What blocking does and doesn't do
When you block someone on Facebook, that person cannot see your profile, send you messages, find you in search, or see your posts in their feed. They cannot tag you in photos or add you as a friend. If you were already friends, blocking removes that connection.
Blocking is not the same as unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and find your profile — they just cannot see your friends list or message you. A block is stronger: it hides you from that person almost entirely on Facebook's platform.
One thing blocking does not do: it does not delete past conversations or posts where you are both tagged. If you and the blocked person commented on the same public post before you blocked them, those comments remain visible to others. The blocked person straightforward cannot see your new activity.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone removes them from your friends list, hides your profile from them, and stops them from messaging or tagging you.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a message thread, or from your settings — the result is the same regardless of method.
- The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they cannot find your profile.
- You can unblock someone at any time, and blocking does not prevent them from creating a new account to contact you.
How to block someone from their Facebook profile
Open the profile of the person you want to block. Look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their profile header (on mobile, this appears near their name; on desktop, it is to the right of the "Message" button). Tap or click that menu.
A list of options will appear. Select "Block" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — it will show you a message saying "Block [person's name]?" and explaining that this person will not be able to see your profile or contact you. Tap or click "Block" again to confirm.
How to block someone from a message or chat
Open your Messages or Chats section. Find the conversation with the person you want to block. On mobile, press and hold the conversation until a menu appears, then select "Block." On desktop, hover over the conversation and click the three-dot menu icon, then select "Block."
Facebook will confirm the block and offer to delete the conversation as well. You can choose to delete it or keep it — blocking and deleting are separate actions. If you keep the conversation, you will still see it in your message history, but the person cannot send you new messages.
How to block someone from your settings
Go to your Facebook settings by clicking the downward arrow in the top right corner (on mobile, this is the menu icon). Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Blocking."
You will see a section labeled "Block users." Type the name or email address of the person you want to block into the search box. When their profile appears, click "Block" next to their name. You can block multiple people this way — just repeat the process for each person.
What the blocked person will experience
The person you block will not see a notification saying you blocked them. However, they may notice they cannot find your profile when they search for you, cannot see your posts, or cannot message you. If they try to visit your profile directly (through an old link or bookmark), they will see a message saying the profile is not available.
If the blocked person asks a mutual friend about you, that friend can still see your profile and posts — blocking only affects the blocked person's view. This means mutual friends can still share information about you with the blocked person if they choose to.
How to unblock someone
Go to your settings and select "Blocking" again. Scroll to the "Block users" section. Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Click "Unblock" again.
Once you unblock someone, they can see your profile and send you friend requests again, but you will not automatically become friends. They will need to send a new request, and you can accept or decline it. Unblocking does not restore old messages or undo the block — it straightforward removes the block going forward.
When blocking might not be enough
Blocking prevents someone from seeing your current Facebook activity, but it does not prevent them from creating a new account to contact you or view your profile. If someone is harassing you and you believe they may create fake accounts, consider making your profile private (so only friends can see your posts) or reporting them to Facebook for harassment.
To report someone, go to their profile and click the three-dot menu, then select "Report." Choose "It's harassing me or someone I know" and describe what is happening. Facebook reviews reports and may take action against the account, including suspension or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, if they try to find your profile or message you, they will realize something has changed. They may figure out you blocked them, but they will not receive an official notice from Facebook.
Can I block someone without unfriending them first?
No — blocking automatically removes the friendship. You do not need to unfriend first. If you want to stay friends but just hide your posts from someone, use the "Limit past posts" feature instead, which hides your old posts from that person while keeping the friendship.
What happens to messages I already sent to someone I block?
Messages you sent before blocking remain in the conversation thread, but the blocked person cannot see them. The conversation disappears from their message list. If you unblock them later, they can see the old messages again.
Can I block someone on Facebook but still see their posts?
No — blocking is mutual on Facebook. If you block someone, you cannot see their posts, and they cannot see yours. If you want to see someone's posts but hide yours from them, unfriend them instead and adjust your privacy settings to make your posts visible to the public or to specific groups.
What is the difference between blocking and restricting?
Restricting is less severe than blocking. When you restrict someone, they can still see your public posts and send you messages, but they cannot see when you are online, whether you have read their messages, or your full friends list. Blocking removes all of these — they cannot message you or see your profile at all.