How 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 from the menu. On mobile, tap the three dots, then tap Block. Once you confirm, that person cannot see your profile, send you messages, tag you in posts, or add you as a friend. They will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they can no longer find your profile.
The block takes effect when ready. If you change your mind, you can unblock them later by going to your settings, finding the blocked person's name, and clicking Unblock. Unblocking does not automatically re-add them as a friend — you would need to send a new friend request or accept one from them.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone removes their ability to see your profile, message you, tag you, or send friend requests, and takes effect right away.
- The blocked person does not get a notification, but they can figure out they are blocked by searching for your profile and finding it unavailable.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a message thread, or from a tag notification without going to your settings.
- Unblocking someone does not restore your friendship — you will need to send or accept a new friend request.
- If you want someone to stop contacting you but do not want to block them completely, you can restrict them instead, which hides your activity from them without blocking messages.
Block someone from their profile or a message
The quickest way to block someone is from their profile. Search for their name or find them in your friends list, open their profile, and tap or click the three dots (or the down arrow on desktop) in the top right. Select Block and confirm.
You can also block someone directly from a message thread. Open the conversation, tap or click the person's name at the top, scroll down, and select Block. This blocks them and closes the message thread so you no longer see it in your inbox.
If someone tags you in a post and you want to block them, you can tap or click the three dots on that tag notification and select Block from there as well.
What happens when you block someone
When you block someone, they lose access to your profile entirely. They cannot see your posts, photos, friends list, or any information you have shared. If they search for you by name, your profile will not appear in their results. Any messages you sent them before the block remain in their inbox, but they cannot reply to them or start a new conversation with you.
If you were friends before blocking, the friendship is removed. They will not see you in their friends list, and you will not see them in yours. Any tags they placed on your photos or posts before the block will remain visible to others, but they cannot tag you in new content.
The blocked person does not receive a notification saying you blocked them. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you and cannot find you, they may realize they have been blocked.
Unblock someone or temporarily restrict them instead
If you want to unblock someone later, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and scroll to Blocking. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person's name and click Unblock. This removes the block, but you are not automatically friends again — either of you would need to send a new friend request.
If you do not want to block someone completely but want to limit what they see, use Restrict instead. A restricted person can still send you messages and see your public posts, but they cannot see when you are online, whether you have read their messages, or posts you share only with friends. To restrict someone, go to their profile, tap the three dots, and select Restrict.
Restricting is useful when you want to avoid conflict with someone — like a coworker or distant relative — without a full block. The restricted person will not know they are restricted unless they notice they cannot see your activity status.
Block someone on mobile or desktop
The steps are nearly identical on iPhone, Android, and desktop, but the buttons look slightly different. On mobile, look for three dots (⋯) or three horizontal lines (≡) in the top right of a profile or message. On desktop, you may see a down arrow (▼) instead. Tap or click whichever symbol appears, then select Block from the menu.
If you cannot find the block option on mobile, make sure you are viewing the person's full profile, not just a preview. Open their name, wait for the profile to load completely, and then look for the three dots at the top.
What to do if you cannot block someone
If the block button does not appear, the person may have already blocked you, deleted their account, or restricted their profile so you cannot interact with them. In these cases, you do not need to block them — the restriction is already in place.
If someone is harassing you and you cannot block them for technical reasons, report them to Facebook instead. Go to their profile, tap the three dots, and select Report. Choose the reason (harassment, hate speech, spam, or another option) and provide details. Facebook will review the report and may remove the person's account or restrict their ability to contact you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
They do not get a notification, but they can figure it out by searching for your name and not finding your profile, or by trying to visit a link to your profile and seeing an error. If they ask mutual friends about you, those friends can still see your profile normally.
If I block someone, do our old messages disappear?
No. Messages you sent before the block stay in their inbox, and messages they sent stay in yours. They just cannot reply to old messages or send new ones. If you want to delete a conversation, you can delete it from your inbox separately.
What is the difference between blocking and restricting?
Blocking removes all contact and hides your profile completely. Restricting lets them message you and see your public posts, but hides when you are online and whether you have read their messages. Restrict when you want distance without conflict; block when you want no contact at all.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes, they will not get a notification. However, if they try to message you, visit your profile, or search for you and cannot find you, they may realize they are blocked.
If I unblock someone, do we become friends again?
No. Unblocking just removes the block. You will not be friends unless one of you sends a new friend request and the other accepts it.