The steps to unblock someone on Facebook

To unblock a friend on Facebook, go to your Settings, select Blocking from the left menu, and find the person's name in your blocked list. Click Unblock next to their name, then confirm. The whole process takes about one minute.

You can access Settings from the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner on mobile, or from the downward arrow in the top right on desktop. Once you unblock someone, they can see your profile again, send you messages, and add you as a friend — but they won't be notified that you unblocked them.

If you don't remember the exact spelling of the person's name, you can scroll through your blocked list or use the search box that appears at the top of the Blocking section. Facebook keeps your blocked list in one place, so you don't have to hunt through different settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Unblocking someone takes less than a minute and requires only a few clicks in your Settings under Blocking.
  • The person you unblock will not receive a notification that you unblocked them.
  • Once unblocked, they can message you, see your posts, and send a friend request, but your past messages and posts they couldn't see while blocked will not reappear.
  • You can unblock someone on mobile or desktop using the same Settings menu.

What happens when you unblock someone

When you unblock someone, you're removing the restrictions you placed on them. They regain the ability to see your public posts, visit your profile, send you messages, and add you as a friend. However, they cannot see messages you sent them before the block, and they cannot see posts you made while they were blocked.

The person will not know you unblocked them unless you tell them or they try to contact you and notice they can now reach you. There is no notification sent to them, and Facebook does not show them a record of being blocked in the first place.

Unblocking on mobile versus desktop

The process is nearly identical on both platforms. On an iPhone or Android phone, tap the menu icon (three lines) at the bottom right, scroll down to Settings & Privacy, tap Settings, then scroll to Blocking. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner, select Settings & Privacy, then Settings, and find Blocking in the left sidebar.

Mobile users may find it slightly faster to use the search function at the top of the Blocking section if they remember the person's name. Desktop users have more screen space to scroll through a longer blocked list at once.

If you can't find someone in your blocked list

If you blocked someone a long time ago and don't remember their exact name, try searching for variations of their name in the search box at the top of your Blocking section. If they changed their name since you blocked them, you may need to think about what their name was at the time of the block.

If you still cannot locate them, it's possible they deactivated or deleted their account. In that case, there is no one to unblock — the block remains on a non-existent account and has no practical effect.

What you should know before unblocking

Unblocking someone does not automatically make them your friend again. If you were friends before you blocked them, they will still need to send you a new friend request, and you will need to accept it. This gives you a chance to reconsider whether you want to reconnect.

Once unblocked, the person can see your public posts and information. If you want to limit what they see, you can add them to a restricted list instead, which lets them stay on your friends list but only see posts you mark as public. This is a middle ground between being fully connected and being blocked.

Blocking versus other privacy controls

Blocking is the strongest privacy tool Facebook offers — it prevents someone from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you in search. A restricted list is gentler: the person stays your friend but can only see your public posts. Unfriending removes them as a friend but they can still see your public posts and message you unless you block them.

If you unblock someone and want to keep them at a distance, consider adding them to your restricted list instead of accepting a friend request. This way they cannot see your personal posts, photos, or information, but you avoid the awkwardness of blocking them again later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I unblocked them?

No. Facebook does not send notifications when you unblock someone, and there is no record of the block visible to them. They will only know if they try to contact you and find they can now reach you, or if you tell them directly.

Can I unblock someone and then block them again?

Yes. You can unblock and block someone as many times as you want. There is no limit or penalty for changing your mind. However, if you find yourself blocking and unblocking the same person repeatedly, it may be worth considering a restricted list or unfriending instead.

What happens to old messages after I unblock someone?

Messages you sent before the block will not reappear in their inbox, and messages they sent before the block will not reappear in yours. Unblocking does not restore deleted or hidden conversations — it only removes the current restrictions going forward.

If I unblock someone, do they automatically become my friend again?

No. Unblocking only removes the block. If you were friends before, they will need to send you a new friend request. You can then choose to accept or decline. This gives you control over whether you want to reconnect.

Can I unblock someone without them finding out?

Yes. Unblocking is completely private. The person will not receive a notification, and Facebook will not tell them they were ever blocked. They will only know if they attempt to contact you or if you tell them.