You can block someone on Facebook, and they won't get a notification
When you block someone on Facebook, they don't receive a message telling them they've been blocked. They simply can't find your profile, see your posts, message you, or access anything you've shared. Facebook doesn't send a notification, but the person may eventually figure it out if they search for you directly and notice your profile is no longer visible to them.
The block takes effect immediately. If you're worried about someone seeing your activity or contacting you, blocking is the fastest way to stop that from happening right now. The person won't know the block came from you specifically — they'll just see that your profile isn't accessible to them anymore.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Facebook prevents them from seeing your profile, posts, messages, and friend list, and Facebook does not notify them that you blocked them.
- You can block someone from their profile page, from a message thread, or from your settings, depending on where you are when you decide to block.
- The person may eventually realize they're blocked if they search for you and can't find your profile, but Facebook itself won't tell them.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list, and they will not be notified when you unblock them either.
- Blocking is different from unfriending — when you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and find your profile unless you also block them.
How to block someone from their Facebook profile
The most direct way to block someone is to go to their profile and use the block option there. Open Facebook and search for the person's name or find them through your friends list. Once you're on their profile, look for the three dots (•••) or the down arrow in the top right corner of their profile header — the area that shows their name and cover photo.
Click that menu and select "Block" from the options that appear. A confirmation window will pop up asking if you're sure. Click "Block" again to confirm. That's it — the block is now active, and they cannot see your profile or contact you.
If you're on a phone, the steps are the same. Tap the three dots on their profile, scroll down, and tap "Block." The confirmation window will appear, and you tap "Block" again to finish.
How to block someone from a Facebook message
If someone is messaging you and you want to block them without visiting their profile, you can block them directly from the message thread. Open the conversation with that person, then look for the three dots (•••) at the top of the message window.
Tap or click those dots and select "Block" from the menu. You'll see a confirmation asking if you want to block this person. Confirm, and the block takes effect immediately. All their past messages will still be in your message history, but they won't be able to send you new ones, and you won't see any messages they try to send.
How to block someone from your settings
You can also block someone through your Facebook settings without going to their profile. Click the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines (on mobile), then select "Settings & Privacy" and then "Settings."
On the left side, click "Blocking." You'll see a section that says "Block users." Type the person's name into the search box and click the "Block" button next to their name. Confirm the block, and it's done. This method is useful if you want to block someone but don't want to visit their profile.
What happens when you block someone
Once someone is blocked, they cannot see your profile, posts, photos, or videos. They can't message you, add you as a friend, or see you in their friends list. If you had mutual friends before the block, those friendships remain, but the blocked person can't see your shared connections or any posts you make on mutual friends' pages.
If the blocked person tries to search for you by name, your profile won't appear in their search results. If they try to visit your profile directly through an old link, they'll see a message saying the profile isn't available. They won't see the word "blocked" — Facebook just makes your profile invisible to them.
One important detail: if you have a public post that the blocked person saw before you blocked them, they may still be able to see that post if they access it through a search engine or another route. But they won't be able to see any new posts you make, and they can't interact with any of your content.
The difference between blocking and unfriending
Blocking and unfriending are not the same thing. When you unfriend someone, they're removed from your friends list, but they can still see your public posts and find your profile unless you've also blocked them. They can also message you (unless you've blocked them separately).
Blocking is much more restrictive. It hides your entire profile from that person and prevents all contact. If you want to completely cut off someone's access to you, blocking is the right choice. If you just want to remove someone from your friends list but don't mind if they see your public posts, unfriending alone is enough.
How to unblock someone if you change your mind
If you block someone and later decide you want to unblock them, you can do that anytime. Go to your settings, click "Blocking," and you'll see a list of all the people you've blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click the "Unblock" button next to their name. Confirm the action, and the block is removed.
When you unblock someone, Facebook does not notify them. They won't know you unblocked them unless they try to search for you and suddenly find your profile again. Once unblocked, they can message you, add you as a friend, and see your posts the same way they could before the block.
What to do if someone keeps trying to contact you after being blocked
If someone is trying to reach you through a different account, a different platform, or by asking mutual friends to pass along messages, blocking them on Facebook won't stop that. In those cases, you may need to take additional steps like blocking them on other platforms, muting notifications from mutual friends, or reporting the behavior to Facebook if it crosses into harassment.
If someone is harassing you across multiple platforms or creating fake accounts to contact you after you've blocked them, you can report this to Facebook. Go to the profile or message, click the three dots, and select "Report." Choose "It's harassment or abuse" and provide details about what's happening. Facebook's support team will review the report and may take action against the person's account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Facebook doesn't send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they search for you and can't find your profile, or if they notice they can't message you anymore. There's no way for them to know for certain that you blocked them rather than deactivated your account or changed your privacy settings.
Can a blocked person still see my old posts or comments?
If the blocked person saw your post or comment before you blocked them, they may still be able to access it through their own message history or through a search engine. However, they can't see any new posts you make, and they can't interact with anything on your profile. If you want to remove old posts from their view, you'd need to delete those posts yourself.
What if I block someone by accident?
You can unblock them immediately by going to Settings, clicking Blocking, finding their name, and clicking Unblock. They won't be notified that you unblocked them. If you're worried they noticed the brief block, you could send them a message explaining it was accidental, but that's up to you.
Can I block someone without unfriending them first?
Yes. When you block someone, Facebook automatically removes them from your friends list, but you don't need to unfriend them separately first. The block handles everything — they're removed as a friend and hidden from your profile all at once.
If I block someone, will they see that I've blocked them in their blocked list?
No. Blocked people cannot see a list of who has blocked them. They can only see their own blocked list — the people they have blocked. There's no way for them to know they're on someone else's blocked list through Facebook itself.