How to block someone on Messenger
To block a person on Messenger, open the conversation with that person, tap or click the person's name at the top of the chat, scroll down to find "Block," and select it. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Once you block someone, they cannot message you, see when you're active, or view your profile picture in Messenger. You will not see their messages either — they go nowhere you can access them.
The block works across Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook itself if you use the same account. If someone has multiple accounts, they can still message you from those other accounts unless you block each one separately. Blocking is different from muting: a muted conversation still receives messages, but you won't get notifications. A blocked person cannot send messages at all.
If you change your mind, you can unblock the person later by going to your Messenger settings, finding "Blocked people," and selecting "Unblock" next to their name. They will not be told that you unblocked them.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Messenger prevents them from sending you messages, seeing your active status, or viewing your profile picture.
- A blocked person cannot message you from the same account, but they can create a new account and message you from that unless you block it too.
- Blocking is permanent until you unblock them; the person will not know you blocked them unless they try to message you and see the block notice.
- You can manage all your blocked contacts in Messenger settings under "Blocked people" and unblock anyone at any time.
Where to find the block option on different devices
On iPhone or Android, open Messenger and find the conversation you want to block. Tap the person's name or profile picture at the top of the chat. Scroll down until you see "Block [Name]" and tap it. A confirmation screen will appear asking if you're sure — tap "Block" again to confirm.
On a computer or web browser, open Messenger at messenger.com or through Facebook.com. Click the conversation, then click the person's name at the top right. Scroll down to find "Block" and click it. Confirm when prompted.
If you want to block someone without opening a conversation with them, you can also go to their Facebook profile, click the three dots next to their name, and select "Block." This blocks them across Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram at the same time.
What happens when you block someone
When you block someone on Messenger, their existing messages in your chat history remain visible to you, but they cannot send you new ones. If they try to message you, they will see a message saying "You can't message this person right now" or similar language depending on their device. They will know they are blocked, though Facebook does not send a notification.
The blocked person cannot see your active status (the green dot that shows you're online), cannot see when you were last active, and cannot see your profile picture in Messenger. However, they can still see your profile on Facebook itself unless you have also restricted them there. Blocking on Messenger does not hide your Facebook profile from them — it only affects Messenger and Instagram.
If the person has your phone number, they can still text you or call you through their phone's regular messaging app. Messenger blocking does not affect SMS or phone calls. If you need to stop contact completely, you may also need to block their phone number through your phone's settings.
The difference between blocking, muting, and restricting
Blocking stops someone from messaging you at all. They cannot send messages, see your status, or view your profile picture. You cannot see their messages either.
Muting lets someone message you, but you won't get notifications. Their messages still arrive in your inbox, but they won't ping your phone or show a notification badge. You can unmute the conversation anytime and notifications will resume. The person does not know you muted them.
Restricting (available on Facebook and Instagram, not Messenger specifically) limits what someone can see about you without fully blocking them. A restricted person can still message you, but their messages go to a separate folder, and they cannot see when you're active or when you've read their messages. Restricting is useful when you want to reduce contact with someone but not completely cut them off.
Choose blocking if you do not want any contact. Choose muting if you want to reduce notifications but stay connected. Choose restricting if you want to limit what someone sees about you while keeping the door open for occasional contact.
How to manage your blocked contacts
To see everyone you have blocked on Messenger, open the app and go to your settings. On iPhone or Android, tap your profile picture in the bottom right, then tap "Privacy," then "Blocked people." On a computer, click the three lines in the top left, go to "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings," then scroll to "Blocking" and click "Blocked people."
From this list, you can see the names of everyone you have blocked. Tap or click "Unblock" next to any name to remove the block. Once you unblock someone, they can message you again immediately, and you will see their messages. They will not receive a notification that you unblocked them.
If you block someone and then want to block them again later, you will need to go through the block process a second time. There is no way to "re-block" someone you previously unblocked — you have to block them fresh.
What to do if someone keeps trying to contact you after being blocked
If someone creates a new account and messages you after being blocked, you can block that account too. Each account is separate, so you will need to block each one individually. If this becomes a pattern, take a screenshot of the messages and consider reporting the person to Facebook for harassment.
To report someone, open their profile or the message they sent, click the three dots, and select "Report." Choose "It's harassment" or "It's spam" depending on the situation. Facebook reviews reports and may take action against the person's account if they find a violation.
If the person is contacting you through other means — phone calls, texts, email, or other apps — blocking on Messenger will not stop that. You will need to block them separately on those platforms or through your phone's settings. If the contact is threatening or abusive, you can also contact local law enforcement.
Blocking someone vs. deleting a conversation
Deleting a conversation removes it from your inbox, but it does not block the person. They can still message you, and new messages will create a new conversation thread. Deleting is useful for cleaning up your inbox, but it does not prevent contact.
Blocking, on the other hand, stops the person from messaging you at all. If you block someone, their old messages stay in your chat history (unless you delete the conversation first), but they cannot send new ones. If you want both — to remove the conversation and prevent future messages — delete the conversation first, then block the person.
You can also archive a conversation instead of deleting it. Archived conversations stay in your account but are hidden from your main inbox. The person can still message you, and their new messages will move the conversation back to your active inbox. Archiving is useful for conversations you want to keep but do not want to see every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them on Messenger?
They will know if they try to message you and see an error saying they cannot message you. Facebook does not send a notification saying "You've been blocked," but the error message makes it clear. They may also notice they cannot see your active status or profile picture anymore.
If I block someone, can they see my old messages?
No. Once you block someone, they cannot see any of your messages — old or new. The conversation disappears from their Messenger inbox. However, they may have screenshots of your messages from before the block.
What if I block someone by accident?
Go to your blocked people list in settings and tap or click "Unblock" next to their name. They will be able to message you again right away, and you will see their messages. They will not know you unblocked them.
Does blocking on Messenger also block them on Facebook and Instagram?
Blocking someone on Messenger also blocks them on Instagram if you use the same account. However, it does not automatically block them on Facebook itself — you need to block them separately on Facebook if you want to hide your profile from them there.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
They will not receive a notification, but they will learn about they try to message you. The error message will tell them they cannot message you. If you want to avoid contact without them knowing, muting the conversation is more discreet, though they can still message you.