How to block a Facebook friend
To block someone on Facebook, open their profile, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block." Facebook will when ready prevent that person from seeing your profile, sending you messages, or finding you in search results. The block takes effect right away — they won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but they will notice if they try to visit your profile and see an error message instead.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and find your profile. A block cuts off all contact and visibility. If you want to hide posts from someone but stay connected, unfriending or using the "Restrict" feature works better. But if you want complete separation, blocking is the right choice.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Facebook prevents them from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you in search — and they won't get a notification that you blocked them.
- The block works on both Facebook and Instagram if you use the same account, since Facebook owns Instagram.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your settings, finding them in your blocked list, and clicking "Unblock."
- If someone is harassing you, blocking alone may not be enough — you can also report them to Facebook for abuse.
- Blocking is permanent until you undo it; the person won't know you blocked them unless they try to contact you and see an error.
Step-by-step blocking on desktop
Open Facebook in your web browser and navigate to the person's profile. You can find them by searching their name in the search bar at the top of the page. Once you're on their profile, look for the three horizontal dots (called a menu button) in the top right area of their profile header, next to the "Message" button.
Click those three dots. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Scroll down until you see "Block" and click it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Block [Name]" in the confirmation window. That's it. The block is now active.
Step-by-step blocking on mobile
Open the Facebook app on your phone and search for the person's name using the search icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap their profile to open it. At the top right of their profile, you'll see three dots stacked vertically. Tap those dots.
A menu will pop up. Scroll down and tap "Block." Facebook will show a confirmation screen explaining what blocking does. Tap "Block [Name]" to confirm. The block takes effect when ready, and you'll return to their profile — which now shows an error message saying you can't view this profile.
What happens when you block someone
Once you block someone, they cannot see your profile, posts, or stories. They can't send you friend requests or messages. If they search for you by name, your profile won't appear in their results. Any previous messages between you will still exist in your message history, but they won't be able to send new ones.
The blocked person will not receive a notification saying "You've been blocked." However, if they try to visit your profile directly (by typing your name in the search bar or clicking an old link), they'll see a message saying the profile isn't available or they don't have permission to view it. This often makes it obvious that they've been blocked, even without a formal notification.
If you have mutual friends, those friends can still see both of your profiles and posts. Blocking only affects the relationship between you and that person — it doesn't hide you from their friends or change what mutual friends can see.
Blocking on Instagram if you use the same account
If you use Facebook and Instagram with the same login, blocking someone on Facebook also blocks them on Instagram automatically. You don't need to block them separately on each platform. However, if you have separate logins for Facebook and Instagram, you'll need to block them on each app individually.
To block someone on Instagram, open their profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Block." The process is nearly identical to Facebook, and the block works the same way — they won't see your profile or posts, and they can't message you.
How to unblock someone later
If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. On desktop, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (next to your profile picture), then click "Settings & Privacy" and then "Settings." In the left menu, click "Blocking." You'll see a list of people you've blocked under "Block users."
Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm the action when Facebook asks. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, go to "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings," scroll down to "Blocking," and tap "Block users." Find the person and tap "Unblock."
Unblocking someone doesn't automatically re-add them as a friend. They'll be able to see your profile and send you a friend request again, but you'll start from scratch — they won't see your old posts or messages unless you accept a new request.
When to block versus restrict or unfriend
Blocking is the strongest action, but it's not always necessary. If someone is annoying but not threatening, you might want to restrict them instead. Restricting means their messages go to a separate folder, and they can only see posts you mark as public. They won't know they're restricted.
Unfriending removes them from your friends list but doesn't hide your profile from them — they can still see your public posts and send you messages. Use unfriend if you straightforward want to distance yourself but don't need complete separation. Use restrict if you want to stay connected but limit what they see. Use block only if you want no contact at all or if someone is harassing you.
Reporting someone for harassment or abuse
If someone is harassing, threatening, or abusing you, blocking them is a good first step, but you should also report them to Facebook. Open their profile, tap the three dots, and select "Report." Choose the reason — "It's abusive or harmful" is the right category for harassment. Facebook will review the report and may take action against the person's account.
Keep screenshots of any threatening or abusive messages before you block them, in case Facebook needs evidence. If the harassment is severe or involves threats of violence, you can also report it to local law enforcement. Facebook takes reports seriously and will remove accounts that violate their community standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
They won't get a notification, but they'll likely figure it out if they try to visit your profile or search for you. They'll see an error message instead of your profile. Some people realize they're blocked when they can't find an old conversation or can't send a message.
Can I block someone without unfriending them first?
Yes. Blocking automatically removes the friendship, so you don't need to unfriend first. When you block someone, Facebook handles the unfriending as part of the block.
What if I block someone and then want to be friends again?
Unblock them first, then send them a friend request. They'll see it like any other request. Unblocking doesn't restore the old friendship — you're starting fresh.
Does blocking someone delete our old messages?
No. Your message history with them stays in your inbox, but they can't send you new messages. You can still read old conversations, but they'll see an error if they try to message you.
Can I block someone temporarily?
Blocking isn't designed to be temporary, but you can unblock them whenever you want. There's no time limit — you can block for a day, a month, or permanently. Just go to your blocked users list and unblock them whenever you're ready.