cannot reach you when their messages fail to send.
- You can unblock someone at any time through your blocked list in Messenger settings.
How to block someone on Messenger from your phone
Open Messenger and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap and hold on their name at the top of the chat window. A menu will appear with several options — select "Block." Messenger will ask you to confirm; tap "Block" again.
If you prefer not to open the conversation, you can also block from your chat list. Swipe left on the conversation (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then tap "Block." Either way takes about 10 seconds.
After you block someone, the conversation stays in your chat list but you will not receive any new messages from them. If you want the conversation to disappear entirely, you can delete it separately.
How to block someone on Messenger from a computer
Go to Messenger.com or open Messenger in Facebook. Find the conversation with the person you want to block. Right-click on their name or the conversation itself and select "Block" from the menu that appears. Confirm the block when prompted.
If right-clicking does not show the block option, click the three-dot menu icon next to their name at the top of the conversation. Select "Block" from that menu instead. The process is the same either way.
On desktop, the conversation will remain in your list after blocking, but no new messages will come through. You can delete it if you want it out of sight.
Blocking someone from their Facebook profile instead
You do not have to be in a Messenger conversation to block someone. If you find their Facebook profile, you can block them directly from there. Click the three-dot menu on their profile (next to the "Message" button or "Add Friend" button, depending on your relationship). Select "Block" from the dropdown.
Blocking from a profile works the same way as blocking from Messenger — they lose the ability to message you, see your profile, or contact you through Facebook. This route is useful if someone is messaging you but you want to block them before opening the conversation, or if you want to block someone who has not messaged you yet.
What happens after you block someone
The blocked person will not see a notification saying you blocked them. However, when they try to message you, they will see an error or a message saying "This person is not available right now" or similar language. If they search for your profile, they will not find it. If they try to visit a link to your profile directly, they will see a message that the profile is not available.
Any existing messages between you will remain in your Messenger archive, but they cannot see those old conversations either. If you unblock them later, the message history will still be there for you to see, but they will not have access to it unless you unblock them.
Mutual friends will not be affected. They can still see both of you and talk to both of you separately. Group chats with mutual friends will continue to work normally — the block only affects one-on-one contact.
How to unblock someone if you change your mind
Open Messenger and tap the profile icon (your picture) in the top left corner. Scroll down and select "Privacy." Tap "Blocked People" to see your full list of blocked accounts. Find the person you want to unblock and tap "Unblock" next to their name.
On desktop, go to Messenger settings by clicking the gear icon. Select "Privacy" and then "Blocked People." Click "Unblock" next to the person's name.
Once you unblock someone, they can message you again and see your profile. You will not receive any notification that you unblocked them, but they will be able to contact you if they try.
When blocking is not enough
If someone is harassing you repeatedly, blocking on Messenger alone may not be enough. Consider also blocking them on Facebook itself, which prevents them from finding you across the entire platform. If the harassment involves threats, explicit images, or other illegal behavior, report the person to Facebook by clicking the three-dot menu on their message or profile and selecting "Report."
Facebook takes reports of harassment, threats, and abuse seriously and may remove the person's account or restrict their ability to contact others. Reporting creates a record with Facebook that can help if the behavior escalates. You can block and report at the same time — they are separate actions.
If someone is threatening you in person or you feel unsafe, contact local law enforcement. Messenger conversations can be screenshotted and saved as evidence if you need to file a police report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
They will not receive a notification, but they will figure it out when their messages fail to send or when they cannot find your profile. There is no way to block someone invisibly — they will eventually realize contact is not going through.
Can I block someone without opening their conversation?
Yes. You can block from their Facebook profile using the three-dot menu, or you can long-press their conversation in your chat list and select block. You do not need to open the chat itself.
What if I block someone by accident?
Go to your blocked list in Messenger settings and tap "Unblock" next to their name. They will be able to message you again when ready. There is no waiting period.
Can I block someone from a group chat?
Blocking someone removes them from your direct messages and profile, but it does not remove them from group chats you are both in. You will still see their messages in the group. If you want to avoid seeing their messages in a group, you can mute the group instead.
If I block someone, can they still see old messages I sent them?
No. Once you block someone, they cannot see your profile, your messages, or any conversation history between you. The messages are hidden from their view, though they remain in your own archive if you unblock them later.