The difference between unfriending, blocking, and restricting
Unfriending removes someone from your friends list so they can no longer see your posts, message you directly, or access your profile unless it is set to public. They will not receive a notification that you unfriended them, but they may notice if they try to visit your profile or search for you. You can unfriend someone and later send them a friend request again.
Blocking is stronger. A blocked person cannot find your profile, see your posts, message you, or add you as a friend. They cannot see comments you make on mutual friends' posts. Blocking is the right choice if someone is harassing you or you want a complete separation. The blocked person does not get a notification, but they will discover it if they try to search for you.
Restricting is a middle ground. A restricted person remains your friend but can only see posts you mark as public. This is useful if you want to keep someone as a friend but limit what they see. They will not know they are restricted unless they notice they cannot see your recent activity.
Most people unfriend when they straightforward want less contact. Use blocking only when you need to prevent someone from reaching you entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Unfriending removes someone from your friends list, and they will not be notified, but they can still see your public posts and may notice if they visit your profile.
- Blocking prevents someone from finding your profile, messaging you, or seeing any of your activity, and is the strongest option for unwanted contact.
- You can unfriend someone and send them a friend request later, but a blocked person must be unblocked before you can reconnect.
- Restricting someone keeps them as a friend but limits them to seeing only your public posts, without notifying them of the change.
How to unfriend someone on Facebook
Open Facebook and go to the person's profile by searching for their name or clicking their name in a comment or post. Once you are on their profile, look for the "Friends" button near the top. Click it and a menu will appear with the option "Unfriend." Click "Unfriend" and Facebook will remove them from your friends list when ready.
You can also unfriend someone from your friends list without visiting their profile. Go to your own profile, click "Friends," find the person you want to remove, hover over their name, and click the three dots that appear. Select "Unfriend" from the menu.
On mobile, the process is the same: visit their profile, tap the "Friends" button, and select "Unfriend" from the menu that appears.
How to block someone on Facebook
Go to the person's profile and click the three dots in the top right corner of their profile header (on mobile, this is usually at the bottom of their cover photo). A menu will appear with several options. Select "Block" from this menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm that you want to block this person. Click "Confirm" and the block is active when ready.
You can also block someone from your settings. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Click "Blocking" in the left menu. Under "Block users," type the person's name and click "Block" next to their profile. This method works if you do not want to visit their profile.
A blocked person cannot send you messages, see your profile, or find you in search results. If you change your mind later, you can unblock them from the same Blocking settings page, and they will be able to contact you again.
How to restrict someone on Facebook
Visit the person's profile and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select "Restrict" from the menu. That person will now only see posts you mark as public. They will remain in your friends list, and you can still message them, but their view of your activity will be limited.
To unrestrict someone, go back to their profile, click the three dots, and select "Unrestrict." They will then be able to see all your posts again, just as before.
Restricting is useful for people you want to stay connected to but do not want to see all your posts — coworkers, distant relatives, or people you are no longer close to but do not want to unfriend.
What happens after you unfriend, block, or restrict someone
After unfriending, the person can still see any posts you have marked as public, and they can still see comments you make on mutual friends' posts. They straightforward cannot see posts you share with friends only. Old messages between you remain in both of your inboxes unless you delete them.
After blocking, the person cannot see your profile at all, cannot message you, and cannot see your comments on other posts. Any existing messages between you will disappear from their inbox, though they remain in yours. If you unblock them later, old messages do not reappear.
After restricting, the person sees only your public posts and cannot tell they are restricted. You can still see all their posts and activity. If you message them, the message goes through normally.
Undoing an unfriend, block, or restriction
To undo an unfriend, search for the person's name and visit their profile. Click the "Add Friend" button. They will receive a friend request, and once they accept, you will be friends again. Your old messages will still be there, and they can see your past posts again.
To undo a block, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Click "Blocking" and find the person's name under "Blocked users." Click "Unblock" next to their name. They will not be notified that you unblocked them, but they can now search for you and send you messages again.
To undo a restriction, visit the person's profile, click the three dots, and select "Unrestrict." They will when ready be able to see all your posts again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know if I unfriend them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you unfriend someone. However, they may notice if they try to visit your profile or search for you and can no longer find you in their friends list. If your profile is set to private, they will see that they are no longer friends with you.
Can I unfriend someone and then friend them again later?
Yes. After unfriending, you can search for them and send a new friend request whenever you want. They will receive the request as if you had never been friends. Your old messages will still exist in both inboxes.
What is the difference between blocking and unfriending?
Unfriending removes them from your friends list but they can still see your public posts. Blocking prevents them from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you in search at all. Blocking is much stronger and is used when you want no contact.
If I block someone, will they see that I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification, but they will discover it if they try to search for you or visit your profile. They will see a message saying they cannot add you as a friend or view your profile.
Can I restrict someone without them knowing?
Yes. Restricting someone does not send them a notification, and Facebook does not tell them they are restricted. They will only know if they notice they cannot see your recent posts or activity.