Blocking a friend removes them from your profile entirely
When you block someone on Facebook, they cannot see your profile, send you messages, find you in search results, or see your posts and comments anywhere on the platform. The block is one-way — they will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but if they search for your name or try to visit your profile, they will see a message saying the content is not available. Blocking is permanent until you manually unblock the person.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and find your profile — you straightforward stop seeing their updates. Blocking cuts off all contact and visibility. If you want to remove someone from your friends list but stay connected, unfriending is the gentler option. If you want them gone from your digital space entirely, blocking is what you need.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Facebook hides your entire profile from them and prevents them from messaging you, and the block is permanent until you undo it.
- You can block a friend directly from their profile or from your friends list in under 30 seconds.
- The person you block will not receive a notification, but they will see an error message if they try to find you.
- You can unblock someone at any time by visiting your blocked list in Settings and clicking Unblock next to their name.
- Blocking does not delete past messages or comments — it only prevents future contact and visibility going forward.
Block someone from their profile
The fastest way to block a friend is to go to their profile and use the menu button. Open Facebook and search for the person's name or click on their profile from your friends list. Once you are on their profile page, look for the three dots (⋯) in the upper right corner of their cover photo area, next to the "Message" button.
Click the three dots and a menu will appear. Scroll down until you see "Block" as an option. Click it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — a window will pop up saying "Block [Person's Name]?" and explaining that they will not be able to see your profile or contact you. Click the blue "Block" button to confirm. The block is now active.
Block someone from your friends list
If you want to block someone without visiting their profile, you can do it directly from your friends list. Click your profile picture in the top right corner of Facebook, then click "Friends" from the menu that appears. You will see your full friends list.
Find the person you want to block and hover your mouse over their name. A button with three dots (⋯) will appear on the right side of their entry. Click it and select "Block" from the menu. Confirm the block when Facebook asks you to. This method is useful if you have a long friends list and want to avoid visiting their profile.
What happens after you block someone
Once the block is active, the person cannot see your profile, posts, comments, or story. They cannot send you messages or friend requests. If they search for your name, they will not find you in results. If they try to visit your profile directly (for example, if they have an old link), they will see a message saying the profile is not available.
Any messages you sent them before the block remain in their inbox, and any comments you left on their posts before the block stay visible. The block only stops new contact and visibility — it does not erase the past. If you want to delete old messages, you will need to do that separately from your own message history.
The person will not see a notification saying you blocked them. However, if they notice they cannot find your profile or message you, they may figure out what happened. There is no way to block someone secretly on Facebook.
Unblock someone if you change your mind
If you decide later that you want to unblock someone, you can do it through your Settings. Click your profile picture in the top right, then click "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side menu, click "Blocking." You will see a list of everyone you have blocked.
Find the person you want to unblock and click the "Unblock" button next to their name. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Once you unblock them, they can see your profile and contact you again, but you will not automatically become friends — you will need to send a friend request or they will need to send one to you.
Blocking on mobile devices
The process is nearly identical on the Facebook mobile app. Open the app and search for the person or find them in your friends list. On their profile, tap the three dots (⋯) in the upper right area and select "Block." On your friends list, swipe left on their name (iPhone) or long-press their name (Android) until a menu appears, then tap "Block."
To unblock on mobile, tap your profile picture, then tap "Friends," then the three horizontal lines (≡) in the upper right, then "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Scroll down to "Blocking" and tap it. Find the person and tap "Unblock" next to their name.
When to block versus other options
Blocking is the right choice if someone is harassing you, if you need complete separation from someone, or if you do not want them seeing anything about you. It is a strong action and should be used when unfriending is not enough.
If you straightforward do not want to see someone's posts but are not concerned about them seeing yours, you can "Unfollow" them instead — they stay your friend, but their posts stop appearing in your feed. If you want to remove them from your friends list but stay on good terms, unfriend them. If you want to limit what one specific person sees, you can adjust privacy settings for individual posts or use the "Restricted" list, which lets someone stay your friend but only see your public posts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, if they try to find your profile or message you and cannot, they may realize you blocked them. There is no way to block someone without them potentially discovering it if they look for you.
Can I block someone and then unblock them without them knowing?
Yes. Blocking and unblocking someone does not trigger any notification. They will only know if they happen to try searching for you or visiting your profile at the exact moment the block is active. Once you unblock them, they can see your profile again as normal.
What happens to messages I already sent before blocking?
Messages you sent before the block remain in their inbox and they can still read them. The block only stops new messages from being sent. If you want to delete a message you already sent, you can do that separately from your message history, but it will not affect what they have already seen.
If I block someone, will they be removed from my friends list?
Yes. Blocking automatically removes them from your friends list. When you unblock them later, you will not be friends again — you will both need to send friend requests to reconnect.
Can I block someone temporarily and then unblock them?
Yes, you can block and unblock someone as many times as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can block or unblock the same person. Some people block someone during a conflict and unblock them later when things calm down.