What blocking does on Facebook
When you block someone on Facebook, they can no longer see your profile, send you messages, find you in search results, or see your posts in their feed. You won't see their profile or posts either. The block is one-way from your end — they won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but if they try to visit your profile or search for you, they'll see that your profile isn't available to them.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and find your profile — you just won't be connected as friends anymore. A block is stronger: it hides you from that person almost entirely on the platform.
If you change your mind later, you can unblock someone at any time. There's no time limit on how long a block lasts.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone removes them from your friends list, hides your profile from them, and stops them from messaging you or seeing your posts.
- The person you block won't get a notification that you blocked them, but they'll see an error if they try to visit your profile.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from your friends list — all methods take about 30 seconds.
- If you block someone by accident or change your mind, you can unblock them from your privacy settings at any time.
How to block someone from their profile
Open Facebook and search for the person's name or navigate to their profile. Once you're on their profile page, look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their profile header (on mobile, it may be labeled "More"). Tap or click that menu.
A dropdown list will appear. Select "Block" from the options. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click "Block [Name]" to finish. The block takes effect immediately.
If you're on mobile and the three-dot menu doesn't appear in the expected spot, scroll down slightly on their profile. The menu sometimes appears lower on the page depending on your device.
How to block someone from a conversation
Open Facebook Messenger and find the conversation with the person you want to block. On mobile, press and hold the conversation until a menu appears, then tap "Block." On a computer, hover over the conversation name and click the three-dot menu icon, then select "Block."
Facebook will ask you to confirm. Choose whether you want to also delete the conversation history — this is optional. If you delete it, you won't see past messages, but the person may still have their copy of the conversation. Click "Block" to finish.
Blocking someone from Messenger also blocks them on the main Facebook platform, so you won't see their posts or profile anywhere on the site.
How to block someone from your friends list
Go to your profile and click or tap "Friends" to see your full friends list. Search for the person's name in that list or scroll to find them. Click or tap their name to open their profile, then use the three-dot menu to select "Block," as described in the first method above.
Alternatively, hover over or press and hold their name in the friends list itself — some versions of Facebook show a quick menu with a block option without opening their full profile. This varies depending on whether you're on mobile or desktop.
What the blocked person will see
If someone you've blocked tries to search for you on Facebook, your profile won't appear in the results. If they try to visit your profile directly (for example, by clicking an old link), they'll see a message saying the profile isn't available or that the content doesn't exist.
They won't be able to see your posts, photos, or friends list. Any messages you sent before the block will still be in their Messenger inbox, but they won't be able to send you new messages. If they try, the message won't go through.
The blocked person will not receive a notification saying you blocked them. However, they may figure it out if they notice they can't find your profile or if a mutual friend mentions something you posted.
How to unblock someone
Go to your Facebook settings by clicking the downward arrow in the top right corner of the page (on mobile, tap the three horizontal lines, then "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings"). Select "Blocking" from the left menu.
You'll see a list of people you've blocked under "Blocked people." Find the person you want to unblock and click or tap "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when Facebook asks you to verify. The unblock takes effect immediately, and the person will be able to see your profile and message you again.
Unblocking someone does not automatically re-add them to your friends list — you'll need to send them a friend request again if you want to be connected as friends.
Common mistakes to avoid
Don't confuse blocking with restricting. Restricting someone means they can still see your public posts, but their comments won't show up on your posts unless you approve them. Blocking is much stronger. If you only want to limit what someone sees without fully blocking them, use the restrict feature instead.
Don't assume the person won't figure out you blocked them. While they won't get a notification, they may notice they can't find your profile or that mutual friends can see your posts but they can't. If you're concerned about confrontation, blocking is still the right move — just be prepared for the possibility that they'll realize it happened.
Don't block someone and then immediately unblock them thinking it will erase the block. Unblocking just removes the block going forward. If you want to hide something you posted before blocking, you'll need to delete that post separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes. The person won't receive a notification that you blocked them. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile, search for you, or notice that mutual friends can see your posts but they can't. Blocking is silent, but not always invisible.
What happens to messages I already sent before blocking someone?
Messages you sent before the block will remain in their Messenger inbox, and they can still read them. However, they won't be able to reply to you or send new messages. Any messages they try to send after the block won't go through.
If I block someone, will they see that I deleted them from my friends list?
No. Blocking removes them from your friends list as part of the block, but they won't get a notification about it. They'll only know if they try to visit your profile or search for you and realize they can't access it.
Can I block someone on Facebook but still see their profile?
No. Blocking is mutual in terms of visibility — once you block someone, you can't see their profile, posts, or stories either. If you want to stay friends but hide their posts from your feed, use the "Unfollow" feature instead, which keeps you connected but removes their content from your view.
What's the difference between blocking and deactivating my account?
Blocking hides you from one specific person. Deactivating your account temporarily hides your entire profile from everyone on Facebook. If you want to take a break from Facebook or hide from multiple people, deactivation is stronger, but blocking is the right choice if you only need to hide from one or a few people.