What blocking does and why you might use it
When you block someone on Facebook, that person cannot see your profile, send you messages, find your posts, or add you as a friend. They also cannot see comments you make on mutual friends' posts or tag you in photos. Blocking is different from unfriending — when you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and send you messages unless you block them too.
You might block someone because they are harassing you, posting content that upsets you, or you straightforward do not want them to have access to your information. Facebook does not notify the person that you blocked them, though they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and cannot find it.
Blocking is permanent until you unblock the person. You can unblock them at any time, but Facebook does not notify them when you do.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone prevents them from seeing your profile, posts, messages, and comments, and stops them from adding you as a friend.
- The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, though they may discover it by trying to visit your profile.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from a comment they made on another person's post.
- Blocking is reversible — you can unblock someone at any time from your settings, and they will not be told when you do.
How to block someone from their profile
Open Facebook and search for the person's name using the search bar at the top of the page. Click on their profile to open it. In the top right corner of their profile, you will see three dots (called a menu button). Click those dots.
A dropdown menu will appear. Look for the option that says "Block" and click it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Block" again in the confirmation window. The person is now blocked.
If you want to block someone you have already been messaging with, you can also block them directly from the conversation. Open the message thread, click the person's name at the top, and select "Block" from the menu that appears.
How to block someone from their comment
If someone has commented on a post from a mutual friend and you want to block them, you do not have to visit their profile. Hover over their comment until you see three dots appear on the right side of the comment. Click those dots.
A menu will pop up with several options. Click "Block" and confirm when Facebook asks you to. This method is faster if you are already looking at the comment and do not want to navigate to their full profile.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block someone, they will no longer appear in your friends list, and you will no longer appear in theirs. Any messages you sent them before blocking will still be in their inbox, but they will not be able to send you new messages. If you were in a group chat together, you will both still appear in that conversation, but they will not be able to see messages you send after the block takes effect.
The person cannot tag you in photos or posts, and you will not see any content they create. If you both follow pages or are members of the same groups, you may still see their activity on those pages or groups, but you will not be able to interact with their posts.
How to unblock someone
If you change your mind and want to unblock someone, go to your Settings by clicking the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and selecting "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On the left side, click "Blocking."
You will see a list of people you have blocked under the heading "Block users." Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when Facebook asks you to. The person is now unblocked and can see your profile and send you messages again.
Facebook will not tell the person that you unblocked them. They will only know if they try to visit your profile again and find that they can now see it.
Blocking on mobile devices
If you use Facebook on your phone or tablet, the process is nearly identical. Search for the person's name, open their profile, and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Tap "Block" and confirm. You can also block someone from a message by opening the conversation, tapping their name at the top, and selecting "Block."
To unblock someone on mobile, tap the menu button (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, go to "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Scroll down and tap "Blocking," find the person, and tap "Unblock."
When blocking is not enough
Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile and contacting you through Facebook, but it does not stop them from creating a fake account to contact you or viewing your profile if they log out. If someone is harassing you persistently, you can report them to Facebook by clicking the three dots on their profile and selecting "Report." You can also report specific messages or posts.
If the harassment is severe or involves threats, you can also report it to local law enforcement. Keep screenshots of any threatening messages or posts before reporting them, as this helps both Facebook and police understand what happened.
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 they can no longer see your posts or send you messages. There is no way to block someone without them potentially discovering it eventually.
Can I block someone without unfriending them first?
Yes. When you block someone, Facebook automatically removes them from your friends list, so you do not need to unfriend them separately. Blocking is a single action that does both things at once.
What if I block someone and then want to be friends again?
You will need to unblock them first. Once unblocked, you can send them a friend request or they can send you one. Unblocking does not automatically make you friends again — it just removes the block so you can interact normally.
Can I block someone from seeing just one post instead of my whole profile?
No. Facebook does not have a feature to block someone from a single post. Your options are to delete the post, change who can see it (by adjusting privacy settings), or block the person entirely from your profile.
If I block someone, will they see old messages I sent them?
Yes. Messages you sent before blocking will still be in their inbox and they can read them. Blocking only stops new messages from being sent and received — it does not delete the conversation history.