What blocking does on Facebook
When you block someone on Facebook, that person can no longer see your profile, send you messages, find you in search results, or see your posts and comments anywhere on the platform. They cannot tag you in photos or add you as a friend. If you were already friends, blocking also removes them from your friend list.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and search for your profile — they just cannot see your friends list or send you messages. Blocking cuts off all contact and visibility. The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they cannot find your profile if they search for you.
Facebook does not tell you when someone blocks you, so you will only know if you try to visit their profile and see a message saying the account is not available or the person is not found.
Key Takeaways
- You can block someone from their profile, from a message conversation, or from your friends list, and the process takes under one minute.
- A blocked person cannot message you, see your posts, find your profile in search, or view anything you have shared on Facebook.
- Blocking someone does not delete past messages between you — those remain in your message history unless you delete the conversation.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your settings, finding them in your blocked list, and clicking unblock.
How to block someone from their profile
The fastest way to block someone is from their Facebook profile. Go to their profile page by searching for their name or clicking on their profile from a mutual friend's page. Once you are on their profile, look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their cover photo area.
Click the three-dot menu. A dropdown list will appear with several options. Scroll down until you see "Block" and click it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Block [Name]" to finish. The person is now blocked, and you will be returned to your own profile or feed.
How to block someone from a message conversation
If someone is messaging you and you want to block them, open your Messages (the speech bubble icon at the top of Facebook). Find the conversation with the person you want to block and click on it to open it.
At the top of the conversation, you will see the person's name and a three-dot menu icon on the right side. Click the three-dot menu and select "Block" from the options that appear. Confirm the block when prompted. The conversation will remain in your message history, but that person can no longer send you new messages.
How to block someone from your friends list
You can also block someone directly from your friends list without visiting their profile. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Friends" from the menu. Find the person you want to block in your friends list.
Hover over their name or profile picture and a menu will appear with options including "Remove Friend" and a three-dot icon. Click the three-dot icon and select "Block." Confirm the block. This removes them from your friends list and blocks them in one action.
What happens to past messages and photos
Blocking someone does not automatically delete your message history with them. The old messages will stay in your inbox unless you manually delete the conversation. To remove a conversation, open Messages, find the conversation with the blocked person, and swipe left on it (on mobile) or right-click it (on desktop), then select "Delete."
Photos and posts you shared with that person before blocking remain on Facebook. If they were tagged in your photos, the tag stays unless you remove it. If you want to remove past content involving a blocked person, you will need to delete or untag those items yourself — blocking does not do this automatically.
How to unblock someone
If you change your mind and want to unblock someone, go to your settings. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Privacy," then scroll down to find "Blocked people."
You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when prompted. Once you unblock someone, they can message you again, see your profile, and add you as a friend, but they will not automatically be added back to your friends list.
Blocking on Facebook mobile app
The steps are nearly identical on the Facebook mobile app. To block from a profile, tap the three-dot menu at the top of their profile and select "Block." To block from a message, open the conversation, tap the person's name at the top, and tap "Block" from the menu that appears.
To unblock on mobile, tap your profile picture, go to "Settings and privacy" then "Settings," tap "Privacy," and select "Blocked people." Find the person and tap "Unblock." The mobile app uses the same blocked list as the desktop version, so blocking on one device blocks them on all devices where you use Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and cannot find it, or if they notice you have disappeared from mutual friends' pages. There is no way for them to see a list of people who have blocked them.
Can a blocked person still see my old posts or comments?
No. Once you block someone, they cannot see any of your posts, comments, or profile information, including things you posted before you blocked them. However, if you both commented on a mutual friend's post before the block, your old comments may still be visible to each other in that specific thread.
What if I block someone and then want to be friends again later?
You can unblock them at any time through your blocked list in settings. After you unblock them, they can send you a friend request, but you will not automatically be friends again. You will need to accept their request or send them a new one.
Does blocking someone on Facebook block them on Instagram and Messenger too?
If you block someone on Facebook, they are also blocked on Instagram and Messenger, since Facebook owns both platforms and uses the same account system. However, if you only block them on Messenger or Instagram, the block does not automatically explore to the other platforms — you would need to block them separately on each one.
Can I block someone without them being my friend?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether they are your friend or not. Blocking a non-friend prevents them from messaging you, finding your profile, or seeing your posts. This is useful if someone is harassing you or you want to prevent a specific person from contacting you.