How to block a person in Facebook Messenger
To block someone in Messenger, open a conversation with that person, tap or click the three dots or info icon at the top of the chat, select "Block," and confirm. On mobile, the three dots appear in the top right of the conversation. On desktop, look for the person's name at the top — click it to open their profile card, then select the three dots menu. The person will no longer be able to message you, see when you're active, or view your profile.
Blocking in Messenger is separate from blocking on Facebook itself. If you block someone only in Messenger, they can still see your Facebook profile and send you friend requests. If you want to block them everywhere, you need to block them from your main Facebook settings as well. Most people block in Messenger alone when they want to stop a conversation but don't need to hide their profile.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone in Messenger stops them from sending you messages, but they can still see your Facebook profile unless you block them there too.
- The block takes effect immediately — the person will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they will notice they cannot message you.
- You can unblock someone anytime by going to your blocked list in Messenger settings and selecting "Unblock."
- If someone is harassing you, take a screenshot of the messages before blocking, in case you need to report them to Facebook.
Where to find the block option on different devices
On iPhone or Android, open Messenger and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap the three horizontal dots or lines in the top right corner of that conversation. A menu will appear with options including "Block." Tap "Block" and then confirm when the app asks you to verify.
On a computer, open Messenger in your web browser or the desktop app. Click on the conversation, then look at the top of the chat window. You should see the person's name and a small icon — usually three dots or a circle with an "i" for information. Click that icon to open a menu with the block option. Select "Block" and confirm.
What happens when you block someone
Once you block someone in Messenger, they cannot send you new messages. Any messages they try to send will not go through, and they will not receive a notification that their message failed — they will simply see that the message did not deliver. They also cannot see when you are active in Messenger or whether you have read their messages.
The person can still see your Facebook profile, your posts, and your photos unless you have also blocked them on Facebook itself. They can still call you on Messenger if you have not blocked them on Facebook — blocking in Messenger alone does not stop calls. If you want complete separation, block them from your main Facebook account settings, which will block them everywhere on the platform.
How to unblock someone in Messenger
To unblock someone, open Messenger and tap the profile icon or settings icon (usually at the bottom right on mobile, or in the top left on desktop). Look for "People" or "Blocked" in the menu. Tap or click on "Blocked people" or "Blocked accounts." You will see a list of everyone you have blocked in Messenger.
Find the person you want to unblock and tap or click "Unblock" next to their name. Confirm the action when prompted. Once you unblock them, they can message you again, see when you are active, and send you calls. Unblocking does not automatically restore old messages — those remain deleted from your view.
Blocking versus reporting someone
Blocking stops someone from contacting you, but it does not report them to Facebook. If someone is sending you threatening messages, sexual content you did not ask for, or other harmful material, you should report them in addition to blocking. To report a message, tap and hold it (on mobile) or right-click it (on desktop), then select "Report." Choose the reason that best describes the problem.
Facebook takes reports seriously and may remove the person's account or restrict their ability to message others. Blocking alone just protects you from that one person. If you are being harassed by multiple accounts or the same person keeps creating new accounts to contact you, reporting helps Facebook identify a pattern and take stronger action.
If someone blocks you in Messenger
If someone blocks you, you will not receive a notification saying "You have been blocked." Instead, you will notice that your messages to them do not deliver. When you try to send a message, it may show a delivery status that stays stuck or says "Not delivered." You also will not be able to see when they are active or call them through Messenger.
You can still see their Facebook profile and any posts they have made public, unless they have also blocked you on Facebook. If you try to message them and see "This person is not available right now," it could mean they are blocked, they have deactivated their account, or they have deleted Messenger. There is no way to know for certain which one without trying to visit their profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the person know I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification saying you blocked someone. However, they will realize it when they try to message you and see that their messages do not deliver. They may also notice they cannot see when you are active or find your profile in search.
Can I block someone without them seeing my old messages?
No. Blocking only stops future messages. Any messages you sent before blocking will still be visible in their chat history. If you want to remove old messages, you can delete them from your view, but they will still see them on their end.
What is the difference between blocking in Messenger and blocking on Facebook?
Blocking in Messenger stops them from messaging you but does not hide your profile. Blocking on Facebook hides your profile, posts, and photos from them everywhere on the platform and also blocks them in Messenger. To fully separate from someone, block them on Facebook itself, not just in Messenger.
Can I block someone and still be friends with them on Facebook?
Yes. Blocking in Messenger alone does not remove the friendship. You can block their messages while remaining friends. However, if you block them on Facebook, the friendship is automatically removed and you cannot message each other.
If I unblock someone, will they see my old messages?
Yes. Unblocking restores access to the entire conversation history. They will be able to see all messages you sent before you blocked them. If you want to hide specific messages, delete them from your view before unblocking, though they will still see them on their end.