Where to find your blocked list on Facebook

Your blocked users list lives in Facebook Settings under Privacy. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right, select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Scroll down the left menu to find Privacy, then click Blocking. On a phone or tablet, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon), scroll down to Settings and Privacy, tap Settings, then scroll to Privacy and tap Blocking.

The Blocking section shows everyone you have blocked — the full list appears on one page. You will see their name or profile name, and a button to unblock them if you change your mind. Facebook does not tell you when you blocked someone or why, so if your list is long, you may need to scroll through to find a specific person.

Key Takeaways

  • Your blocked list is in Settings and Privacy > Settings > Privacy > Blocking on both desktop and mobile.
  • Facebook shows you the names of everyone you blocked, but not the date or reason you blocked them.
  • Blocked users cannot see your profile, message you, or find you in search results, but they can still see your public posts if they log out.
  • Unblocking someone is reversible — you can block them again at any time, and they will not be notified either way.
  • Blocking is different from unfriending or muting; blocked users lose all access to your profile, while muted users just stop appearing in your feed.

What blocked users can and cannot see

When you block someone, they lose access to your profile entirely. They cannot see your posts, photos, videos, or friend list. They cannot message you, tag you, or add you as a friend. If they search for you by name, your profile will not appear in their results. Any messages you sent them before the block remain in their inbox, but they cannot reply to them.

One important gap: if your posts are set to Public (visible to everyone, not just friends), a blocked user can still see those posts if they are logged out of Facebook or viewing the web without an account. This is because Facebook treats public posts as visible to the internet at large. If you want to hide your posts from a specific person completely, set them to Friends Only or a custom audience instead of Public.

The difference between blocking, unfriending, and muting

Blocking is the strongest action. The person loses all access to your profile and cannot contact you. Unfriending removes them from your friend list, but they can still see your public posts, message you, and search for you. Muting hides their posts from your feed without removing them as a friend — they remain your friend and can still see your posts, but you will not see theirs unless you visit their profile directly.

Choose blocking if you want no contact or visibility. Choose unfriending if you want to end the friendship but do not mind them seeing your public content. Choose muting if you want to stay friends but do not want to see their posts right now. You can change your mind about any of these actions at any time.

What happens when you unblock someone

Unblocking someone does not automatically re-add them as a friend. It straightforward removes the block, so they can now see your profile again, message you, and search for you. If you were friends before you blocked them, you will need to add them as a friend again after unblocking. They will not be notified that you unblocked them.

Facebook does not tell the other person that you blocked them in the first place, so they may not know you blocked them at all. If you unblock someone and they try to message you or view your profile, they will see it as if the block never happened — no notification appears on their end.

Checking if someone blocked you

Facebook does not give you a direct way to see a list of people who blocked you. However, you can check if a specific person blocked you by trying to visit their profile. If you cannot find them in search, cannot view their profile, and cannot send them a message, they may have blocked you. Other reasons for this (like they deleted their account or changed their privacy settings) are also possible, so you cannot be certain.

A more reliable test: ask a mutual friend to search for that person and send you a link to their profile. If you can view it through the link but cannot find them in your own search, they have likely blocked you. If you cannot view it even through the link, they may have deleted their account or set their profile to private.

Why your blocked list matters for your privacy

Keeping track of who you have blocked helps you understand who has access to your information. Over time, you may block people and forget about it — a former coworker, an ex, someone from a group chat. Reviewing your blocked list occasionally reminds you of the boundaries you have set. If someone's behavior has changed or you have worked through a conflict, you can unblock them. If you realize you blocked someone by mistake, you can undo it when ready.

Your blocked list is private — other people cannot see who you have blocked. Only you can view it. This means you can block someone without them finding out through Facebook itself, though they may figure it out by trying to contact you or search for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I blocked them?

Facebook does not notify them, but they may figure it out if they try to message you, search for you, or visit your profile and cannot do any of those things. They cannot see a list of people who blocked them, so they cannot confirm it was you unless they ask you directly.

If I block someone, do our old messages disappear?

No. Messages you sent before the block stay in their inbox, and messages they sent you stay in yours. They cannot reply to old messages, but the conversation history remains visible to both of you in your own inboxes.

What if I blocked someone years ago and forgot why?

Facebook does not record the reason or date you blocked someone. If you want to unblock them, you can do so anytime from your Blocking list. There is no penalty for unblocking — you can always block them again if needed.

Does blocking someone on Facebook block them on Instagram or WhatsApp too?

No. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are separate platforms with separate blocking systems. You must block someone on each platform individually if you want to block them everywhere.

Can I block someone without them being my friend?

Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether they are your friend or not. Blocking a non-friend prevents them from messaging you, finding you in search, or viewing your profile.