You can block someone on Messenger in three taps from your phone, or a few clicks on desktop
Open the conversation with the person you want to block. On your phone, tap their name at the top of the chat. On desktop, click the information icon (circle with an "i") in the top right. Scroll down to find "Block" and tap or click it. Facebook will ask you to confirm — once you do, that person can no longer message you, see when you're online, or find your profile in search.
The block takes effect immediately. Any messages they send after you block them will sit in their inbox undelivered, though they won't see a notification that the message failed. They'll only know you've blocked them if they try to visit your profile or search for you and can't find you.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Messenger prevents them from sending you messages, seeing your online status, or finding your profile in search.
- The person you block will not receive a notification that you've blocked them, but they may figure it out if messages don't go through.
- You can unblock someone at any time by going to your blocked list in Settings, though they won't be notified when you unblock them.
- Blocking on Messenger also blocks them on Facebook itself — you won't see their posts, and they won't see yours.
What happens to old messages when you block someone
Messages you've already exchanged stay in your chat history. You can still read what they sent you before the block, and they remain in your inbox. The block only stops new messages from coming through.
If you want to delete the entire conversation, you can do that separately. Open the chat, press and hold it (on phone) or right-click it (on desktop), and select "Delete Chat". This removes the conversation from your inbox but does not notify the other person.
How to block someone from their profile instead of a chat
You don't have to be in an active conversation to block someone. Go to their Facebook profile, tap the three dots (on phone) or click the three dots (on desktop) near the top, and select "Block". You can also block them from a comment they've made on a post — tap or click the three dots next to their name and choose "Block".
Blocking from a profile works the same way as blocking from Messenger: they can't message you, see your online status, or find you in search. The block applies across both Facebook and Messenger at the same time.
Unblocking someone and what they'll see
To unblock someone, go to Settings on Facebook (the downward arrow in the top right on desktop, or the three horizontal lines on phone). Select "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings." Scroll down to "Blocking" and tap or click it. Find the person's name in your blocked list and tap or click "Unblock."
When you unblock someone, they don't get a notification. They won't know you've unblocked them unless they try to message you or visit your profile and see that they can now. You won't see their old messages reappear — your chat history remains the same as it was before the block.
The difference between blocking and muting
Muting is different from blocking. When you mute someone on Messenger, they can still message you and see when you're online, but you won't get notifications from them. Their messages will arrive silently in your inbox. You can mute a conversation by opening it, tapping or clicking the bell icon, and choosing how long to mute (15 minutes, 1 hour, 8 hours, or until you turn notifications back on).
Blocking is stronger: the person cannot contact you at all. Muting is useful when someone isn't bothering you but you don't want constant notifications. Blocking is for when you don't want contact with them. You can also restrict someone, which is a middle ground — they can message you, but you won't see their messages unless you check the "Message Requests" folder.
What to do if someone keeps trying to contact you after you block them
If someone creates a new account to message you after you've blocked them, that's harassment. You can block the new account the same way you blocked the first one. If the behavior continues, take a screenshot of the messages and report them to Facebook. Tap the three dots on the message, select "Report," and choose "It's harassment or abuse."
Facebook takes repeated contact after a block seriously. If you report the same person multiple times for trying to contact you through new accounts, they may face restrictions on their ability to create accounts or message people. You can also block them on Instagram if they try to reach you there — blocking on Facebook does not block them on Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell I blocked them on Messenger?
They won't get a notification, but they may figure it out if messages don't go through or if they can't find your profile. There's no way for them to see a list of people who've blocked them.
If I block someone, can they still see my old posts?
No. Once you block someone, they can't see your profile, your posts, your photos, or your friends list. Posts you've already made remain on Facebook's servers, but they can't access them.
Does blocking on Messenger also block them on Facebook?
Yes. Blocking on Messenger blocks them on Facebook as well. They can't message you, see your profile, or interact with your posts anywhere on Facebook's platforms.
What if I block someone by mistake?
Go to Settings, then Blocking, find their name, and tap or click "Unblock." They won't be notified, and you'll be able to message them again right away.
Can I block someone without them knowing I've read their last message?
No. If you've already opened the message, they can see it was read (if read receipts are on). You can turn off read receipts in Messenger settings so no one sees when you've read messages, but this applies to everyone, not just one person.