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 as a friend. If you were already friends, the friendship ends when ready.
Blocking is not the same as unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and find your profile — they just cannot see your friends list or message you. A block is a complete separation. The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see a message saying the profile is not available.
Facebook does not tell you who has blocked you, and you cannot see a list of people you have blocked unless you go looking for it. The block stays in place until you remove it yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone removes them from your friends list, hides your profile from them, and stops them from messaging or tagging you.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from your settings — the result is the same regardless of where you start.
- The blocked person will not see a notification, but they can discover the block by trying to visit your profile.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked list in settings.
How to block someone from their profile
The quickest way is to go to the person's Facebook profile and use the menu button. On a computer, click the three dots (•••) near the top right of their profile header, next to the "Message" button. On a phone, tap the three dots in the same location. A menu will appear with several options.
Select "Block" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — it will show you a message saying "Block [person's name]?" and explaining that they will not be able to see your profile or contact you. Click or tap "Block" again to confirm. The block takes effect when ready.
How to block someone from a conversation
If you want to block someone you have been messaging with, you can do it directly from Messenger. Open the conversation with that person. On a computer, click the information icon (i) at the top right of the chat window. On a phone, tap the person's name at the top of the conversation.
Scroll down to find the "Block" option and tap or click it. Confirm the block when prompted. This will block them on Facebook as well as Messenger — you will not receive messages from them in either place.
How to block someone from your settings
You can also block someone without visiting their profile. On a computer, click the downward arrow at the top right of your Facebook page and select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines (≡) at the bottom right, scroll down, and tap "Settings and privacy," then "Settings."
Look for "Blocking" in the left menu (on a computer) or scroll down to find it (on a phone). You will see a section that says "Block people." Type the person's name in the search box and click or tap their name when it appears. Click or tap "Block" next to their name. Confirm when prompted.
What happens after you block someone
Once the block is active, the person cannot see your profile, posts, comments, or story. Any messages you sent them before the block remain in their inbox, but you cannot send new messages. If you were tagged in photos together, those tags remain visible to other people, but the blocked person cannot see them.
If you have mutual friends, those friends can still see both of your profiles and posts. The block only affects the relationship between you and the blocked person — it does not hide you from people who are friends with both of you.
How to unblock someone
If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. Go to your settings the same way you would to block someone: click the downward arrow (on a computer) or the three lines (on a phone), select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Find "Blocking" in the menu.
You will see a list of people you have blocked, with an "Unblock" button next to each name. Click or tap "Unblock" next to the person's name and confirm. They will not be notified that you unblocked them. Once unblocked, they can see your profile and message you again, but you will not automatically be friends — you will need to send a friend request or accept one from them.
The difference between blocking, unfriending, and muting
Facebook offers three ways to limit contact with someone, and they work differently. Blocking removes all access — they cannot see your profile or message you. Unfriending removes them from your friends list but leaves your public posts visible to them. Muting keeps the friendship but hides their posts from your feed — they can still see your posts and you remain friends.
Choose blocking if you want complete separation. Choose unfriending if you want to end the friendship but do not mind them seeing your public activity. Choose muting if you want to stay friends but do not want to see their posts every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see a message saying it is not available, or if they notice they cannot find you in search results. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly.
Can I block someone without them being my friend?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether you are friends with them or not. The block works the same way — they cannot see your profile, message you, or find you in search results.
What happens to messages I already sent before blocking?
Messages you sent before the block remain in their inbox and they can read them. However, they cannot reply to you, and you cannot see any new messages they try to send. Once you unblock them, they can message you again.
Can I block someone on Facebook but not on Instagram?
If you have a Facebook account and an Instagram account linked to the same email, blocking someone on Facebook does not automatically block them on Instagram. You would need to block them separately on Instagram using that app's blocking feature.
What if I block someone and then they create a new account?
The block only applies to the specific account you blocked. If they create a new account, that new account is not blocked unless you block it separately. However, if you report the new account as a duplicate or as harassment, Facebook may take action on their own.