Where to find your blocked list on Facebook
Your blocked list lives in Facebook Settings under Privacy. Open Facebook on a computer or phone, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, the downward arrow on desktop), scroll to Settings and Privacy, then select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, then scroll down to find the "Blocking" section. Click "See your list" next to "Block users" and you will see every account you have blocked.
On mobile, the path is the same but the menu looks different. Tap the three lines at the bottom right, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Privacy, then scroll to Blocking. The list appears in the same format whether you use a phone or computer.
Facebook also shows you a count of how many people you have blocked at the top of that section, so you can tell at a glance whether the list is growing or if you have cleared it out.
Key Takeaways
- Your blocked list is in Settings under Privacy, in a section labeled Blocking that shows every account you have blocked.
- A blocked person cannot message you, see your profile, find you in search, or see your posts, even if they are friends with someone who shares your content.
- You can unblock someone from the same list by clicking the Unblock button next to their name.
- Facebook does not tell the blocked person that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they cannot find your profile or message you.
What a blocked person can and cannot do
When you block someone on Facebook, they lose access to your profile entirely. They cannot see your posts, photos, comments, or friend list. If they search for your name, your profile will not appear in their results. They cannot send you messages or friend requests, and any existing conversation between you will disappear from their inbox (though it may still show in yours).
A blocked person also cannot see when you are online, whether you have read their old messages, or any updates you make to your profile. If you comment on a mutual friend's post, the blocked person will not see your comment. However, if a mutual friend tags you in a photo or post, the blocked person may see that tag, depending on your privacy settings for that specific post.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and find your profile. When you block someone, they cannot do either.
How to unblock someone
Go back to your blocked list in Settings under Privacy. Find the person you want to unblock and click the Unblock button next to their name. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Once you unblock them, they can message you again, see your profile, and find you in search, but they will not automatically be added back to your friends list.
Unblocking someone does not send them a notification. They will not know you unblocked them unless they try to message you or search for you and notice they can now see your profile again.
Blocking someone versus other privacy options
Facebook gives you several ways to control who sees you and what you share. Blocking is the strongest option — it cuts off all contact and visibility. If you want someone to stop seeing your posts but still allow them to message you, you can instead restrict them. A restricted person can see only your public posts and cannot see when you are online.
You can also mute someone, which removes their posts from your feed without unfriending them. They will not know you muted them. If you want to limit what one person sees without blocking them entirely, you can adjust privacy settings on individual posts or use Facebook's "Close Friends" and "Acquaintances" lists to control who sees what you share.
Blocking is permanent until you unblock, so use it when you want no contact at all. Use restricting or muting when you want to reduce contact but keep the door open.
What happens if someone blocks you
If someone blocks you, you will not receive a notification from Facebook. However, you may notice that you cannot find their profile, cannot see their posts, and cannot send them messages. If you try to visit their profile directly using a link, you will see a message saying the page is not available.
You cannot see a list of who has blocked you on Facebook. If you suspect someone has blocked you, the only way to know for certain is to ask them directly or try to message them and see what happens. Facebook does not provide a "people who blocked me" list.
Keeping your blocked list organized
Your blocked list can grow over time, especially if you use Facebook for work, community groups, or public pages. Check it occasionally to see if there is anyone you want to unblock. Some people block others temporarily during a conflict and unblock them later when things cool down.
If you block someone and then later change your mind, unblocking them is straightforward. There is no penalty or awkwardness on Facebook's end — you can block and unblock the same person as many times as you need to. Just remember that unblocking does not restore old messages or automatically re-add them to your friends list.
Blocking on Facebook Messenger
You can also block someone directly from Messenger without going through Settings. Open a conversation with the person, tap their name at the top, scroll down, and select "Block." This blocks them on both Messenger and Facebook itself — blocking in one place blocks them everywhere on Meta's platforms.
If you block someone in Messenger, the conversation will disappear from your inbox, but you can still find it in your blocked list in Settings if you need to unblock them later. Blocking from Messenger is faster if you are already chatting with someone and decide you want to cut off contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they try to message you, search for you, or visit your profile and cannot. There is no way for them to see a list of people who blocked them.
If I block someone, will old messages disappear?
Old messages between you and the blocked person will disappear from their inbox, but they may still appear in yours. You can delete the entire conversation from your inbox if you want to remove all trace of it.
Can I block someone without them seeing my profile first?
Yes. You can block someone whether or not they are your friend, and whether or not they have ever seen your profile. You can block someone from their profile page, from a comment they made, or from your blocked list.
What is the difference between blocking and restricting?
Blocking cuts off all contact and visibility — they cannot see your profile or message you. Restricting lets them see only your public posts and prevents them from seeing when you are online, but they can still find you and message you if they try.
If I unblock someone, do they get added back to my friends list?
No. Unblocking only removes the block. If you were friends before you blocked them, you will need to send a new friend request or they will need to send one to you before you are friends again.