Blocking stops a person from messaging you and seeing your active status
When you block someone on Facebook Messenger, they can no longer send you messages, see when you're online, or view your profile picture and status. The block works across both Messenger and Facebook itself — if you block them on one, they're blocked on both. They won't receive a notification that you've blocked them, but they'll notice they can't message you or find your profile.
You can block someone from Messenger directly, without going through Facebook's main settings. The person you block can still see old messages you sent them before the block, but they can't reply to those messages or start new conversations with you.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Messenger prevents them from sending you messages and seeing your online status, and works across both Messenger and Facebook.
- You can block someone by opening a conversation with them, tapping their name at the top, scrolling down, and selecting the block option.
- A blocked person can still see messages you sent before the block, but cannot reply to them or start new conversations.
- You can unblock someone at any time through your Messenger settings by finding them in your blocked list and selecting unblock.
- Blocking is different from muting — muting hides notifications from someone but still lets them message you and see your status.
How to block someone on Messenger using your phone
Open Messenger and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap their name or profile picture at the top of the chat window. This opens their profile card inside Messenger.
Scroll down to the bottom of the profile card. You'll see options like "Mute," "Report," and "Block." Tap "Block." A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure — tap "Block" again to confirm. The conversation will disappear from your inbox immediately.
If you can't find an active conversation with the person, you can also block them from your main Messenger inbox. Long-press (or press and hold) their name in your chat list, then tap "Block" from the menu that appears.
How to block someone on Messenger using a computer
Go to Messenger.com or open Messenger from Facebook.com. Find the conversation with the person you want to block and click on it to open the chat.
Look for their name at the top of the conversation window and click on it. This opens a panel on the right side showing their profile information. Scroll down in this panel until you see the "Block" option, then click it. Confirm when prompted.
If you don't have an active conversation with them, you can search for their name using the search bar at the top of Messenger, click their profile, and look for a three-dot menu icon to find the block option.
What happens after you block someone
The blocked person cannot send you new messages. If they try to message you, they'll see an error or a message saying they can't reach you. They won't be able to see your profile picture, status, or whether you're online. Any group chats you're both in will still exist, but they won't be able to message you directly.
Old messages in your conversation history remain visible to you, but the blocked person cannot reply to them. If you had a group conversation with multiple people, the group chat stays intact for everyone else, and the blocked person can still see and participate in it — blocking only affects one-on-one communication.
The block does not delete your conversation history. You can still scroll back and read old messages from before you blocked them. If you later unblock the person, the conversation reappears in your inbox with all previous messages intact.
How to unblock someone on Messenger
Open Messenger and tap the profile icon (your picture) in the bottom right corner on a phone, or click the three horizontal lines in the top left on a computer. Look for "Settings & Privacy" or "Settings," then tap or click "Settings."
Scroll down and find "Blocked People" or "Blocked Contacts." This shows everyone you've blocked on Messenger and Facebook. Find the person you want to unblock and tap or click next to their name. Select "Unblock" and confirm.
Once you unblock someone, they can message you again and see your online status. They won't know you unblocked them unless they try to message you and succeed. Your old conversation history will reappear in your inbox.
Blocking versus muting and reporting
Blocking and muting are different tools for different situations. When you mute someone, you still receive their messages, but you don't get notifications about them. They can still see when you're online and message you normally — you just won't hear the ping. Muting is useful if someone isn't bothering you but you don't want constant alerts.
Reporting is for when someone is harassing, threatening, or sending spam. When you report a conversation, you send it to Facebook's support team to review. Reporting doesn't automatically block the person, but it creates a record if the behavior continues. You can report and block at the same time.
If someone is sending unwanted messages repeatedly, blocking is usually the right choice. If someone is just chatty and you want fewer notifications, muting works better. If someone is breaking Facebook's rules, report them in addition to blocking.
Troubleshooting: Block option not showing
If you don't see a block option when you tap someone's name, make sure you're looking at their profile card inside Messenger, not just their name in the chat list. On a phone, tap their name or picture at the very top of the conversation — not the message area. On a computer, click their name at the top of the chat window.
If the block option still doesn't appear, try updating Messenger to the latest version. Older versions sometimes have missing features. Close Messenger completely and reopen it, or uninstall and reinstall the app if the update doesn't help.
You cannot block someone you're not connected to on Facebook at all. If you want to block a stranger who messaged you, you may need to add them as a contact first or report them instead. Facebook's support page on blocking has additional options for accounts that aren't yet connected to yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I blocked them?
They won't receive a notification, but they'll figure it out when they try to message you and can't. They may also notice your profile is no longer visible to them. Facebook doesn't announce blocks, so there's no official notification, but the effect is obvious once they try to contact you.
Will they see old messages after I block them?
Yes. They can still read messages you sent before the block, but they cannot reply to them or send you new messages. The conversation stays in their inbox, but it's essentially frozen on their end.
What if we're in a group chat together?
Blocking only affects one-on-one messages. They can still see and message in group conversations you're both part of. If you want to avoid them completely, you'd need to leave the group chat or mute notifications from it.
Can I block someone without them seeing I read their last message?
No. If you've already read their message, they can see that (if read receipts are on). Blocking happens after the fact — it doesn't hide whether you saw their previous messages. You can turn off read receipts in Messenger settings to prevent them from seeing future reads, but that applies to everyone.
What's the difference between blocking on Messenger and blocking on Facebook?
There's no difference — blocking someone on Messenger automatically blocks them on Facebook, and vice versa. It's one block that works across both platforms. You only need to block them once.