Where Facebook stores your blocked list
Facebook keeps a record of every person you have blocked, and you can see that list whenever you want. The blocked list lives in your Settings, not scattered across your account. Once you know where to look, finding who you blocked takes about thirty seconds.
The blocked list shows only names and profile pictures — it does not show when you blocked each person or why. You cannot see their posts, send them messages, or interact with them in any way while the block is active. If you want to unblock someone, you do this from the same list.
Key Takeaways
- Your blocked list is in Settings under Privacy, and shows every person you have blocked on Facebook.
- You can view your blocked list on desktop by clicking the menu icon, selecting Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Blocking.
- On the Facebook mobile app, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information, then Blocking.
- The blocked list shows names and profile pictures but not the date you blocked each person.
- You can unblock someone directly from this list by clicking or tapping the Unblock button next to their name.
Finding your blocked list on desktop
Open Facebook in a web browser and look for the menu icon — it looks like a downward-pointing arrow or three horizontal lines, usually in the top right corner of the page. Click it and scroll down until you see "Settings and Privacy". Click that option.
A submenu will appear. Click "Settings" (not "Settings and Privacy" again — that was just the category header). You are now in your main Settings page. On the left side, you will see a list of categories. Look for "Privacy" and click it. Under Privacy, you will see "Blocking". Click "Blocking" and your full blocked list appears.
Finding your blocked list on the Facebook app
Open the Facebook app on your phone and tap the menu icon at the bottom right — it looks like three horizontal lines. Scroll down and tap "Settings and Privacy", then tap "Settings". You are now in the Settings menu.
Scroll down until you see "Personal Information". Tap it. Inside Personal Information, look for "Blocking" and tap it. Your blocked list will load. The process is the same on both iPhone and Android.
What you see on your blocked list
Your blocked list shows the name and profile picture of each person you have blocked. It does not show the date you blocked them, the reason you blocked them, or any other details. The list is in no particular order — not alphabetical, not by date blocked.
Next to each blocked person's name is an "Unblock" button. If you want to unblock someone, click or tap that button. Facebook will ask you to confirm before the block is removed. Once you unblock someone, they can see your posts again, send you messages, and interact with you normally.
What happens when someone is blocked
While you have someone blocked, they cannot see your profile, posts, or comments. They cannot send you friend requests or messages. If you were already friends before you blocked them, the friendship is removed. They will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and cannot.
If you block someone and then unblock them later, you do not automatically become friends again. The friendship stays broken unless one of you sends a new friend request. Blocking is not the same as unfriending — unfriending removes the friendship but lets them still see your public posts, while blocking hides everything.
If you cannot find someone on your blocked list
If you remember blocking someone but cannot find them on your blocked list, they may have deleted their account or changed their name. Facebook keeps deleted accounts off the blocked list after a certain period. If their name changed, search for their new name in your blocked list — the list does not update automatically when someone changes their name, so you may see their old name.
Another reason you might not find them: you may have unfriended them instead of blocking them. Unfriending and blocking are different actions. If you unfriended someone, they will not appear on your blocked list. You can check your unfriended list by going to your Friends section and looking for a "Friend Requests" or "People You May Know" area, though Facebook does not keep a formal unfriended list the way it keeps a blocked list.
Unblocking someone and what comes next
To unblock someone, find their name on your blocked list and click or tap the "Unblock" button next to their name. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Unblock" again to finish. The block is removed when ready.
Once you unblock someone, they can send you friend requests, message you, and see your public posts. They cannot see your private posts or older content unless you become friends again. If you want to block them a second time in the future, you can do that at any point — there is no limit to how many times you can block and unblock the same person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person I blocked see that I unblocked them?
No. Facebook does not send a notification when you unblock someone. They will not know you unblocked them unless they try to contact you or visit your profile and notice they can now see your content.
What if I blocked someone by accident?
Go to your blocked list, find their name, and click or tap "Unblock". Confirm the action. They will be unblocked when ready and can interact with you again. There is no penalty for blocking and unblocking someone.
Does blocking someone delete our conversation history?
No. Your past messages with a blocked person stay in your message inbox. You just cannot send new messages or see their new messages while the block is active. Once you unblock them, you can message them again and see any messages they sent while you were blocked.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes. Facebook does not notify someone when you block them. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile, search for you, or send you a message and cannot. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly.
Is there a difference between blocking and muting someone?
Yes. Muting hides someone's posts from your feed but lets them still see your content and message you. Blocking prevents them from seeing your profile or contacting you at all. Muting is less severe and is found in a different part of your settings.