What blocking does and doesn't do
Blocking on Facebook stops another person from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you through search. They cannot see your posts, photos, friends list, or any content you share. If you were already friends, blocking also removes them from your friends list.
Blocking is not the same as unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and search for your profile — they just can't message you or see your friends list. Blocking is stronger: the blocked person cannot find your profile at all unless you unblock them later.
One important limit: blocking does not hide past conversations. If you and the blocked person exchanged messages before you blocked them, those messages stay in both inboxes. Blocking only stops new contact going forward.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile, sending you messages, or finding you through Facebook search.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from your privacy settings — all three methods work the same way.
- The blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they can no longer find your profile.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list in settings, which restores their ability to message and find you.
- Blocking on Facebook does not affect your other Meta apps like Instagram or Messenger unless you block them there too.
How to block someone from their profile
Open the profile of the person you want to block. Look for the three dots (•••) in the top right corner of their profile header, next to the "Message" button. Tap or click those dots to open a menu.
Select "Block" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Choose "Block" again, and the person is now blocked. Their profile will disappear from your view, and you will no longer see their posts or comments on mutual friends' pages.
How to block someone from a conversation or message
Open your messages or the conversation with the person you want to block. Look for the three dots (•••) at the top of the conversation window. Tap or click them to open options.
Select "Block" from the menu. You will see a confirmation screen. Choose "Block" to finish. The conversation will remain in your message history, but the person cannot send you new messages.
How to block someone from your privacy settings
Go to your Facebook settings by clicking the downward arrow in the top right corner of any page. Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings."
On the left side, scroll down and select "Blocking." You will see a section labeled "Block users." Type the name or email of the person you want to block into the search box. Click their name when it appears, then select "Block."
This method is useful if you want to block someone without visiting their profile, or if you want to block multiple people at once.
What happens after you block someone
The blocked person cannot see your profile, posts, photos, or friends list. They cannot send you messages, add you as a friend, or tag you in photos or posts. If you were in a group together, they can still see the group and your posts within it, but they cannot message you privately.
Facebook does not notify the blocked person that you blocked them. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and see an error message, or if they notice they can no longer find you through search.
If you have mutual friends, those friends can still see both of your profiles and posts. The blocked person will not see your activity on your mutual friends' pages, but your mutual friends will still see theirs.
How to unblock someone
Return to your settings by clicking the downward arrow in the top right corner. Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings."
On the left side, scroll down and select "Blocking." You will see a list of people you have blocked under "Block users." Find the person you want to unblock and click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm when Facebook asks you to.
Once you unblock someone, they can see your profile again, search for you, and send you messages. Unblocking does not automatically re-add them to your friends list if you were previously friends.
Blocking on Instagram and Messenger
Blocking someone on Facebook does not automatically block them on Instagram or Facebook Messenger. If you want to block them on those apps too, you need to block them separately in each one.
To block someone on Instagram, go to their profile, tap the three dots in the top right, and select "Block." To block someone on Messenger, open the conversation, tap their name at the top, scroll down, and select "Block."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may realize it if they try to visit your profile and cannot find it, or if they notice they can no longer see your posts or send you messages. There is no way for them to know for certain through Facebook itself.
What if I block someone by accident?
You can unblock them at any time through your settings. Go to Settings, select Blocking, find their name in your blocked list, and click Unblock. They will then be able to see your profile and message you again.
If I block someone, can they still see messages we sent before?
Yes. Blocking only stops new messages and contact. Any messages you exchanged before blocking remain in both of your inboxes. If you want to delete old conversations, you can delete them from your message history, but this does not remove them from the other person's inbox.
Does blocking someone on Facebook block them on WhatsApp?
No. Blocking on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger does not affect WhatsApp. If you want to block someone on WhatsApp, you must block them separately in that app.
Can I block someone without them being my friend?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether they are your friend or not. Blocking someone who is not your friend prevents them from sending you a friend request, messaging you, or finding your profile through search.