What blocking does and doesn't do

When you block someone on Facebook, that person can no longer see your profile, send you messages, find you in search results, or see your posts and comments anywhere on the platform. They cannot tag you in photos or add you to groups. If you were already friends, the friendship ends when ready — they will see that you are no longer connected, but Facebook does not tell them you blocked them specifically.

Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and search for your profile unless your privacy settings prevent it. Blocking is the stronger option: it removes all visibility between you and that person on Facebook. If you want to stay connected but hide specific posts or limit what someone sees, unfriending or adjusting privacy settings may work better for your situation.

Blocking does not prevent someone from creating a new account to contact you, and it does not delete past conversations or photos they may have saved. If someone is harassing you, blocking is a first step, but you may also want to report them to Facebook or save evidence of the harassment.

Key Takeaways

  • Blocking someone removes all their access to your profile and prevents them from messaging you, but they will know something changed if they try to visit your profile.
  • You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from your friends list — the result is the same regardless of where you start.
  • Unblocking is straightforward and can be done anytime, but the person will not be notified when you unblock them.
  • If someone is harassing or threatening you, blocking plus reporting to Facebook creates a record that may help if the behavior continues.

How to block someone from their profile

Go to the person's Facebook profile. Look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their profile header (the area with their name and profile photo). Tap or click that menu. A list of options will appear, including "Block [Name]" — select it. Facebook will ask you to confirm; click "Block" again to finish.

After you block them, their profile will no longer be visible to you, and you will not see their posts, comments, or activity anywhere on Facebook. If you search for their name, their profile will not appear in your results.

How to block someone from a conversation or message

Open your messages or the conversation with the person you want to block. Look for the three-dot menu or info icon at the top of the conversation window. Tap or click it, then select "Block" from the menu. You will see a confirmation screen; select "Block" again to confirm.

When you block someone from a message thread, the conversation stays in your message history, but they cannot send you new messages. The block works the same way as blocking from a profile — they straightforward cannot contact you or see your activity.

How to block someone from your friends list

Go to your profile and click or tap "Friends" to see your friends list. Find the person you want to block. Hover over their name (on a computer) or tap the three-dot menu next to their name (on a phone). Select "Block" from the menu. Confirm the block when Facebook asks.

This method is useful if you want to block someone without visiting their profile. The result is identical — they lose access to your profile and cannot message you.

What the other person will see

The person you block will not receive a notification saying you blocked them. However, if they try to visit your profile, search for you, or look at a past conversation, they will see that your profile is no longer visible to them. They may figure out that you blocked them, but Facebook does not explicitly tell them.

If you were tagged in photos together or had mutual friends, those photos and connections remain visible to others — blocking only affects what that specific person can see. Past comments you made on their posts will no longer be visible to them, and they cannot see new comments you make anywhere on Facebook.

How to unblock someone

Go to your settings by clicking the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (on a computer) or tapping the three horizontal lines at the bottom right (on a phone). Select "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." On a phone, you may see this as a gear icon. Look for "Blocking" in the left menu under "Privacy."

You will see a list of people you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click or tap "Unblock" next to their name. Facebook will ask you to confirm; select "Unblock" again. That person can now see your profile and message you again, though you will not automatically become friends again.

Unblocking someone does not notify them. They will only know you unblocked them if they try to visit your profile and suddenly can see it, or if you send them a message.

When to block versus other options

Block someone if they are harassing you, if you want a complete break from contact, or if you need them to stop seeing your posts and activity. Blocking is the strongest privacy tool Facebook offers for individual people.

If you want to stay friends but limit what someone sees, use Facebook's privacy settings instead. You can make specific posts visible only to certain people, or you can adjust your overall privacy so only friends see your posts. If you want to end the friendship but keep some visibility, unfriend them instead — they can still see your public posts, but you will not see theirs.

If someone is threatening you, harassing you repeatedly, or sending unwanted explicit content, block them and also report them to Facebook. Click the three-dot menu on their profile or on a specific post and select "Report." This creates a record with Facebook and may result in action against their account if they are violating Facebook's rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

Facebook does not send a notification, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile or search for you and cannot find you. There is no way to block someone without them potentially discovering it eventually.

Can I block someone and then unblock them later without them knowing?

Yes. Unblocking does not send a notification. They will only know if they try to contact you or visit your profile and suddenly can see it again. You can block and unblock as many times as you need.

If I block someone, will our old messages disappear?

No. Your message history with that person stays in your inbox. You just cannot send or receive new messages. You can still read past conversations, but they cannot see them on their end.

What if someone creates a new account to contact me after I block them?

Blocking only applies to that specific account. If someone creates a new profile and contacts you, you can block the new account too. If the harassment continues, report each account to Facebook and consider adjusting your privacy settings so only friends can message you.

Does blocking someone remove them from group chats or groups we are both in?

No. Blocking only affects one-on-one contact and profile visibility. If you are both in a Facebook group, they can still see your posts in that group and you can see theirs. If you want to avoid seeing them in groups, you may need to leave the group or adjust your group settings.