The fastest way to block someone on Facebook
To block someone on Facebook, go to their profile, click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block." Facebook will when ready stop them from seeing your posts, messaging you, or finding your profile in search. The block takes effect right away — they won't get a notification that you blocked them, but they will notice if they try to visit your profile and see an error message instead.
You can also block someone from a conversation. Open the message thread, click the person's name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Block." This blocks them from messaging you going forward and removes the conversation from your inbox.
On mobile, the process is nearly identical: visit their profile, tap the three dots, and choose "Block." If you're using Facebook Messenger, open the conversation, tap their name, scroll to the bottom, and select "Block."
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Facebook stops them from messaging you, seeing your posts, and finding your profile in search results.
- The person you block will not receive a notification, but they will see an error if they try to visit your profile or search for you.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a message thread, or directly from Messenger.
- Blocking is different from unfriending — a blocked person cannot see you at all, while an unfriended person can still see your public posts.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your settings, finding them in your blocked list, and clicking "Unblock."
What blocking actually prevents
When you block someone on Facebook, they lose access to several things. They cannot see your profile, posts, stories, or comments. They cannot send you messages or see your past conversations with them. They cannot tag you in photos or posts, and they cannot see if you're online or when you were last active.
Blocking does not delete past messages or remove you from groups you both belong to — you will still see each other in group conversations, but they cannot message you directly. If you are both in a group, they can still see your posts within that group, though they cannot interact with them.
One thing to know: if someone you blocked is in a group with you, they may figure out you blocked them by noticing they cannot visit your profile or send you a direct message. The block itself is silent, but the effects are visible to them if they try to contact you.
Blocking versus unfriending versus muting
Blocking, unfriending, and muting are three different tools that serve different purposes. Unfriending removes someone from your friends list, but they can still see your public posts and visit your profile if it is set to public. They can also message you unless you have a separate setting that restricts messages from non-friends. Unfriending is gentler and less obvious.
Muting hides someone's posts from your feed without removing them as a friend. They stay on your friends list, and they can still see your posts and message you. You straightforward won't see their activity in your feed. Muting is useful when you want to reduce contact with someone without making a hard break.
Choose blocking when you want complete separation — when someone is harassing you, when you need a clean break, or when you don't want them to see anything about you. Choose unfriending when you want to end the friendship but don't need to hide from them entirely. Choose muting when you just want less of their content in your feed.
How to find and unblock someone
If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. On desktop, go to Settings, click "Blocking" in the left menu, and you will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person's name and click "Unblock" next to it.
On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Blocking. Scroll through your blocked list and tap "Unblock" next to the person's name.
Once you unblock someone, they can see your profile again and message you, but they are not automatically added back to your friends list. You will need to send them a friend request if you want to be connected again. Unblocking does not restore deleted messages or undo any other changes you made while they were blocked.
What happens when you block someone in a group
Groups complicate blocking because Facebook allows blocked people to remain in groups with you. If you block someone who is in a group you both belong to, they can still see your posts within that group and comment on them, but they cannot message you directly or visit your profile.
If you want to avoid seeing someone in a group entirely, you have two options: leave the group, or ask a group admin to remove the person. Blocking alone will not hide them from the group or prevent them from seeing your group posts.
This is important to know before you block someone — if they are in an active group with you, they will quickly realize something is wrong when they cannot message you or visit your profile, even though they can still see you in the group.
Blocking someone who is harassing you
If someone is harassing you on Facebook, blocking is your first step, but it may not be your only one. After you block them, report their messages or posts to Facebook by clicking the three dots on their message or post and selecting "Report." Facebook reviews reports of harassment, hate speech, threats, and other violations.
Keep screenshots of the harassment before you block the person, because once they are blocked, you may have trouble accessing the messages to show Facebook. If the harassment is severe — threats of violence, repeated contact after you have asked them to stop, or coordinated attacks — you can also report it to local law enforcement.
Blocking prevents them from contacting you going forward, but it does not erase what they have already posted or sent. If they have shared private information about you, tagged you in unwanted photos, or posted about you in groups, those actions may remain visible to others even after you block them. Report those specific posts to Facebook as well.
Blocking on Facebook versus Messenger
Facebook and Messenger have separate blocking systems, but blocking someone on one usually blocks them on the other. If you block someone on Facebook, they are blocked in Messenger too. If you block someone in Messenger only, they are blocked from messaging you but may still be able to see your profile and posts on Facebook itself.
To block someone only in Messenger without blocking them on Facebook, open Messenger, find the conversation, tap their name, and select "Block." This is useful if you want to stop their messages without cutting off all contact on Facebook.
Most people block on Facebook itself rather than in Messenger alone, because it provides more complete separation. But if you want to be more selective — stopping messages while allowing them to see your public posts — Messenger-only blocking gives you that option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person I block know that I blocked them?
They won't get a notification, but they will figure it out if they try to visit your profile or search for you and see an error message. If they are in a group with you, they may also notice they cannot message you while still seeing your group posts. The block itself is silent, but the effects are obvious.
Can I block someone without them seeing that I unfriended them first?
Blocking automatically removes them from your friends list, so there is no separate unfriending step. When you block someone, they lose all access at once. If you want to unfriend someone without blocking them, you can do that separately — unfriend them, and they will see that you are no longer friends, but they can still visit your profile if it is public.
What if someone I blocked creates a fake account to contact me?
If a blocked person creates a new account to get around the block, that is harassment. Report the new account to Facebook and block it as well. You can also report the behavior itself — Facebook has policies against evading blocks. If it continues, document it and report it to law enforcement.
Can I block someone and still be in a group with them?
Yes. Blocked people can remain in groups with you, and they can see your posts within that group. They just cannot message you or visit your profile. If you want to avoid them completely, you will need to leave the group or ask an admin to remove them.
If I unblock someone, will they see my old posts?
Yes. Unblocking restores their access to everything — your profile, posts, stories, and past activity. They will be able to see posts you made while they were blocked, unless those posts were set to private or shared only with specific people. Unblocking does not hide anything from them.