When you block someone, they lose access to your profile and you stop seeing their posts
Blocking on Facebook is a one-way wall. The person you block cannot see your profile, posts, photos, or story. They cannot message you, tag you in photos, or add you as a friend. They also cannot search for you by name and find your profile — when they search, your account straightforward will not appear in their results.
You will not see their posts, comments, or stories either. If you were friends before the block, that friendship ends when ready. If they try to visit your profile directly (by typing your name in the URL, for example), they will see a message saying the account does not exist or that the content is not available.
The block is silent. Facebook does not notify them that you blocked them, though they may figure it out if they try to find you and cannot, or if they notice your profile has vanished from their friends list.
Key Takeaways
- A blocked person cannot see your profile, posts, photos, or story, and cannot message you or tag you.
- You will not see their posts or comments, and they will not appear in your search results.
- If you were friends, the friendship ends when ready when you block them.
- Facebook does not send a notification to the blocked person, but they may notice your profile has disappeared.
- You can unblock someone at any time, and blocking does not delete past messages or comments they left before the block.
What the blocked person can still see and do
A blocked person cannot access your current content, but they can still see things you posted before the block if those posts are public and they find them another way. For example, if you commented on a public post in a group you both belong to, they can still see that comment. If you posted something to a public page, they can still see it there.
They can also see your past comments on mutual friends' posts, as long as those posts are still public. The block only prevents them from seeing content on your profile itself and from interacting with you directly.
If you sent them messages before the block, those messages remain in their inbox. Blocking does not erase the conversation history. They can still read what you wrote, but they cannot reply to you, and you cannot see the conversation thread anymore on your end.
What happens to comments and tags from before the block
Comments the blocked person left on your posts before you blocked them will still be visible on your profile — to everyone except that person. When they visit your profile (if they can access it through another route), they will not see their own old comments. Other people will still see those comments unless you delete them manually.
If they tagged you in a photo before the block, that tag remains. You can remove the tag yourself, but the photo and the tag will still exist on their profile. They can still see the tag on their own photo, but they cannot tag you in new photos.
How to block and unblock someone
To block someone on Facebook, visit their profile and tap the three dots in the top right corner (on mobile) or hover over the three dots (on desktop). Select "Block" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm. You can also block someone from a message thread by opening the conversation, tapping the person's name at the top, and selecting "Block."
To unblock someone, go to your Settings, select "Blocking" from the left menu, and find the person's name in your blocked list. Tap "Unblock" next to their name. Once you unblock them, they can see your profile and message you again, but you will not automatically become friends. They will have to send you a friend request.
You can block and unblock the same person as many times as you want. There is no limit, and Facebook does not flag repeated blocking.
Blocking versus unfriending and muting
Blocking is stronger than unfriending. When you unfriend someone, you are no longer friends, but you can still see each other's public posts and profiles (unless that person has set their privacy to friends-only). You can still message each other. Blocking removes all of that access.
Muting is weaker than both. When you mute someone, you remain friends and can still see each other's profiles, but their posts will not show up in your feed. You can still message them, and they can still see your posts. Muting is useful if you want to reduce contact without making it obvious.
Choose blocking if you want complete separation. Choose unfriending if you want to end the friendship but stay loosely connected. Choose muting if you just want their posts out of your feed.
What blocking does not do
Blocking does not delete your past conversations with that person. It does not remove comments they left on your posts before the block. It does not prevent them from seeing you in mutual friends' photos or posts. It does not stop them from talking about you to others or screenshotting your public posts before you blocked them.
Blocking also does not hide you from people who are not logged into Facebook. If someone visits your profile while not signed in, they may still be able to see some of your public content, depending on your privacy settings.
If you block someone and then later unblock them, Facebook does not automatically restore your friendship. You will have to send a new friend request or they will have to send one to you.
When blocking might not work as expected
If someone creates a new account, they can add you and message you again, because the block only applies to the specific account you blocked. Blocking does not prevent them from creating another profile.
If you block someone who is an admin or moderator in a group you both belong to, you will still see their posts in the group (because group posts are visible to all members), but you will not see their profile or be able to message them. You can leave the group if you want to avoid seeing their posts entirely.
If you block someone on Facebook, that block does not extend to Instagram or Messenger, which are owned by the same company but operate separately. You will need to block them on those platforms too if you want to block them there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification, but they may figure it out if they try to find your profile and cannot, or if they notice you disappeared from their friends list. They could also ask a mutual friend to check your profile. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly.
If I block someone and then unblock them, will they know?
No. Facebook does not notify them when you unblock them. They will only know if they try to find you again and suddenly can see your profile, or if they notice you have reappeared in search results.
Can I block someone without them seeing that I unfriended them first?
If you are friends with someone and block them, the friendship ends as part of the block. They will see that you are no longer friends, but they will not see a notification saying you blocked them specifically. The block is silent.
What if I block someone in a group we both belong to?
You will still see their posts in the group, and they will still see yours, because group posts are visible to all members. The block only prevents you from seeing each other's profiles and messaging each other. If you want to avoid seeing them entirely, you can leave the group.
If I block someone, can they still see old messages I sent them?
Yes. Blocking does not delete past messages. They can still read everything you sent them before the block, but they cannot reply to you. You will not be able to see the conversation on your end.