What blocking does and what it doesn't
When you block someone on Facebook, that person cannot see your profile, send you messages, find you in search, 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, the friendship ends when ready.
Blocking is not the same as unfriending. An unfriended person can still see your public posts and search for your profile — they just cannot see your friends list or send you messages. A blocked person cannot do any of those things. Blocking is also not the same as muting: a muted person can still see your posts if they visit your profile directly, but their posts will not appear in your feed.
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 and cannot find you. If you later unblock them, Facebook does not send a notification about that either.
Key Takeaways
- You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from your settings — all three methods work the same way and take less than one minute.
- A blocked person cannot message you, see your profile, find you in search, or see any of your posts, comments, or photos on Facebook.
- Blocking someone does not delete past messages or comments — those remain in your message history and on posts, but the blocked person cannot see them.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list in settings, and there is no limit to how many people you can block.
How to block someone from their profile
Open the person's Facebook profile. Look for the three dots (called a menu button) in the top right corner of their profile header — the area with their name and profile photo. Tap or click those three dots.
A menu will appear with several options. Look for "Block" in that menu and tap or click it. Facebook will ask you to confirm: "Block [person's name]?" Tap or click "Block" again to confirm. The block takes effect when ready.
On mobile, the three dots appear in the same spot but may be harder to see if you are scrolling. Stop scrolling and look at the top of the profile card where their name appears — the menu button is usually to the right of their name.
How to block someone from a message or chat
Open your messages or chats. Find the conversation with the person you want to block. On mobile, press and hold the conversation until a menu appears, then tap "Block." On a computer, right-click the conversation and select "Block" from the menu that appears.
You can also open the conversation itself and look for the person's name at the top. Tap or click their name to open their profile card, then tap or click the three dots and select "Block." All three methods lead to the same confirmation screen.
How to block someone from your settings
If you cannot find the person's profile or prefer to block them without visiting their page, you can use your blocked list in settings. On mobile, tap the menu button (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then tap "Settings & Privacy" and "Settings." Scroll down and tap "Blocking."
On a computer, click the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook, then click "Settings & Privacy" and "Settings." In the left menu, click "Blocking." You will see a search box that says "Block users." Type the person's name and tap or click their profile when it appears. Then tap or click "Block" next to their name.
What happens to old messages and posts after you block someone
Messages you already exchanged with the blocked person remain in your message history, but the blocked person cannot see them. If you had a conversation in a group chat, your messages stay visible to other people in the group, but the blocked person cannot see them.
Comments you made on public posts before blocking remain visible to other people, but the blocked person cannot see them. If the blocked person commented on your post before you blocked them, their comment stays on your post but they cannot see replies to it. You can delete their comment yourself if you want to remove it entirely.
How to unblock someone
Go to your settings and find "Blocking" the same way you would to block someone. Scroll down to the "Blocked users" section. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and tap or click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when Facebook asks you to.
Once you unblock someone, they can see your profile and send you messages again, but you will not automatically become friends. They will have to send you a friend request, and you can accept or decline it like any other request.
Blocking on Facebook Messenger and Instagram
If you use Facebook Messenger as a separate app, you can block someone directly from a conversation. Press and hold the conversation, then tap "Block." On Instagram, you can block someone from their profile or from a direct message. Tap the three dots on their profile or in the message thread and select "Block."
Blocking someone on Facebook does not automatically block them on Messenger or Instagram — those are separate actions. If you want to block someone across all three platforms, you need to block them on each one. However, if you block someone on Facebook, they cannot message you on Messenger even if you have not blocked them there separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if 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, search for you, or look for a past conversation and cannot find you. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly, but Facebook does not make the block obvious.
What if I block someone by accident?
You can unblock them when ready from your settings. Go to Blocking, find their name in your blocked list, and tap or click "Unblock." There is no waiting period or limit to how many times you can block and unblock the same person.
If I block someone, do they see my old comments on their posts?
No. Once you block someone, they cannot see any of your comments, posts, or profile information. Comments you made on their posts before blocking will be hidden from them, though other people can still see those comments.
Can a blocked person still see me in group chats or on mutual friends' posts?
A blocked person cannot see your posts or comments anywhere on Facebook, including in group chats, on mutual friends' posts, or in shared albums. However, they can still see posts and comments from other people in the group or on the mutual friend's page.
Do I need to block someone if I just want to stop seeing their posts?
No. Muting or unfriending is usually better if you just want them out of your feed. Mute them to hide their posts without ending the friendship, or unfriend them if you want to remove them as a friend but do not need to hide your profile. Block only if you want to prevent them from contacting you or seeing your profile.