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, find your posts in their feed, or tag you in photos. They cannot see your friends list, your past posts, or anything you share 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 search for your profile — they just cannot see your friends list or message you. A block is stronger: the blocked person cannot find you on Facebook at all, as if your account does not exist to them.
The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them. However, if they search for your name or try to visit your profile directly, they will see a message saying the profile is not available. They may figure out what happened.
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, posts, or friends list, and cannot message you or tag you in photos.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list in settings, which restores their ability to contact you and see your public posts.
- Blocking someone does not delete past messages or comments they made on your posts before the block took effect.
How to block someone from their profile
Open Facebook and navigate to the person's profile. You can search for their name using the search bar at the top, or find them through your friends list or a message thread.
Once you are on their profile, look for the three dots (•••) in the top right corner of their profile header, next to the "Message" button or "Add Friend" button. Tap or click those three dots. A menu will appear with several options.
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 they will not be able to see your profile or contact you. Click "Block" again to confirm.
How to block someone from a message or chat
If you want to block someone you have been messaging with, you can do it directly from the conversation. Open the message thread with that person.
On mobile, swipe left on the conversation (iPhone) or press and hold the conversation (Android), then tap the trash or block icon. On a computer, hover over the conversation and click the three dots that appear, then select "Block".
Facebook will ask you to confirm. When you block someone this way, the conversation stays in your message history, but they cannot send you new messages.
How to block someone from your settings
You can also block someone through your privacy settings, which is useful if you want to block multiple people or if you cannot find their profile easily. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings."
On mobile, tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down to "Settings and Privacy," and tap "Settings."
Look for "Blocking" in the left sidebar (computer) or scroll down to find it (mobile). You will see a section that says "Block people." Type the person's name in the text box and click "Block." Confirm when Facebook asks you to.
What happens to old messages and comments
Blocking someone does not erase messages you sent them or messages they sent you before the block. Those conversations stay in your message history. However, once blocked, they cannot send you new messages or reply to anything.
If the person commented on your posts before you blocked them, those comments remain visible on your posts. You can delete their comments manually if you want them gone. Going forward, they cannot comment on your posts or see new ones you share.
How to unblock someone
If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Find "Blocking" in the left menu (computer) or scroll to it (mobile).
You will see a list of people you have blocked under "Blocked people." Find the person you want to unblock and click or tap "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when Facebook asks. Once unblocked, they can see your profile again and send you messages, but you will not automatically become friends again.
When to block versus other options
Block someone if they are harassing you, if you want to cut off all contact, or if you need them to stop seeing your posts and profile entirely. Blocking is the strongest privacy tool Facebook offers for a single person.
If you just want to stop seeing someone's posts without blocking them, you can "unfollow" them instead — they stay your friend, but their posts no longer appear in your feed. If you want to hide your posts from one person but stay friends with everyone else, you can adjust privacy settings on individual posts to exclude specific people.
If someone is threatening you or sending unwanted sexual content, blocking is a good first step, but you can also report them to Facebook. Use the three dots on their profile or message and select "Report."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
They will not get a notification, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see it is unavailable, or if they notice they cannot find you in search. There is no way for them to know for certain without trying to contact you or view your profile.
If I block someone, can they still see messages I sent before the block?
Yes. Blocking stops future contact but does not delete past conversations. They can still read messages you sent them before you blocked them. If you want those messages gone, you would need to delete them from your end before blocking.
What is the difference between blocking and restricting someone?
Restricting is less severe. A restricted person can still see your public posts and send you messages, but their messages go to a separate folder and they cannot see when you are online or if you have read their messages. Use restricting for people you want to limit without a full block.
If I unblock someone, do we become friends again?
No. Unblocking only removes the block — it does not restore a friendship. If you were friends before you blocked them, you will need to send a new friend request after unblocking if you want to be friends again.
Can I block someone on Facebook but still be friends with them on Instagram or Messenger?
A Facebook block does not automatically block them on Instagram or Messenger, since those are separate apps. You would need to block them separately in each app if you want to block them everywhere.