Facebook gives you two ways to end a connection: unfriend someone, or block them entirely
Unfriending removes someone from your friends list and stops them from seeing your posts set to "Friends only." They can still see your public posts and your profile picture. They won't get a notification that you unfriended them, but they may notice if they look at your friends list. You can unfriend someone and then re-add them later if you change your mind.
Blocking is stronger. A blocked person cannot see your profile, message you, tag you in photos, or find you through search. They won't know they're blocked unless they try to visit your profile or search for you and see an error. Blocking is permanent until you unblock them, and Facebook does not notify them when you do.
Most people unfriend when they straightforward don't want to see someone's posts anymore. You block when you want to cut off all contact or prevent someone from contacting you.
Key Takeaways
- Unfriending removes someone from your friends list but they can still see your public posts and profile picture.
- Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you through search.
- Neither action sends a notification to the other person, though they may notice on their own.
- You can unfriend and re-add someone later, but blocking requires you to unblock them first before they can contact you again.
How to unfriend someone on Facebook
Open Facebook and go to the person's profile. You can find them by typing their name in the search bar at the top of the page. Once you're on their profile, look for the "Friends" button — it appears near the top of their profile, usually to the right of their cover photo.
Click the "Friends" button and a dropdown menu will appear. Select "Unfriend" from the list. Facebook will remove them from your friends list when ready. The person will not receive a notification, but if they visit your profile or check their friends list, they will see that you are no longer connected.
If you change your mind, you can send them a new friend request just like you would with anyone else. They will have to accept it before you're friends again.
How to block someone on Facebook
Go to the person's profile using the search bar. Click the three dots (•••) button, usually located near the top right of their profile. A menu will appear with several options.
Select "Block" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the person is blocked. They cannot see your profile, send you messages, or find you in search results. If you have mutual friends, they will not see posts you make in groups or on mutual friends' pages.
To unblock someone later, go to your settings. Click "Privacy" in the left menu, then scroll down to "Blocking." You will see a list of blocked people. Click "Unblock" next to their name.
What happens to messages and tags after you unfriend or block
Old messages between you and the person stay in your inbox whether you unfriend or block them. You can still read past conversations. However, if you block someone, they cannot send you new messages. If you only unfriend them, they can still message you — they just won't see your friends-only posts.
If the person tagged you in a photo or post before you unfriended or blocked them, the tag stays visible. You can remove the tag yourself by going to the post or photo, clicking the three dots, and selecting "Remove tag." Blocking does not automatically remove old tags.
Unfriending versus blocking: which should you use
Unfriend if you want to reduce contact but keep things neutral. Use it for people you've drifted away from, acquaintances you no longer want updates from, or people whose posts you find annoying. Unfriending is quieter and less likely to cause conflict if the person notices.
Block if someone is harassing you, posting content that upsets you, or if you need a hard boundary. Block if you want to prevent someone from contacting you or viewing your information at all. Block is the right choice when unfriending isn't enough.
You can also mute someone without unfriending them. If you go to their profile and click the three dots, you can select "Mute" — this hides their posts from your feed without removing them as a friend. They won't know you muted them.
Privacy settings that work alongside unfriending and blocking
Facebook lets you control who sees each post individually. When you create a post, click the audience selector (usually showing "Friends," "Public," or "Only Me") and choose who can see it. This means you can keep someone as a friend but hide specific posts from them without unfriending.
You can also limit what past posts are visible to specific people. Go to your privacy settings, click "Who can see your posts?" and select "Limit past posts." This hides old posts from people who are not your friends, though it does not hide them from current friends.
If you want to prevent someone from seeing your profile without blocking them entirely, you can adjust your profile visibility in settings. However, the simplest approach is usually to unfriend or block rather than manage multiple privacy rules for one person.
What the other person sees after you unfriend or block them
If you unfriend someone, they will see that you are no longer on their friends list if they check. Your profile will still appear in search results, and they can visit your public profile page. They can see your profile picture, cover photo, and any posts you marked as public. They cannot see posts you set to "Friends only."
If you block someone, your profile becomes invisible to them. When they search for your name, they will not find you. If they try to visit your profile directly (for example, through an old link), they will see a message saying the profile is not available. They cannot see any of your posts, photos, or information.
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 look at your friends list or try to visit your profile. There is no way to unfriend someone without them potentially discovering it on their own.
Can I unfriend someone and then add them back?
Yes. Unfriending does not prevent you from sending a new friend request later. They will have to accept the request before you are friends again. This is different from blocking, which requires you to unblock someone before they can contact you.
What is the difference between muting and unfriending?
Muting hides someone's posts from your feed, but you stay friends and they can still see your posts. Unfriending removes them from your friends list entirely. Muting is temporary and invisible to the other person; unfriending is permanent until you re-add them.
If I block someone, can they still see old comments I made on mutual friends' posts?
Yes. Blocking prevents them from seeing your profile and new activity, but old comments you made before blocking remain visible on public posts and in groups. You can delete individual comments if you want to remove them.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Blocking does not send a notification. However, if they try to message you, visit your profile, or search for you, they will realize something is wrong. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly.