Where Facebook stores your blocked list and how to see it
Facebook keeps a record of every account you have blocked, and you can see that list anytime by going to your Settings. The blocked list is not hidden — it is just not on your main menu. You reach it through Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then scroll down to find "Blocking" in the left sidebar.
Once you open Blocking, you will see a section called "Block users" with a search box. Below that search box is a list of every person you have blocked. The list shows their name and profile picture. If you have blocked many people, Facebook will show you the first few and let you scroll to see more.
This list is private. Other people cannot see who you have blocked, and you cannot see who has blocked you. Facebook does not show you that information in either direction.
Key Takeaways
- Your blocked list lives in Settings & Privacy > Settings > Blocking, and only you can see it.
- When you block someone, they cannot message you, see your posts, find your profile, or add you as a friend.
- Unblocking someone does not automatically re-add them as a friend — they have to send a new friend request.
- If you blocked someone years ago and forgot why, their profile may have changed since then, so check what you see before unblocking.
- Blocking is different from unfriending: unfriending lets them still see your public posts, but blocking hides everything.
What happens when you block someone on Facebook
When you block a person, Facebook removes them from your friends list when ready, even if you were friends before. That person can no longer see your profile, send you messages, see your posts, tag you in photos, or add you as a friend again. If they search for your name, your profile will not appear in their results.
The blocked person does not receive a notification that you blocked them. However, if they were your friend and suddenly cannot find you, they may figure it out. If they try to visit your old profile link, they will see a message saying the page is not available.
Blocking is stronger than unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and your public profile information. When you block someone, they see nothing.
How to unblock someone and what happens next
To unblock someone, go back to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Blocking and find their name in the blocked list. Next to their name is a button that says "Unblock." Click it, and Facebook will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the block is removed.
Unblocking does not automatically make you friends again. The person will not see a notification that you unblocked them. They can now send you a friend request, message you, and see your public posts — but they have to take that step themselves. You are not reconnected until one of you sends a request or message.
After you unblock someone, you can block them again anytime. There is no limit to how many times you can block and unblock the same person.
Finding someone you blocked if you do not remember their name
If you blocked someone but cannot remember their full name, the search box in your Blocking section can help. Type in what you do remember — a first name, a last name, a nickname, or even a partial name — and Facebook will filter your blocked list to show matches.
If you remember nothing about their name but remember something else — like that they went to your high school, or worked at a place you worked — you can search your friends list or your message history for clues. Open your messages and search for old conversations. If you messaged them before blocking, the conversation may still be there, and you can see their name and profile picture.
If you blocked someone years ago and have no memory of them at all, you may want to look at their current profile before unblocking. Ask a mutual friend to describe them, or search for them from a different account to see what their profile looks like now. This helps you decide whether unblocking is something you want to do.
The difference between blocking, unfriending, and muting
Facebook gives you three separate tools, and they do different things. Blocking hides everything — they cannot see you, message you, or find you. Unfriending removes them from your friends list but lets them still see your public posts and public profile. Muting keeps you friends but hides their posts from your feed so you do not see what they share.
If you want to stay connected but do not want to see someone's posts, muting is the gentler choice. If you want to end the friendship but do not need to hide from them completely, unfriending works. If you need them to not be able to contact you or see anything about you, blocking is the right tool.
You can mute someone without them knowing. You can unfriend someone without them knowing (though they may notice). You can block someone without them knowing, but they will figure it out if they try to find you or message you.
Why someone might not appear in your blocked list even though you blocked them
If you blocked someone and then they deleted their Facebook account, their name may disappear from your blocked list. Facebook removes deleted accounts from blocking records. If the person reactivates their account later, you will need to block them again if you want to.
If you are looking for someone you thought you blocked and cannot find them, they may have deactivated their account instead of deleting it. A deactivated account is hidden but not gone — the person can reactivate it anytime. You cannot block a deactivated account, so if they reactivate, you will need to block them again.
If you blocked someone on Facebook but not on Instagram or Messenger, those are separate blocks. Facebook owns all three platforms, but blocking on one does not block on the others. You have to block them separately on each platform if that is what you want.
What to do if you want to block someone but stay connected on other platforms
Blocking on Facebook does not affect Instagram or Messenger. If you block someone on Facebook but want to stay in touch through Instagram or Messenger, you can do that. However, if you block them on Facebook, they cannot message you through Messenger either — that block carries over.
If you want to block them on Facebook but keep Instagram open, you will need to manage those separately. Go to Instagram, find their profile, and choose whether to block them there too. The same applies to Messenger — blocking on Facebook blocks Messenger, but you can unblock on Messenger separately if you want to receive messages from them.
This matters if you have a work relationship or a family relationship with someone and want to keep some channels open while closing others. You can be more selective about which platforms you block them on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see if someone blocked me on Facebook?
No. Facebook does not show you a list of people who have blocked you. If you suspect someone blocked you, try searching for their name or visiting their profile. If you cannot find them and they used to be your friend, they may have blocked you, unfriended you, or deactivated their account. You cannot know which one without asking them directly.
If I unblock someone, will they know?
No. Unblocking does not send them a notification. They will only know you unblocked them if they try to contact you and suddenly can, or if you tell them yourself. They cannot see your unblock history.
What if I blocked someone by accident?
Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Blocking, find their name, and click "Unblock." The block is removed when ready. They will not know you blocked them in the first place, so there is no need to explain unless you want to.
Can I block someone without them seeing that I blocked them?
Yes, they will not get a notification. However, if they try to message you, visit your profile, or search for you and cannot find you, they may realize you blocked them. The block itself is silent, but the effects are visible to them.
If I block someone, does it delete our old messages?
No. Your message history with them stays in your inbox. You can still read old conversations. Blocking only stops new messages from coming through and hides your profile from them going forward. If you want to delete the conversation, you have to do that separately.