Block a person on Messenger to stop them from contacting you
To block someone on Facebook Messenger, open the conversation with that person, tap or click the person's name at the top, scroll down to find the block option, and confirm. The person will no longer be able to message you, see when you're online, or call you through Messenger. They won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but they'll notice they can't reach you when they try to send a message.
Blocking on Messenger is separate from blocking on Facebook itself. If you block someone only on Messenger, they can still see your Facebook profile, send you friend requests, and comment on public posts — they just can't contact you through the messaging app. If you want to block them everywhere, you'll need to block them on Facebook as well.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Messenger stops them from sending you messages, seeing your online status, and calling you, but they won't be notified that you blocked them.
- A Messenger block is separate from a Facebook block — blocking on Messenger alone leaves them able to see your profile and send friend requests.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked list in Messenger settings.
- If someone is harassing you, blocking is faster than reporting, but you can report them to Facebook at the same time for serious violations.
How to block someone on Messenger from your phone
Open the Messenger app and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap their name or profile picture at the top of the conversation. This opens their profile card inside Messenger.
Scroll down on that profile card until you see the block option. It usually appears near the bottom, sometimes labeled "Block" or "Block [Person's Name]". Tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure — tap "Block" again to confirm. The person is now blocked on Messenger.
After you block someone, the conversation stays in your message list but you won't receive any new messages from them. If you want to hide the conversation entirely, you can swipe left on it (iPhone) or long-press it (Android) and select "Delete Chat".
How to block someone on Messenger from a computer
Go to Messenger.com or open Messenger through Facebook.com. Find the conversation with the person you want to block and click their name at the top of the chat window. A panel will open on the right side showing their profile information.
Scroll down in that panel until you find the block option. Click it, then confirm when the popup appears. The block takes effect when ready. You can close the panel and return to your message list.
What happens when you block someone on Messenger
Once you block someone, they cannot send you new messages, see when you're online, or call you through Messenger. Any messages they try to send will fail on their end — they'll see an error or the message won't go through. If they try to call you, the call won't connect.
The person will not see a notification saying you blocked them. However, they will realize something is wrong when their messages don't send or when they can't reach you after multiple attempts. They may suspect they're blocked, but Messenger doesn't tell them directly.
Old messages between you and the blocked person remain in your chat history, but they cannot see those messages or access the conversation. If you delete the chat, the messages disappear from your Messenger inbox.
The difference between blocking on Messenger and blocking on Facebook
Blocking someone on Messenger only stops them from contacting you through the app. They can still visit your Facebook profile, see your public posts, send you a friend request, and comment on anything you've shared publicly. If you want to prevent all of that, you need to block them on Facebook itself.
To block someone on Facebook (not just Messenger), go to their profile, click the three dots in the top right, and select "Block". This blocks them everywhere — they can't message you, see your profile, or interact with your posts. When you block someone on Facebook, they're automatically blocked on Messenger too.
If you only want to stop messages but don't mind them seeing your public posts, blocking on Messenger alone is enough. If someone is harassing you or you want complete separation, block them on Facebook.
How to unblock someone on Messenger
Open Messenger and tap the profile icon or settings icon (usually in the bottom right or top left, depending on your device). Look for "Blocked" or "Blocked People" in the settings menu. Tap it to see your list of blocked contacts.
Find the person you want to unblock and tap the "Unblock" button next to their name. Confirm when prompted. They can now message you again, and you'll see their messages in your inbox. They won't be notified that you unblocked them.
On a computer, go to Messenger.com, click your profile icon, select "Settings & Privacy" then "Settings", scroll to "People", and click "Blocked". Find the person and click "Unblock".
When to block versus when to report
Block someone if you straightforward don't want to hear from them — an ex, someone annoying, or someone you've decided to cut off. Blocking is when ready and requires no review by Facebook staff.
Report someone if they're breaking Facebook's rules — sending threats, sharing explicit images without consent, impersonating you, or harassing you repeatedly. You can report and block at the same time. To report, open the conversation, tap their name, and look for a "Report" option. Facebook will review the report and may take action against their account.
If someone is threatening you or you feel unsafe, block them and consider reporting to local police as well. Facebook's reporting system handles violations of their terms, but it doesn't replace law enforcement for serious crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them on Messenger?
No, they won't receive a notification. However, they'll realize something is wrong when their messages fail to send or when they can't reach you after trying multiple times. They may suspect they're blocked, but Messenger doesn't tell them directly.
Can I block someone without deleting our chat history?
Yes. When you block someone, your old messages with them stay in your chat history. You can read them anytime. The block only stops new messages from coming in. If you want to hide the conversation from your inbox, delete the chat separately.
If I block someone on Messenger, are they blocked on Facebook too?
No. Blocking on Messenger is separate. They can still see your Facebook profile and send you friend requests. To block them everywhere, block them on Facebook itself, which automatically blocks them on Messenger as well.
Can I block someone temporarily and then unblock them later?
Yes. You can unblock someone at any time through your blocked list in Messenger settings. They won't be notified when you unblock them, and they can message you again when ready.
What if someone keeps creating new accounts to message me after I block them?
Block each new account as it appears. If the harassment continues, report the accounts to Facebook and consider reporting to local police if the messages are threatening. You can also adjust your Messenger settings to only receive messages from people on your friends list.