You can block someone on Facebook and they won't see a notification
When you block someone on Facebook, they cannot see your profile, send you messages, find you in search, or see your posts and comments anywhere on the platform. Facebook does not send them a notification that you blocked them. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile or search for you and cannot find you — so blocking is private, but not invisible if someone actively looks.
The block takes effect when ready. If you are blocking someone to stop harassment or unwanted contact, the block prevents new messages from reaching you, but it does not delete past conversations from your inbox. You can delete old messages yourself if you want them gone.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Facebook prevents them from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you in search, and Facebook sends them no notification.
- The person may realize they are blocked if they try to visit your profile or search for you, since they will see an error instead of your account.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from your settings, depending on which is easiest for your situation.
- If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time from your privacy settings, and they will not be notified of that either.
Block someone from their Facebook profile
The simplest way to block someone is from their profile page. Search for their name in the Facebook search bar at the top of your screen, or find them through a mutual friend's profile. Once you are on their profile, look for the three dots (called a menu button) in the top right corner of their profile header — the area with their name and profile photo.
Click or tap those three dots. A menu will appear with several options. Select "Block" from the list. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again in the confirmation window. The block is now active, and they cannot see your profile or contact you.
Block someone from a Facebook message or chat
If someone is messaging you and you want to block them without visiting their profile, you can block them directly from the conversation. Open the message thread with that person. At the top of the conversation, you will see their name and a small information icon (usually a circle with an "i" in it) or three dots on the right side.
Tap or click that icon. A menu will open showing options like "Block" or "Block Messages." Select "Block." You will see a confirmation asking if you want to block this person — confirm your choice. The conversation will remain in your message list, but they cannot send you new messages, and you will not see their replies if they try.
Block someone from your privacy settings
You can also block someone through your Facebook settings if you prefer not to visit their profile. Click the downward arrow or menu icon in the top right corner of Facebook (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom right (on mobile). Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings."
On the left side, look for "Privacy" or scroll down to find it. Select "Blocking." You will see a section that says "Block users" with a text box. Type the person's name or email address in that box and click "Block." Confirm your choice, and the block takes effect when ready.
What the blocked person will experience
When you block someone, they lose access to your profile when ready. If they try to search for you by name, your profile will not appear in their results. If they try to visit your profile directly (by typing your name into the search bar or clicking an old link), they will see a message saying the profile cannot be found or that the content is not available.
They will not see your posts, comments, or likes anywhere on Facebook. If you were friends before blocking, the friendship will be removed. They cannot message you, and if they try to send a message, it will fail silently — they may not realize the message did not go through, or Facebook may tell them the message could not be delivered.
Unblock someone if you change your mind
Blocking is not permanent. If you want to unblock someone later, go to your privacy settings the same way you blocked them: menu icon, "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Select "Privacy" and then "Blocking." You will see a list of people you have blocked under "Blocked users."
Find the person you want to unblock and click or tap "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm your choice. They will not be notified that you unblocked them. If you unblock someone, you do not automatically become friends again — you will need to send them a friend request if you want to reconnect.
Blocking versus other privacy options
Facebook offers other ways to limit contact that are less severe than blocking. You can restrict someone, which keeps them as a friend but hides your posts from them and prevents them from seeing when you are online. You can mute someone, which stops their posts from appearing in your feed without unfriending them. You can also unfriend someone, which removes the friendship but allows them to still see your public posts and send you messages.
Choose blocking if you want complete separation and do not want them to contact you at all. Choose restricting or muting if you want to stay technically connected but limit what they see. Choose unfriending if you straightforward do not want to see their posts but are comfortable with them viewing your public content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them on Facebook?
Facebook does not send a notification, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile or search for you and cannot find you. They might also notice you are no longer in their friends list if you were friends before blocking. There is no way for them to know for certain without trying to access your profile.
If I block someone, can they still see my old posts or comments?
No. Once you block someone, they cannot see any of your posts, comments, or likes, including old ones. If they try to find a post you commented on before the block, your comment will be hidden from them. However, other people can still see your comments on public posts unless you delete them yourself.
What happens to our old messages when I block someone?
The conversation stays in your message list, but they cannot send you new messages. You can still read old messages from before the block. If you want to delete the conversation, you can do that separately — blocking does not automatically erase your message history.
Can I block someone temporarily and then unblock them later?
Yes. You can unblock someone at any time from your privacy settings, and they will not be notified. If you unblock them, they can see your profile and message you again, but you will not automatically be friends — you will need to send a new friend request if you want to reconnect.
If I block someone, will they know I blocked them instead of just unfriending?
They cannot tell the difference from a notification, but they may suspect a block if they cannot find your profile at all. An unfriend usually means they can still see your public posts and profile picture, whereas a block hides everything. If they try to message you and the message fails, they might realize you blocked them rather than just unfriending.