What blocking does and what it doesn't
When you block someone on Facebook, that person can no longer see your profile, send you messages, tag you in posts, or find you through search. They cannot see your friends list, your photos, or anything you post going forward. If you were already friends, the friendship ends when ready.
Blocking is not the same as unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and find your profile — they just can't message you or see your friends list. Blocking is the stronger option and is what you want if you need someone to stop contacting you or viewing your activity entirely.
One thing blocking does not do: it does not erase past conversations. If you and the blocked person exchanged messages before you blocked them, those messages stay in your message history. The blocked person can still see those old messages on their end too. Blocking only stops new contact going forward.
Key Takeaways
- You can block someone from their profile, from a message thread, or from your settings — all three methods take less than a minute.
- A blocked person cannot see your profile, message you, or find you in search, but old messages between you remain visible to both of you.
- Facebook does not notify the blocked person that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile or search for you.
- You can unblock someone at any time through your settings, and there is no limit to how many people you can block.
How to block someone from their profile
The fastest way to block someone is to go to their profile and use the menu there. Open Facebook and search for the person's name, or click on their name if they appear in your notifications or a message thread. Once you are on their profile, look for the three dots (•••) in the top right corner of their profile header — the area that shows their name and profile photo.
Click those three dots. A menu will appear with several options. Look for "Block" in that menu and click it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — it will show you a message saying "Block [person's name]?" with a "Confirm" button. Click "Confirm" and the block is active when ready. You will be taken back to your own profile or your home feed.
How to block someone from a message
If someone is messaging you and you want to block them without visiting their profile, you can block them directly from the message thread. Open your messages (the speech bubble icon at the top of Facebook, or go to facebook.com/messages). Find the conversation with the person you want to block.
Click on their name at the top of the message thread. A panel will open on the right side showing their profile info. Scroll down in that panel until you see "Block" and click it. Confirm the block when prompted. This method is useful if you want to block someone quickly without having to navigate to their full profile.
How to block someone from your settings
You can also manage blocks through your Facebook settings. Click the downward arrow (▼) in the top right corner of any Facebook page and select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Privacy." Scroll down to find "Blocking" — this section shows a search box labeled "Block users."
Type the person's name in that search box. Their profile will appear below. Click "Block" next to their name and confirm. This method is useful if you want to block someone but do not want to visit their profile or if you are blocking multiple people and want to do it all in one place.
What happens after you block someone
Once the block is active, the blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them. However, they may realize it if they try to visit your profile — they will see a message saying they cannot view your profile. If they search for you by name, you will not appear in their results.
If you were friends before blocking, the friendship is removed from both accounts. Any comments they made on your old posts will still be visible, but they cannot comment on anything new. If they try to message you, the message will not go through, and they will not be told why.
You can see a list of everyone you have blocked at any time by going to Settings > Privacy > Blocking. This same list is where you unblock someone if you change your mind later.
How to unblock someone
If you want to unblock someone, go to Settings > Privacy > Blocking. You will see a list of all the people you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when prompted. Once you unblock them, they can message you, see your profile, and find you in search again — but you will not automatically become friends again.
Unblocking someone does not restore a friendship. If you were friends before you blocked them and want to be friends again, you will need to send them a friend request after you unblock them, or they will need to send you one.
Blocking on Facebook mobile app
The steps are nearly identical on the Facebook mobile app. Search for the person or open a message from them. On their profile, tap the three dots (•••) and select "Block." In messages, tap their name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Block." In settings, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Privacy > Blocking, and search for the person you want to block.
The confirmation step is the same on mobile — you will see a prompt asking you to confirm the block before it takes effect.
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 see a message saying they cannot view it, or if they notice they cannot find you in search anymore. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly.
Can I block someone without them seeing old messages?
No. Old messages stay visible to both of you even after you block. If you want to remove a conversation, you can delete it from your message history before blocking, but the other person will still see their copy of the conversation on their end.
What if I block someone and then change my mind?
You can unblock them at any time through Settings > Privacy > Blocking. Unblocking restores their ability to message you and see your profile, but does not automatically restore a friendship if you were friends before.
Can I block someone without being their friend?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook — friends, acquaintances, or strangers. Blocking someone you are not friends with prevents them from messaging you, finding you in search, or seeing your profile if it is set to public.
Does blocking someone remove their comments from my posts?
No. Comments they made before you blocked them will still be visible on your posts. They straightforward cannot make new comments. If you want to remove their old comments, you can delete them manually by clicking the three dots on their comment and selecting "Delete."