Finding your block list on Facebook
You can see everyone you have blocked on Facebook by going to your Settings, then Privacy, then a section called Blocking. Facebook keeps a complete list of every person you have blocked, and you can view it anytime. The list shows their name and profile picture, and gives you the option to unblock them if you change your mind.
The steps are the same whether you use Facebook on a computer or the mobile app. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of any Facebook page. On the mobile app, tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu) in the bottom right corner. From there, look for Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
Once you are in Settings, look for the Privacy section on the left side of the screen (on mobile, scroll down to find it). Under Privacy, you will see a link that says Blocking. Click or tap it, and your block list appears.
Key Takeaways
- Your block list is in Settings > Privacy > Blocking, and you can view it anytime on computer or mobile.
- Facebook shows the name and profile picture of each blocked person, so you can identify them at a glance.
- You can unblock someone directly from this list by clicking or tapping the Unblock button next to their name.
- Blocking someone prevents them from seeing your profile, sending you messages, or finding you in search — but they are not told you blocked them.
What happens when you block someone
When you block a person on Facebook, they lose access to your profile and your posts. They cannot see your friends list, your photos, your timeline, or anything else on your profile. If you have posted in a group or on a public page, they can still see those posts, but they cannot see posts you made only to your friends.
A blocked person cannot send you a message, add you as a friend, or see when you are online. They cannot tag you in photos or posts. If they search for your name, your profile will not appear in their results. However, Facebook does not send them a notification that you blocked them — they will only know if they try to visit your profile and see an error message.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and your profile (unless you have set your privacy to Friends Only). When you block someone, they see almost nothing. If you want to remove someone from your friends list but still let them see your public posts, unfriending is the gentler option.
Unblocking someone from your list
To unblock someone, go back to Settings > Privacy > Blocking and find their name on the list. Next to their name is an Unblock button. Click or tap it, and they are unblocked when ready. Facebook will not tell them that you unblocked them.
Once you unblock someone, they can see your profile again and send you friend requests. However, unblocking does not automatically make you friends again — if you were friends before you blocked them, you will need to add them as a friend again after unblocking. They can also send you a friend request, and you can accept or decline it.
If you unblock someone by mistake, you can block them again right away. There is no waiting period or limit to how many times you can block and unblock the same person.
Blocking someone versus limiting what they see
Facebook offers other privacy tools that are less extreme than blocking. If you want someone to stay on your friends list but see fewer of your posts, you can use the Restricted list. People on your Restricted list can only see posts you have set to Public — they cannot see posts you shared with Friends Only or a custom group.
You can also control who sees individual posts. When you create a post, you can click the privacy button (usually showing "Friends" or "Public") and choose exactly who sees that post. You can hide it from specific people, show it only to certain friends, or make it visible to everyone.
Blocking is the right choice when you want to cut off contact completely. Restricting or limiting visibility is better if you want to stay connected but reduce how much someone sees. Think about what outcome you want before you choose which tool to use.
What to do if you cannot find the Blocking section
If you are looking at Settings and do not see a Privacy section, make sure you are in the right place. On a computer, Settings should show several categories on the left side, including General, Security and Login, and Privacy. On mobile, you may need to scroll down past several other options to find Privacy.
If Privacy still does not appear, you may be looking at a different settings page. On mobile, make sure you tapped the three lines menu at the bottom right of the screen, not the three dots menu at the top. The three lines menu takes you to your main settings. The three dots menu is for individual posts or pages.
If you are still stuck, try logging out and logging back in, then going to Settings again. Sometimes the page needs to refresh to show all options. If the Blocking section still does not appear after that, your account may have a temporary issue, and you can try again in a few hours.
Blocking on Facebook Messenger
You can also block someone directly from Facebook Messenger without going to Settings. Open a conversation with the person you want to block, tap or click the three dots or three lines menu at the top of the conversation, and look for a Block option. Blocking someone in Messenger blocks them on Facebook as well — they are the same block.
If you block someone in Messenger, the conversation stays in your message list, but they cannot send you new messages. You can still see the old conversation, but you cannot reply. If you unblock them later, the conversation reappears and they can message you again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you, they will see an error message or your profile will not appear. They may figure out that you blocked them, but Facebook itself does not tell them.
If I block someone, do they see my old posts?
No. Once you block someone, they cannot see any of your posts, including ones you posted before you blocked them. The only exception is posts you made on public pages or in groups — those are visible to everyone, including blocked people.
What if I block someone and then change my mind?
You can unblock them anytime by going back to Settings > Privacy > Blocking and clicking Unblock next to their name. Unblocking them does not make you friends again, but they can send you a friend request or you can add 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 seeing your profile, sending you a message, or finding you in search.
Does blocking someone on Facebook also block them on Instagram?
No. Facebook and Instagram are separate, even though they are owned by the same company. If you want to block someone on Instagram, you need to do that separately in Instagram's settings. Blocking them on Facebook does not affect Instagram.