Blocking stops someone from messaging you and seeing your profile

When you block someone in Facebook Messenger, they can no longer send you messages, see that you are online, or view your profile. The block works across both Messenger and Facebook itself — if you block them on Messenger, they are blocked on Facebook too. They will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they will notice they cannot message you or find your profile.

The person you block can still see old messages you sent them before the block, but they cannot reply to those messages or start new conversations. If you were in a group chat together, blocking does not remove either of you from the group, but they still cannot message you directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the conversation with the person you want to block, tap the three dots or their name at the top, and select the block option from the menu.
  • On a computer, right-click the person's name in your Messenger list and choose block from the menu that appears.
  • Blocking someone removes their messages from your inbox, but you can restore the conversation later if you unblock them.
  • You can unblock someone at any time by going to your Messenger settings and finding them in your blocked list.

How to block someone on your phone

Open Facebook Messenger and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap and hold their name at the top of the chat, or tap the three horizontal dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the conversation. A menu will appear with several options.

Look for the option that says "Block" or "Block [Person's Name]" and tap it. A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure. Tap "Block" again to confirm. The conversation will immediately disappear from your inbox, and that person will no longer be able to message you.

How to block someone on your computer

Go to Facebook Messenger in your web browser or open the Messenger app on your computer. Find the person's name in your conversation list on the left side. Right-click directly on their name — do not click into the conversation first.

A small menu will pop up with options including "Block." Click on "Block" and confirm when the prompt appears. The conversation will be removed from your inbox. If you do not see a block option in the right-click menu, click the three dots next to their name instead and look for block in that menu.

What happens to old messages after you block someone

All the messages that person sent you before you blocked them will stay in your Messenger archive. You will not see them in your main inbox anymore, but they are not deleted. If you later decide to unblock that person, the old conversation will reappear in your inbox with all the previous messages intact.

The person you blocked can still see the messages they sent you and the messages you sent them, but they cannot reply to any of them. They also cannot start a new conversation with you or see when you are online.

How to unblock someone

On your phone, open Messenger and tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap "People" or "Blocked People" depending on your phone's version. You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and tap "Unblock" next to their name.

On a computer, click your profile picture in the top left, then go to "Settings & Privacy" and select "Settings." Click "Blocking" in the left menu. You will see your blocked list. Find the person and click "Unblock" next to their name. Once you unblock someone, they can message you again and see your profile.

The difference between blocking and muting

Blocking and muting are two different actions. When you block someone, they cannot message you at all and cannot see your profile. When you mute someone, they can still message you, but you will not get notifications from them, and their messages will not show up in your main inbox — they go to a separate folder.

Muting is useful if you want to reduce notifications from someone without completely cutting off contact. Blocking is the right choice if you do not want any communication with that person. You can mute a conversation by opening it, tapping the three dots at the top, and selecting "Mute."

What to do if someone keeps trying to contact you after blocking

If someone creates a new account or uses a different method to contact you after you block them, you can block the new account the same way you blocked the first one. Each account must be blocked separately.

If the person is harassing you across multiple accounts or through other means, you can report them to Facebook. Open any message or profile, tap the three dots, and select "Report." Choose "It's harassment or abuse" and follow the prompts. Facebook will review the report and may take action against the account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I blocked them?

They will not receive a notification saying you blocked them, but they will realize it when they try to message you or visit your profile and cannot. There is no way to block someone without them eventually noticing.

Can I block someone from a group chat?

Blocking someone removes them from your direct messages but does not remove either of you from group chats. You will still see their messages in the group, but they cannot send you private messages. If you want to leave the group entirely, you can exit the conversation separately.

If I block someone, can they still see messages I sent before the block?

Yes. They can see all the old messages you sent them, but they cannot reply to them or send you new messages. The old conversation stays in their inbox just as it stays in yours.

What if I accidentally blocked someone?

You can unblock them immediately by going to your blocked list in settings and tapping "Unblock" next to their name. Once you unblock them, they can message you again and the conversation will reappear in your inbox.

Does blocking on Messenger also block them on Facebook?

Yes. When you block someone in Messenger, they are blocked on Facebook as well. They cannot see your profile, send you friend requests, or interact with your posts. Blocking works across both platforms at the same time.