Where Facebook keeps your blocked list
Facebook stores all the people you have blocked in one place: your blocked list. You reach it through Settings, not through your main feed or messages. The blocked list shows you exactly who you have blocked and lets you unblock them if you change your mind.
Your blocked list is private — the people on it cannot see that you blocked them, and they cannot see your profile, posts, or messages. Facebook does not notify them when you unblock them either. Only you can see who is on your blocked list.
Key Takeaways
- Your blocked list lives in Settings and Privacy, under the Blocking section, and shows every person you have blocked.
- You can search for a specific person's name in the blocked list to find them quickly without scrolling through everyone.
- Unblocking someone restores their ability to message you, see your profile, and send friend requests, but does not automatically re-add them as a friend.
- If you block someone and then delete your account, the block stays in place if you reactivate your account within 30 days.
Steps to view your blocked list on desktop
Open Facebook in a web browser and click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the page. Select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. On the left side, you will see a menu — scroll down until you find Blocking.
Click Blocking and you will see a section labeled "Block users." Below that heading is a list of every person you have blocked. If you have blocked many people, the list will be long. You can scroll through it, or use the search box at the top to type a person's name and find them faster.
Steps to view your blocked list on mobile
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll down until you see Blocking and tap it.
You will see the "Block users" section with a list of everyone you have blocked. If the list is long, tap the search box and type the person's name to find them without scrolling. The search works the same way as on desktop — it shows matches as you type.
What to do if you cannot find someone on your blocked list
If you remember blocking someone but cannot find them on your blocked list, they may have deleted their Facebook account. When someone deletes their account, they disappear from your blocked list automatically. If you blocked them years ago and they have since deactivated or deleted their account, you will not see them anymore.
Another reason you might not find them is if you blocked them on a different account. If you have more than one Facebook account, check your blocked list on each one. You can only see blocks you made on the account you are currently logged into.
How to unblock someone from your blocked list
Find the person's name in your blocked list. Next to their name, click or tap the Unblock button. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click or tap Confirm to finish. The person is now unblocked.
Once you unblock someone, they can send you friend requests, message you, and see your profile again. They will not automatically become your friend — you have only removed the block. If they were your friend before you blocked them, you will need to add them again or wait for them to send a new request.
What happens when you block someone
When you block a person on Facebook, they cannot see your profile, posts, comments, or likes. They cannot message you, and any messages you sent them before the block stay in their inbox but appear to come from a deactivated account. They cannot send you a friend request or see you in search results.
The person does not receive a notification that you blocked them. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you, they will realize something is wrong because they cannot find you. Blocking is not the same as unfriending — when you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and visit your profile, but a block prevents all of that.
Blocking versus other privacy options
Facebook offers several ways to control who sees your content and contacts you. Unfriending removes someone from your friends list but lets them still see your public posts and profile. Restricting someone keeps them as a friend but hides your posts from them — they only see posts you mark as public. Muting hides someone's posts from your feed without unfriending them, but they can still see your profile and posts.
Blocking is the strongest option and is the only one that prevents someone from contacting you or seeing your profile at all. Use blocking when you want complete separation from someone. Use restricting or muting when you want to limit what someone sees without cutting off contact entirely.
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, message you, or search for you, they will notice they cannot find you. They may suspect a block, but they cannot see your blocked list or confirm it directly through Facebook.
If I unblock someone, will they know?
No. Facebook does not notify people when you unblock them. They will only know if they try to contact you again and suddenly can reach you, or if they search for you and find your profile again.
What if I blocked someone by accident?
Go to your blocked list, find their name, and click or tap Unblock. Confirm the action. They are now unblocked and can contact you and see your profile again. You can unblock and reblock someone as many times as you want.
Does blocking someone delete our message history?
No. Your past messages with that person stay in your inbox. When you block them, the messages appear to come from a deactivated account, but they are still there. If you unblock them later, the messages will show their name again.
Can I block someone without them being my friend?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether they are your friend or not. You might block someone who is not your friend if they are messaging you or commenting on your posts in ways you do not want.