Where to find your blocked accounts on Facebook
Your Facebook block list lives in your Settings, not in your main menu. Open Facebook on any device, go to Settings and Privacy, then select Settings. Scroll down to the Privacy section and look for "Blocking" — this is where Facebook shows every account you have blocked.
On mobile, the path is the same: tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to Privacy and find Blocking. The list shows usernames and profile pictures of everyone you have blocked, in the order you blocked them.
You can also reach your block list from someone's profile. If you have blocked them, their profile will say "You have blocked this person" near the top, with an option to unblock. This is useful if you are not sure whether you blocked someone or straightforward unfriended them — unfriended people still appear in search results, but blocked people do not.
Key Takeaways
- Your block list is in Settings and Privacy > Settings > Privacy > Blocking, and shows every account you have currently blocked.
- Blocked people cannot see your profile, message you, find you in search, or see your posts, even if they are friends with people who share your content.
- Blocking is different from unfriending — unfriended people can still see your public posts and find you in search, but blocked people cannot.
- You can unblock someone from your block list at any time, and they will not be notified that you unblocked them.
What blocking actually prevents
When you block someone on Facebook, they lose access to your entire profile. They cannot see your posts, photos, or friend list. They cannot search for you by name and find your account. If they try to visit your profile directly, they will see a message saying the account does not exist or the link is broken.
Blocked people also cannot message you, add you as a friend, or tag you in posts or photos. If you are both in a group, they can still see the group and your posts within it, but they cannot interact with your content. They cannot see your stories, and if you comment on a mutual friend's post, the blocked person will not see your comment.
Blocking does not hide your past messages with that person — those conversations remain in their inbox and yours. If you want to delete a conversation, you need to delete it separately from your message history.
The difference between blocking, unfriending, and restricting
Unfriending removes someone from your friends list but does not hide your profile from them. They can still see your public posts, find you in search, and message you if you allow messages from non-friends. Blocking is much stronger — it hides your entire profile and prevents all contact.
Restricting is a middle ground. A restricted person remains your friend but cannot see when you are online, cannot see your posts unless you tag them directly, and cannot see your stories. They can still message you and see your profile if they visit it directly. Restricting is useful when you want to stay connected to someone but do not want them seeing your daily activity.
You can restrict someone from their profile (click the three dots and select "Restrict") without them knowing. You cannot restrict someone and then block them — if you block someone, any restriction is removed. If you unblock them later, the restriction does not come back automatically.
How to unblock someone
Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Privacy > Blocking. Find the person you want to unblock and click the "Unblock" button next to their name. Confirm the action when Facebook asks if you are sure. That person will not be notified that you unblocked them.
Once you unblock someone, they can see your profile again, search for you, and send you friend requests. They will not automatically become your friend again — you will need to accept a new request if they send one. Your old messages with them will still be in your inbox.
If you unblock someone by accident, you can block them again when ready. There is no waiting period between unblocking and re-blocking.
Checking if someone has blocked you
Facebook does not tell you directly when someone blocks you, but there are signs. If you search for someone and cannot find them, if their profile shows an error message, or if you cannot see their posts anymore even though you were friends, they may have blocked you. You can also try visiting their profile directly — if it says the page does not exist or the link is broken, you are likely blocked.
Another way to check: ask a mutual friend to search for that person and see if they appear in results. If the mutual friend can find them but you cannot, you are probably blocked. If the mutual friend also cannot find them, that person may have deactivated or deleted their account instead.
Keep in mind that someone might have straightforward unfriended you, changed their privacy settings, or deactivated their account. Blocked is just one possibility. If you need to contact them, try messaging them through another platform or asking a mutual friend to pass along a message.
Managing your block list over time
Your block list can grow without you thinking about it, especially if you blocked someone in anger years ago. Check your list occasionally to see if there are people you no longer need to block. If someone has changed their behavior or you have moved past a conflict, unblocking them costs nothing.
Facebook does not limit how many people you can block, so there is no need to delete old blocks to make room. However, a very long block list can be hard to navigate. If you block many people, consider writing down why you blocked them so you remember later whether unblocking is safe.
If you block someone and then they create a new account to contact you, that is harassment. Report the new account to Facebook using the three dots on their profile, then block the new account as well. You can also report the behavior to Facebook's support team if the harassment continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I have blocked them?
Not directly — Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they notice they cannot find your profile, see your posts, or message you. If they ask you directly, you can choose whether to tell them.
If I block someone, do our old messages disappear?
No. Your message history with that person stays in your inbox. Blocking only prevents future contact. If you want to delete old messages, you need to delete the conversation separately from your message history.
What happens if I block someone and then unblock them?
They can see your profile again and send you a friend request, but they will not automatically become your friend. Your old messages remain in both inboxes. They will not be notified that you unblocked them.
Can I block someone without them seeing that I am online?
Blocking prevents them from seeing you online, but it does not hide your past activity. If you want to hide when you are online from someone you have not blocked, use the Restrict feature instead, which lets you stay friends while hiding your active status.
If I block someone in a group, can they still see my posts there?
Yes. Blocking does not remove you from shared groups. They can still see your posts and comments in group conversations, but they cannot interact with them or message you directly.