What blocking does and why you might use it
Blocking someone on Facebook stops them from seeing your profile, sending you messages, finding you in search results, or tagging you in photos and posts. They cannot see your friends list, your past posts, or anything you share going forward. If you were already friends, blocking also removes them from your friends list without notifying them that you blocked them — they will just see that you are no longer connected.
Blocking is different from unfriending. When you unfriend someone, they can still see your public posts and search for your profile; blocking prevents both. Blocking is also different from muting, which hides someone's posts from your feed but lets them stay your friend and see your content.
You might block someone because they are harassing you, posting content you find offensive, or simply because you do not want them to see your activity. Facebook does not tell the person you blocked them, though they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and cannot find it.
Key Takeaways
- You can block someone in three places: from their profile, from a post or comment they made, or from your settings menu.
- A blocked person cannot message you, see your profile, or find you in search, but they can still see your public posts if they log out or use a different account.
- Blocking someone does not delete past messages between you — those stay in your message history unless you delete them separately.
- You can unblock someone at any time from your blocked list in settings, and they will not be notified when you do.
How to block someone from their profile
Open Facebook and navigate to the person's profile. You can find them by searching their name in the search bar at the top of the page, or by clicking on their name in a comment, post, or message thread.
Once you are on their profile, look for the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of their cover photo area (on mobile, this may appear as three horizontal lines). Click or tap it. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select Block from the list. Facebook will ask you to confirm — click Block [Name] to proceed.
After you block them, their profile will no longer be visible to you, and you will not see their posts, comments, or messages. If you were friends before blocking, they are now removed from your friends list.
How to block someone from a post or comment
If someone has commented on a post or sent you a message that you want to block them over, you do not have to visit their profile first. Find the comment or message and look for the three-dot menu next to it. Click or tap those dots.
A menu will pop up with options including Block. Select it, and Facebook will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, that person is blocked and cannot interact with you or see your content.
This method is faster if you are already looking at the post or message thread and do not want to navigate to their full profile.
How to block someone on mobile
The process on the Facebook mobile app is nearly identical to the desktop version. Open the app and find the person's profile by searching for their name or tapping their name in a comment or message.
On their profile, tap the three-line menu icon (sometimes called a hamburger menu) near the top right. Scroll down until you see Block and tap it. Confirm the action when prompted.
You can also block someone from a comment or message by tapping the three dots next to their name or comment and selecting Block from the menu that appears.
What happens after you block someone
Once you block someone, they cannot send you friend requests, message you, or see any of your posts, photos, or profile information. If you had mutual friends, those friends can still see the blocked person's posts and interact with them — blocking only affects your relationship with that person.
Past messages between you and the blocked person remain in your message history. If you want to delete those messages, you will need to delete them separately from your message thread. Blocking does not automatically erase your conversation history.
The blocked person may eventually realize they are blocked if they try to visit your profile and cannot find it, or if they notice they can no longer see your posts. However, Facebook does not send them a notification saying you blocked them.
How to unblock someone
If you change your mind about blocking someone, you can unblock them at any time. On desktop, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Blocking.
You will see a list of all the people you have blocked. Find the person you want to unblock and click Unblock next to their name. Confirm when prompted. They will not be notified that you unblocked them.
On mobile, tap the three-line menu, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Scroll down and tap Blocking. Find the person and tap Unblock.
Things to know about blocking
Blocking someone does not hide your public posts from them if they log out of Facebook or view your profile from a different account. If your posts are set to public, anyone can see them without being logged in. If you want to prevent someone from seeing your posts entirely, you may need to make your profile private or change your post privacy settings.
If you block someone and then later unblock them, they do not automatically become your friend again. You will need to send them a new friend request, and they will need to accept it. Blocking and unblocking does not restore a friendship.
You can block up to a few thousand people on Facebook, though most people will never need to block that many. There is no limit that will prevent you from blocking someone you need to block.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile and cannot find it, or if they notice they can no longer see your posts. There is no way for them to know for certain from Facebook itself.
If I block someone, can they still see my old posts?
If your posts are set to public, they can still see them if they log out of Facebook or use a different account. If your posts are set to private or friends-only, blocked people cannot see them. Blocking prevents them from seeing your profile and new activity, but not public posts.
What is the difference between blocking and unfriending?
Unfriending removes someone from your friends list but they can still see your public posts and search for your profile. Blocking prevents them from seeing your profile, searching for you, or viewing any of your posts. Blocking is more restrictive.
Do my messages with a blocked person stay in my inbox?
Yes. Blocking does not delete past messages. Your conversation history remains in your message thread unless you delete it manually. You can still read old messages from someone you blocked, but they cannot send you new ones.
Can I block someone without them knowing?
Yes. Facebook does not notify people when you block them. They will not receive a message or alert. They may eventually realize it if they try to find your profile or message you, but Facebook itself does not tell them.