Where to find your blocked list on Facebook

Facebook keeps a record of everyone you have blocked, and you can see that list in your Settings. Open Facebook on a computer or phone, go to Settings and Privacy, then select Settings. Look for the Blocking section — it is usually near the bottom of the left menu. Click or tap Blocking, and you will see a list of every person you have blocked, with options to unblock them.

The blocked list shows the person's name and profile picture. You cannot message them or see their posts while they are blocked, and they cannot find your profile or send you requests. If you want to unblock someone, their name will have an Unblock button next to it.

On mobile, the path is the same: Settings and Privacy > Settings > Blocking. The layout is slightly different on a phone screen, but the blocked list itself looks the same.

Key Takeaways

  • Your blocked list lives in Settings and Privacy > Settings > Blocking on both desktop and mobile Facebook.
  • Unblocking someone lets them see your profile and send you friend requests again, but does not automatically re-friend you.
  • If you cannot remember who you blocked, scroll through the full list — Facebook shows everyone you have ever blocked.
  • Unblocking is reversible; you can block the same person again at any time if you change your mind.

What happens when you unblock someone

Unblocking removes the barrier between you and that person, but it does not restore your friendship. Once you unblock them, they can see your public posts, find your profile in search, and send you a friend request. You will not automatically become friends again.

The person you unblock will not receive a notification that you have unblocked them. They will only know if they try to find your profile or search for you and suddenly can see you again. Facebook does not send alerts about unblocking the way it does for other actions.

If you unblock someone and then change your mind, you can block them again when ready. There is no waiting period or limit to how many times you can block and unblock the same person.

Why you might not see someone in your blocked list

If you are looking for a specific person and cannot find them in your blocked list, they may have deleted their account or changed their name since you blocked them. Facebook still keeps the block in place, but the person's name may not match what you remember.

Another reason is that you may have unfriended them instead of blocking them. Unfriending and blocking are different actions. Unfriending removes them from your friends list but lets them still see your public posts and profile. Blocking prevents them from seeing you at all. If you unfriended someone, they will not appear in your Blocking section.

You can also restrict someone instead of blocking them. Restricting limits what they see from you without fully blocking them. Restricted people do not show up in your blocked list — they appear in a separate Restricted list under Privacy settings.

The difference between blocking, unfriending, and restricting

These three actions do different things, and it helps to know which one you used. Blocking is the strongest action: the person cannot see your profile, posts, or story, and cannot message you or send you requests. You also cannot see their profile or posts. Unfriending removes them from your friends list, but they can still see your public posts and find your profile. Restricting keeps them as a friend but limits what they see — their messages go to a separate folder, and they only see posts you specifically allow them to see.

If you want to check whether you have restricted someone instead of blocked them, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Privacy > Restricted List. This shows people you have restricted but not blocked.

How to block someone again if you change your mind

If you unblock someone and later decide you want to block them again, you can do that from their profile. Visit their profile, click the three dots (or the menu icon on mobile), and select Block. You can also go back to your Blocking section and block them from there if you remember their name.

Blocking someone a second time works the same way as the first time. All previous messages between you will remain in your message history, but they will not be able to see them or contact you going forward.

Managing your blocked list over time

Your blocked list can grow long if you block people regularly. Facebook does not have a way to sort or search within your blocked list, so if you have blocked many people, you may need to scroll through the entire list to find someone. There is no limit to how many people you can block.

If you want to keep track of who you have blocked and why, consider keeping a note outside of Facebook. This is especially useful if you block people during conflicts and later want to remember the reason. Facebook itself does not show you when you blocked someone or why.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone tell if I have blocked them?

They cannot get a notification, but they may figure it out if they try to find your profile and cannot. If they search for you and your profile does not appear, or if they try to message you and get an error, they will know something is wrong. However, Facebook does not explicitly tell them they are blocked.

What if I blocked someone years ago and forgot their name?

Go to your Blocking section and scroll through the full list. Facebook shows everyone you have ever blocked, even if they deleted their account or changed their name. The list may be long, but it is the only way to see everyone you have blocked.

If I unblock someone, will they see my old posts?

Yes. Once you unblock them, they can see all your public posts from before and after you blocked them. If you want to hide specific posts from them, you will need to change the privacy settings on those posts individually or delete them.

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 finding your profile, messaging you, or seeing your posts.

Does blocking someone delete our message history?

No. Your messages with them stay in your inbox, but they cannot see them and cannot message you back. If you unblock them later, the message history is still there.