You can block someone before or after they send a friend request
Facebook gives you two ways to stop unwanted friend requests. You can block someone preemptively so they cannot send you a request in the first place, or you can decline a request that has already arrived and then block them if you want to prevent future contact. Blocking is the stronger option — a blocked person cannot message you, see your profile, or find you in search results.
The method you choose depends on whether you have already received the request. If someone keeps sending requests after you decline, blocking stops them from trying again.
Key Takeaways
- Declining a friend request removes it from your inbox but does not stop the person from sending another one later.
- Blocking someone prevents them from sending you any friend requests, messages, or seeing your profile at all.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a friend request notification, or from your blocked list.
- A blocked person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they cannot find your profile.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your settings, which allows them to send requests again.
How to decline a friend request without blocking
When a friend request arrives, you see it in the notification menu or on your Friends page. Open the request and you will see two buttons: "Confirm" and "Delete Request." Click "Delete Request" to remove it from your inbox. The person will not be notified that you declined.
Declining is useful if you simply do not want to be friends with someone but do not need to block them. However, they can send you another request later. If the same person keeps sending requests, declining alone will not stop them — you will need to block instead.
How to block someone from their profile
Visit the person's Facebook profile. Click the three dots (•••) in the top right corner of their profile header. A menu appears with options including "Block." Click it, and Facebook will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, that person is blocked.
This method works whether or not they have sent you a request. Blocking from their profile is the most direct route if you already know who you want to block.
How to block someone who sent you a request
Open the friend request notification. Instead of just declining, look for the three dots (•••) next to their name or on the request itself. Click those dots and select "Block." This declines the request and blocks them in one step.
Some versions of Facebook show a "Block" option directly on the request card. If you see it, click it immediately. This is faster than declining first and then finding their profile to block.
How to block someone from your blocked list
If you have already blocked someone and want to manage your blocked accounts, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Scroll down and click "Blocking." You will see a list of everyone you have blocked. From here you can also block new people by typing their name in the "Block users" box at the top.
This page also shows you your full blocked list, so you can see at a glance who cannot contact you. You can unblock anyone from this same page by clicking "Unblock" next to their name.
What happens when you block someone
A blocked person cannot send you friend requests, messages, or see your profile. They cannot find you in search results, tag you in photos, or see your posts. If you were already friends before blocking, they are unfriended automatically.
The blocked person will not receive a notification saying you blocked them. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you, they will see a message saying the profile is not available. Over time, they may figure out they are blocked, but Facebook does not tell them directly.
How to unblock someone
Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Click "Blocking" and find the person's name in your blocked list. Click "Unblock" next to their name. Facebook will ask you to confirm. Once you do, that person can send you friend requests and messages again.
Unblocking does not automatically refriend you — it simply removes the block. The person will have to send a new friend request if they want to connect with you again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, if they try to visit your profile or search for you and cannot find you, they may realize they are blocked. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly, but Facebook does not announce it.
Can I block someone without declining their request first?
Yes. You can block someone directly from their profile or from the friend request notification without ever clicking "Decline." Blocking automatically removes any pending request from them.
What if I block someone by mistake?
Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Blocking. Find the person's name and click "Unblock." They can then send you a new friend request. Unblocking takes effect immediately.
Can a blocked person message me through another account?
If they create a new account or use someone else's account, they could theoretically send you a message. However, blocking one account does not prevent them from creating another. If harassment continues, you can report it to Facebook or block additional accounts as they appear.
Does blocking someone remove them from my friends list?
If you were already friends with someone before blocking them, blocking automatically unfriends you. If you have not accepted their request yet, blocking simply prevents the request from going through.