What blocking does on Facebook and Messenger
When you block someone on Facebook, they cannot see your profile, send you messages, find you in search, or see your posts and comments anywhere on the platform. On Messenger specifically, a blocked person cannot message you, call you, or see whether you are online. The block applies to both Facebook and Messenger at the same time — blocking on one blocks on both.
The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile or message you and see an error. You can unblock someone at any time, and doing so does not automatically restore old messages or notify them that you have unblocked them.
Blocking is different from unfriending or muting. Unfriending removes them from your friends list but they can still see your public posts and message you. Muting hides their posts from your feed but they remain your friend and can still message you. Blocking is the strongest privacy option.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Facebook prevents them from seeing your profile, posts, and messages on both Facebook and Messenger.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a message thread, or from your settings — each method takes about 30 seconds.
- The blocked person will not be notified, but they may discover the block if they try to visit your profile or send you a message.
- You can unblock someone at any time, and the block does not delete old messages or conversations.
How to block someone from their Facebook profile
Open the person's Facebook profile in your browser or app. Look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their profile header — the area that shows their name and profile picture. Tap or click that menu.
A dropdown list will appear. Select "Block" from the options. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Click or tap "Block [Name]" to finish. The block takes effect when ready.
If you are on a mobile phone and the three-dot menu does not appear, scroll down slightly on their profile. The menu sometimes appears lower on the page on mobile devices.
How to block someone from a Messenger conversation
Open the Messenger app or go to Messenger.com in your browser. Find the conversation with the person you want to block. On mobile, swipe left on the conversation (iPhone) or long-press it (Android). On a computer, hover over the conversation and click the three-dot menu that appears.
Select "Block" from the menu. Messenger will ask you to confirm whether you also want to delete the conversation. You can choose to keep the conversation history or delete it — blocking does not require you to delete the messages. Click "Block" to confirm.
After you block someone from Messenger, they will no longer see the conversation thread, and any messages they try to send you will fail to deliver.
How to block someone from your Facebook settings
If you cannot find the person's profile or prefer to block them without visiting their page, you can block them through your settings. On Facebook, click the downward arrow in the top right corner (on a computer) or tap the menu icon (on mobile). Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings."
Scroll down and select "Blocking" on the left side of the page. Under "Block users," type the person's name or username in the search box. When their profile appears, click or tap "Block." Confirm the action.
This method is useful if you want to block someone without leaving a trace of visiting their profile, or if you do not remember their exact profile name.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block someone, they cannot message you, see your posts, or find your profile through search. Any messages they sent you before the block remain in your inbox, but they cannot see whether you have read them. If you had mutual friends, they can still see those friends' posts that mention you, but they cannot click through to your profile.
If the person tries to visit your profile directly by typing your URL, they will see a message saying the profile is not available. If they try to message you, the message will fail to send, and they may see an error or a message saying you are not available to chat.
The blocked person remains in your friends list as "blocked" until you unblock them. You can still see their profile if you unblock them later, and any old messages between you will still be there.
How to unblock someone
Go to your Facebook settings by clicking the downward arrow in the top right (computer) or tapping the menu icon (mobile). Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Scroll to "Blocking" on the left side.
Under "Block users," you will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click or tap "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm the action. The unblock takes effect when ready, and they will be able to see your profile and message you again.
Unblocking does not send them a notification or restore deleted conversations. If you deleted the conversation when you blocked them, those messages will not reappear.
Blocking someone who keeps creating new accounts
If someone is harassing you and keeps creating new accounts to contact you after you block them, you have additional options. Report each new account to Facebook by clicking the three-dot menu on their profile and selecting "Report." Choose "It's pretending to be someone else" or "It's harassing me," depending on what is happening.
You can also restrict your messages so that only people you are friends with can contact you. Go to Settings, select "Privacy," and change "Who can send you friend requests?" and "Who can contact you?" to "Friends only." This will not stop someone from seeing your public posts, but it will prevent them from messaging you or sending friend requests from new accounts.
If the harassment is severe or includes threats, report it to Facebook and consider contacting local law enforcement. Facebook takes reports of harassment seriously and may disable accounts that violate their community standards.
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, search for you, or message you and see an error. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly.
Can I block someone and still see their posts?
No. When you block someone, you cannot see their profile, posts, or comments anywhere on Facebook or Messenger. If you want to see their posts but prevent them from contacting you, use the mute or restrict features instead of blocking.
Does blocking delete old messages between us?
Blocking does not automatically delete messages. Old conversations remain in your inbox unless you manually delete them. When you unblock the person, those messages will still be there. If you want to delete a conversation, you must do that separately before or after blocking.
Can I block someone on Facebook without blocking them on Messenger?
No. Blocking on Facebook automatically blocks them on Messenger as well. Both services are connected through the same account, so one block covers both platforms.
What if I block someone by mistake?
You can unblock them at any time through your Blocking settings. Go to Settings, select Blocking, find their name in the list, and click Unblock. There is no waiting period or limit to how many times you can block and unblock someone.