Where to find your blocked list on Facebook
Your blocked list lives in Facebook Settings, and you can reach it in about three taps. Open Facebook, tap the three horizontal lines (called the menu) at the bottom right of your screen, scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. From there, go to Privacy, then Blocking. This shows everyone you have blocked — the full list, not just recent blocks.
On a computer, the path is the same idea but with clicks instead of taps. Click the downward arrow at the top right of any Facebook page, select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left sidebar, click Privacy, then Blocking. You will see the same complete list.
Facebook does not limit how many people you can see at once. The list loads all your blocks together, so you can scroll through and find whoever you are looking for without hunting through pages.
Key Takeaways
- Your blocked list is in Settings > Privacy > Blocking on both phone and computer, and shows everyone you have ever blocked.
- Blocking someone prevents them from messaging you, seeing your profile, or finding you in search — but they are not told they are blocked.
- You can unblock anyone from the same list by tapping or clicking Unblock next to their name.
- If you blocked someone years ago and forgot why, unblocking them does not automatically reconnect you — they have to send a friend request again.
What blocking actually does and does not do
When you block someone, they cannot message you, see your profile, find you in search results, or see your posts in groups you both belong to. They cannot tag you in photos or see your friends list. It is one of the strongest privacy tools Facebook offers.
What blocking does not do: the blocked person is not told they are blocked. They may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error, but Facebook does not send them a notification. They also do not disappear from your mutual friends' lists or from groups you both joined — they just cannot interact with your content or profile directly.
This matters because some people block someone temporarily (during a conflict, for example) and forget they did it. If you are wondering why an old friend has not messaged you in years, checking your blocked list is worth a minute.
How to unblock someone and what happens next
To unblock someone, go back to Settings > Privacy > Blocking, find their name, and tap or click Unblock. That is all there is to it. The unblock takes effect when ready.
Unblocking does not automatically send them a friend request or reconnect you. It straightforward removes the barrier — they can now message you, see your profile if it is public, and find you in search. If you were friends before you blocked them, you are no longer friends after you unblock them. They have to send a new friend request, and you have to accept it, just like meeting for the first time.
If you unblock someone by accident, you can block them again right away. There is no waiting period or limit on how many times you can block and unblock the same person.
Finding someone if you cannot remember their exact name
If you blocked someone but cannot quite remember their name, the blocked list will not search or filter for you. You have to scroll through and look. However, the list is usually not very long — most people block fewer than ten or twenty people in their lifetime — so scrolling is normally faster than you would expect.
If you remember anything else about them — where they worked, what school they went to, a mutual friend — try searching for them in the regular Facebook search bar first. If they come up, you will see a note that says you have blocked them. This can be easier than scrolling your blocked list if you have a lot of blocks or only a vague memory of their name.
Why someone might not appear on your blocked list
If you think you blocked someone but cannot find them on your blocked list, a few things might have happened. You may have unfriended them instead of blocking them — unfriending removes them from your friends list but does not prevent them from seeing your public posts or messaging you. You can check your friends list to see if they are still there.
You might also have restricted them instead of blocking them. Restricting is gentler than blocking: a restricted person can still see your public posts and send you messages, but they cannot see when you are online or whether you have read their messages. Restricted accounts are in Settings > Privacy > Restricted List, a separate place from your blocked list.
If you deleted your Facebook account and created a new one, your old blocks did not carry over. You would have to block them again on your new account if you want to.
Blocking someone again after they contact you
If someone you blocked manages to contact you — through a mutual friend, a different account, or a message you did not see before blocking — you can block them again. On their message or profile, look for a menu icon (three dots) and select Block. You can also go to Settings > Privacy > Blocking and add them manually by typing their name, though this only works if you can find them in search first.
Some people try to get around a block by creating a new account. Facebook's systems catch some of these attempts and prevent the new account from contacting you, but not all. If someone is harassing you across multiple accounts, report each account to Facebook through the report button on their profile or message. Repeated harassment across accounts can result in a permanent ban for that person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I have blocked them?
Not directly — Facebook does not notify them. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error message, or if they notice they cannot find you in search anymore. There is no way to block someone invisibly, but Facebook also does not announce the block.
If I unblock someone, will they know?
No. Unblocking does not send them a notification. They will only know if they try to message you or visit your profile and suddenly can again, or if you tell them yourself.
What is the difference between blocking and restricting?
Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you in search. Restricting lets them see your public posts and send messages, but hides when you are online and whether you have read their messages. Restricting is less severe and is found in Settings > Privacy > Restricted List.
Can I block someone without them being my friend?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether you are friends with them or not. You can block someone from their profile, from a message they sent you, or from Settings > Privacy > Blocking by typing their name.
If I block someone, do they disappear from groups we both belong to?
No. You will both still be members of the same groups, but they cannot see your posts in those groups, and you cannot see theirs. They also cannot message you or tag you, even in a group setting.