How to block someone on Messenger
To block someone on 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. The person will no longer be able to message you, see when you're active, or view your profile from Messenger. They won't receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may notice they can't reach you.
The exact steps differ slightly between the mobile app and desktop, but the result is the same. On mobile, you can also block someone by long-pressing their name in your conversation list and selecting "Block" from the menu. On desktop, the three-dot menu appears in the top right of any open chat.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Messenger prevents them from sending you messages, calling you, or seeing your active status.
- The blocked person will not receive a notification, but they will discover the block when they try to message you.
- You can unblock someone at any time through your Messenger settings or by opening their profile.
- Blocking on Messenger does not affect your Facebook friendship — you must unfriend them separately if you want to remove them from your friends list.
- Blocked messages and calls are deleted from both sides of the conversation and cannot be recovered.
Blocking on mobile vs. desktop
On iPhone or Android, open Messenger and find the conversation with the person you want to block. Tap the person's name or profile picture at the top of the chat to open their info panel. Scroll down and tap "Block," then confirm by tapping "Block [Name]." The app will remove the conversation from your inbox.
On desktop or web, open the conversation and look for the three horizontal dots or an info icon in the top right corner of the chat window. Click it and select "Block" from the menu. A confirmation window will appear — click "Block" again to finish.
Both methods produce the same result, so choose whichever device you're using. If you block someone while on mobile, the block applies across all devices where you use Messenger.
What happens when you block someone
Once you block someone, they cannot send you messages, make calls, or see your profile picture, status, or active status in Messenger. Any messages they try to send will not go through, and they will not receive a delivery confirmation. If they call you, the call will not ring on your end.
The blocked person can still see your Facebook profile if they search for you, but they cannot interact with your posts or send you friend requests through Facebook itself. Blocking on Messenger alone does not remove them from your friends list — you must unfriend them separately on Facebook if that is what you want.
All previous messages between you and the blocked person remain in your chat history, but they will not be able to see them. If you later unblock the person, the old conversation will reappear for both of you.
Unblocking someone on Messenger
To unblock someone, go to your Messenger settings by tapping the profile icon (mobile) or clicking the three horizontal lines (desktop). Select "People" or "Blocked People" and find the person you want to unblock. Tap or click "Unblock" next to their name and confirm.
You can also unblock someone by visiting their Facebook profile, tapping the three dots next to their name, and selecting "Unblock." Once you unblock them, they can message you again and see your active status, but you will not automatically become friends again if you unfriended them.
Blocking vs. muting and other options
Muting is different from blocking. When you mute someone, they can still message you and see that you're active, but you won't receive notifications from them. Their messages will appear in your inbox, but you can read them on your own time. Muting is useful if you want to reduce notifications without cutting off contact entirely.
To mute someone, open their conversation, tap their name at the top, and select "Mute Notifications" or "Mute Chat." You can choose to mute them for 15 minutes, one hour, eight hours, or indefinitely.
Restricting is another option that sits between muting and blocking. When you restrict someone on Facebook, their messages go to a separate folder and they cannot see when you're active or typing. However, they can still send you messages and see your profile. Restricting is done through Facebook settings, not Messenger directly.
Blocking someone who has already blocked you
If someone blocks you first, you will not be able to message them or see their profile in Messenger. You can still block them in return through their Facebook profile — search for their name, open their profile, tap the three dots, and select "Block." This prevents them from unblocking you and messaging you again.
You will not receive a notification if someone blocks you, but you may notice that old messages from them have disappeared or that you can no longer see their profile picture. If you try to message them and the message fails to send, they may have blocked you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
They will not receive a notification, but they will find out when they try to message you or search for your profile. Their message will fail to send, and they may see a message saying "This person isn't available right now" or similar language depending on their device.
Can I block someone without unfriending them on Facebook?
Yes. Blocking on Messenger does not affect your Facebook friendship. If you want to remove them from your friends list, you must unfriend them separately through Facebook settings or their profile.
What happens to old messages after I block someone?
The messages stay in your chat history and you can still read them. The blocked person cannot see the conversation, and if you unblock them later, the messages will reappear for both of you.
Can I block someone on Messenger but not on Facebook?
Yes. Blocking on Messenger only affects your conversations and calls in that app. They can still see your Facebook profile, comment on your posts, and send you friend requests through Facebook unless you block them there as well.
How do I know if someone blocked me on Messenger?
You won't get a notification, but signs include messages failing to send, being unable to see their profile picture, or seeing "This person isn't available" when you search for them. The most direct way to check is to try sending them a message.