Delete a friend by finding them and clicking one button

To remove someone from your Facebook friends list, find their profile, click the Friends button, and select "Remove Friend" from the menu. The person will not get a notification that you removed them, though they may notice over time that they can no longer see your posts or visit your profile. Facebook does not send a message saying you unfriended them.

The steps are the same whether you are on a computer or phone, though the exact location of buttons shifts slightly between the two. This guide covers both.

Key Takeaways

  • Removing someone from your friends list takes about 10 seconds and does not notify them that you did it.
  • The person can still message you after you remove them unless you also block them.
  • You can remove someone from your friends list without them knowing, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile later.
  • If you want to stop seeing their posts without removing them as a friend, you can unfollow them instead of deleting them.
  • Blocking someone is different from removing them — blocking prevents them from finding you, messaging you, or seeing your profile at all.

Remove a friend on a computer

Open Facebook in your web browser and search for the person's name using the search bar at the top of the page. Click on their profile when it appears in the results.

Once you are on their profile, look for the button that says "Friends" — it is usually near the top of the page, often next to buttons for messaging or following. Click on the Friends button and a small menu will drop down. Select "Remove Friend" from that menu. The person is now removed from your friends list.

Remove a friend on your phone

Open the Facebook app and tap the search icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like a magnifying glass). Type the person's name and tap their profile when it appears.

On their profile, look for a button that says "Friends" — on phones this is often near the top. Tap it and a menu will appear. Select "Remove Friend" and the removal is complete. If you do not see a Friends button, tap the three dots (•••) at the top right of their profile instead, then look for the remove option in that menu.

The difference between removing, unfollowing, and blocking

Removing someone means they are no longer on your friends list. They can still see posts you mark as public, and they can still message you — unless you also block them. Removing is the gentlest option if you simply want to reduce your connection without cutting off all contact.

Unfollowing someone keeps them on your friends list but stops their posts from showing up in your feed. You remain friends, but you will not see what they post. This is useful if you want to stay connected without seeing their updates constantly.

Blocking someone is the strongest action. A blocked person cannot find your profile, cannot message you, cannot see your posts, and cannot see that you are online. Blocking is permanent until you unblock them. Use blocking only when you need to cut off contact completely.

What happens after you remove someone

The person you removed will not receive a notification from Facebook telling them you unfriended them. However, they may notice on their own — for example, if they try to visit your profile and see that they can no longer access it, or if they realize they cannot see your posts in their feed anymore.

If the person tries to message you after you remove them, the message will still go through. Removing someone from your friends list does not block their messages. If you want to prevent them from messaging you, you need to block them instead.

You can add the person back to your friends list at any time by visiting their profile and clicking "Add Friend" again. There is no waiting period or penalty for removing and re-adding someone.

If you change your mind

If you remove someone by mistake or change your mind later, you can send them a new friend request. Go to their profile, click the "Add Friend" button, and they will receive a new request. They will have to accept it for you to be friends again.

There is no way to undo a removal instantly — you have to go through the friend request process again. Facebook does not restore the friendship automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I removed them?

Facebook does not send a notification, so they will not know immediately. However, they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile, look for your posts in their feed, or notice they can no longer see your updates. There is no way to remove someone completely invisibly.

Can I remove someone without them seeing?

Yes — the removal itself is invisible. They will not get a message or alert. They may discover it later by trying to access your profile or noticing your posts are gone from their feed, but the act of removing them happens without notification.

What is the difference between removing and blocking?

Removing someone keeps them able to message you and see your public posts. Blocking prevents them from messaging you, finding your profile, or seeing anything you post. Blocking is much stronger and should be used only when you want to cut off all contact.

Can I remove someone and then add them back later?

Yes. You can send them a new friend request at any time. They will have to accept the new request, just like the first time you became friends. There is no penalty or waiting period for removing and re-adding someone.

If I remove someone, can they still message me?

Yes, they can still send you messages even after you remove them from your friends list. If you want to stop them from messaging you, you need to block them instead of just removing them.