What blocking does and what it doesn't
When you block someone on Facebook, that person can no longer see your profile, send you messages, find you in search results, or see your posts and comments anywhere on the platform. They cannot tag you in photos or add you as a friend. 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 see your friends list or send you messages. Blocking is more complete: the person is essentially locked out of your presence on Facebook entirely.
One important limit: blocking does not prevent someone from seeing things you post on other people's pages or in groups you both belong to. If you comment on a mutual friend's post, that person can still see your comment. If you post in a public group, they can see it there too. Blocking only hides your own profile and direct interactions.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone removes them from your friends list, hides your profile from them, and stops them from messaging you or seeing your posts.
- You can block someone from their profile, from a conversation, or from your settings — the result is the same regardless of which method you use.
- The person you block will not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they can no longer find your profile.
- You can unblock someone at any time through your blocked list in settings, and blocking is reversible with no permanent record.
How to block someone from their profile
The quickest way to block someone is to visit their Facebook profile and use the menu at the top. Look for the three dots (on mobile) or the downward arrow (on desktop) near their name or profile picture. Tap or click it, and you will see a menu with options including "Block."
Select "Block" and Facebook will ask you to confirm. A confirmation window will appear explaining what blocking does. Click "Block" again to finish. The person's profile will immediately disappear from your view, and you will be removed from their friends list if you were connected.
If you do not want to visit their profile directly, you can also block someone from a message thread. Open the conversation, tap the person's name at the top, and select "Block" from the menu that appears.
How to block someone from a message or comment
If someone has messaged you and you want to block them without visiting their profile, open the message thread. On mobile, swipe left on the conversation (iPhone) or long-press it (Android), then tap "Block." On desktop, hover over the conversation and click the three dots, then select "Block."
You can also block someone directly from a comment they made on your post or someone else's post. Find their comment, tap or click the three dots next to it, and select "Block." This method works the same way as blocking from their profile — it blocks the entire person, not just their comments.
How to block someone from your settings
If you want to block someone without visiting their profile or a message thread, you can do it through your privacy settings. On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down to "Settings & Privacy," then tap "Settings." On desktop, click the downward arrow in the top right corner and select "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings."
Look for "Blocking" in the left menu (you may need to scroll down to find it). Tap or click it, and you will see a search box labeled "Block users." Type the person's name and select them from the results. Click "Block" next to their name.
This method is useful if you want to block someone without them potentially seeing that you visited their profile, though Facebook does not notify people when you view their profile anyway.
What the person you blocked will see
The person you block will not receive a notification saying you blocked them. However, they may figure it out if they try to find your profile and cannot, or if they notice they are no longer on your friends list.
If they search for your name, your profile will not appear in their results. If they try to visit your profile directly (by typing your URL or clicking an old link), they will see a message saying the page is not available. They cannot see your posts, photos, or any information on your profile.
If you were in a group together or if you commented on a mutual friend's post before blocking, they can still see those old interactions. But they cannot message you, tag you, or interact with anything new you post.
How to unblock someone
Blocking is not permanent. You can unblock someone at any time by going back to your blocked list. On mobile, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Blocking. On desktop, do the same. 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. Once you unblock them, they will be able to see your profile again, message you, and interact with your posts — but you will not automatically be friends again if you unfriended them before blocking.
There is no record that you blocked someone once you unblock them. The person will not be notified that you unblocked them.
Blocking versus other privacy options
Facebook offers several ways to control who sees your content and who can contact you. Unfriending removes someone from your friends list but leaves your public posts visible to them. Restricting someone keeps them as a friend but hides your posts from them unless you tag them directly — useful for people you want to stay connected to but do not want seeing everything you post.
Muting someone hides their posts from your feed without removing them as a friend or notifying them. Blocking is the most severe option and is best used when you do not want someone to interact with you at all.
You can also control who messages you by changing your message settings. Go to Settings > Privacy > Who can message you and choose between "Everyone" or "Friends only." This does not block specific people but limits who can start new conversations with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
Facebook does not send a notification when you block someone. However, they may realize it if they try to find your profile and cannot, or if they notice they are no longer on your friends list. There is no way to block someone completely invisibly, but Facebook does not tell them directly.
Can I block someone and then unblock them without them knowing?
Yes. Unblocking someone does not send them a notification, and there is no record of the block once you remove it. They will not know you blocked them unless they tried to contact you or find your profile while the block was active.
What happens to old messages if I block someone?
Old messages stay in your inbox, but you cannot see new messages from that person. If you unblock them later, you will be able to message again, but the conversation history remains. Blocking does not delete past messages.
Can I block someone on Facebook but still be friends with them on Instagram?
Yes. Facebook and Instagram are separate platforms with separate blocking systems. Blocking someone on Facebook does not affect your Instagram account or your connection to them there. You would need to block them separately on Instagram if you want to block them there too.
Can I block someone from seeing just my posts without blocking their entire profile?
Not exactly. You can restrict someone, which hides your posts from them but keeps them as a friend. Or you can adjust the privacy settings on individual posts to exclude specific people. But if you want to completely prevent someone from seeing your profile and contacting you, blocking is the only option.