What blocking does and doesn't do
Blocking someone on Facebook prevents that person from seeing your profile, sending you messages, finding you in search, or adding you as a friend. They cannot see your posts, comments, or photos. If you were already friends, blocking removes that connection.
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. A block is more complete: the blocked person cannot find you on Facebook at all unless they log out or use a different account.
The person you block will not receive a notification that 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. They may figure out they are blocked.
Key Takeaways
- You can block someone in three taps from their profile, or from your settings menu if you do not want to visit their page.
- Blocking removes an existing friendship, hides all your posts and photos from that person, and prevents them from messaging you or finding you in search.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list in settings, and blocking does not delete past messages or comments between you.
- If someone is harassing you across multiple accounts, blocking one account will not stop them from using a different one to contact you.
How to block someone from their profile
The fastest way to block someone is from their Facebook profile. Search for their name or navigate to their profile if you have a link to it. Once you are on their profile page, look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their cover photo area.
Tap or click the three-dot menu. A list of options will appear. Select "Block" from the menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — tap "Block" again. The block is now active.
On mobile, the three-dot menu may appear in slightly different locations depending on whether you are using the Facebook app or a web browser, but the option to block is always in that menu. If you cannot find it, scroll to the top of their profile and look for the menu icon near their name.
How to block someone from your settings
If you do not want to visit someone's profile, you can block them from your settings menu instead. Open Facebook and go to the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or the downward arrow on desktop in the top right).
Select "Settings and privacy," then "Settings." Scroll down to "Blocking" and tap or click it. You will see a section labeled "Block people." Type the person's name or email address in the search box. When their profile appears, click or tap "Block" next to their name.
This method is useful if you want to block someone without leaving a trace in your browser history or if you are not sure of the exact spelling of their name — the search will show you options as you type.
What happens to past messages and comments
Blocking someone does not delete messages you sent to them or messages they sent to you. Those conversations remain in your message history. However, the blocked person cannot see new messages from you, and you will not receive new messages from them.
Comments the blocked person left on your posts before the block will still be visible on your timeline, but they will not be able to leave new comments. If you want to remove their old comments, you can delete them individually by clicking the three-dot menu on each comment.
If you unblock someone later, they will be able to see all the old messages and comments again, but the conversation will pick up from where it left off — nothing is restored or hidden.
How to unblock someone
You can unblock someone at any time. Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Scroll to "Blocking" and tap or click it. Under "Block people," you will see a list of everyone you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and tap or click "Unblock" next to their name.
Facebook will ask you to confirm. Tap or click "Unblock" again. The person can now see your profile, send you messages, and add you as a friend again. Unblocking does not automatically re-add you as friends — you will both have to send friend requests if you want to reconnect.
Blocking someone who is harassing you
If someone is sending you unwanted messages or comments, blocking stops them from contacting you through that account. However, if they create a new Facebook account or message you from a different platform, blocking will not prevent that.
If harassment continues after you block someone, you can report them to Facebook. When you report a message or comment, Facebook reviews it for violations of their community standards. Go to the message or comment, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Report." Choose the reason that best describes the problem.
If the harassment is severe, threatening, or involves a minor, you can also report it to local law enforcement. Facebook can provide account information to police with a valid legal request.
Blocking versus other privacy options
Facebook offers several ways to control who sees your content and contacts you. Blocking is the strongest option, but it is not always the right choice. If you want someone to stay on your friends list but see fewer of your posts, you can use the "Restrict" feature instead — restricted people can only see your public posts and cannot tell they are restricted.
If you want to hide your profile from someone but keep them as a friend, you can adjust your privacy settings to make your profile visible only to friends, or you can limit who sees specific posts. You can also mute someone so their posts stop appearing in your feed without unfriending or blocking them.
Unfriending is gentler than blocking — the person can still see your public posts and search for you, but they cannot message you or see your friends list. Use unfriending if you want to end a friendship quietly, and blocking if you want to prevent someone from contacting you or seeing any part of your profile.
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, they will see a message saying the profile is not available. They may suspect they are blocked, but Facebook does not tell them directly.
Can I block someone without being their friend?
Yes. You can block anyone on Facebook, whether you are friends with them or not. Blocking a non-friend prevents them from sending you a friend request, messaging you, or seeing your profile in search results.
What if someone blocks me?
If someone blocks you, you will not see a notification. You may notice you cannot find their profile, cannot message them, or cannot see their posts. If you try to visit their profile directly, you will see a message saying it is not available. You cannot unblock yourself — only the person who blocked you can unblock you.
Can I block someone on Messenger without blocking them on Facebook?
No. Blocking someone on Messenger also blocks them on Facebook, and blocking on Facebook also blocks them on Messenger. The two are connected to the same account.
If I unblock someone, will they know?
Facebook does not notify someone when you unblock them. They will only know if they try to contact you or visit your profile and find they can again.