Blocking stops a person from messaging you and seeing your profile
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 Messenger, they're blocked on Facebook too. They won't receive a notification that you've blocked them, but they'll notice they can't find your profile or message you anymore.
Blocking is different from muting or unfriending. Muting silences notifications from someone but they can still message you. Unfriending removes them from your friends list but they can still message you unless you also block them. If you want complete separation, blocking is the right choice.
Key Takeaways
- Blocking someone on Messenger also blocks them on Facebook, and they cannot message you or see your profile after you do it.
- You can block someone directly from a conversation by opening their profile and selecting the block option from the menu.
- A blocked person will not receive a notification, but they will be unable to find your profile or send you messages.
- You can unblock someone later from your settings if you change your mind, and they will not be notified of that either.
How to block someone from an open conversation
Open the conversation with the person you want to block in Messenger. Tap or click their name at the top of the chat window — this opens their profile card. Look for the three dots or menu icon (usually in the top right corner of that card) and tap it.
A menu will appear with several options. Select "Block" from that menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm — you'll see a message saying something like "Block [person's name]?" Confirm the block. The conversation will close and that person will no longer be able to reach you through Messenger.
How to block someone from your contacts or search
If you haven't chatted with someone recently or want to block them before they message you, search for their name in Messenger. Tap or click on their profile when it appears in the results. Their profile card will open with the same three-dot menu icon visible.
Tap the menu icon and select "Block." Confirm when prompted. This prevents them from starting a new conversation with you, even if they have your contact information or find you through search.
How to block someone from Facebook itself
You can also block someone from your main Facebook profile, which automatically blocks them on Messenger. Go to their Facebook profile, tap the three dots next to their name or profile picture, and select "Block." This method works the same way — they'll be blocked from messaging you and seeing your profile.
Some people prefer this route because they can see the block option right on the profile page without opening Messenger. The result is identical either way.
What happens after you block someone
Once blocked, the person cannot send you messages, see your profile, find you in search, or see your posts or comments. Any existing conversation between you will remain in your Messenger inbox, but they won't be able to add to it. You can delete the conversation if you want it out of your chat list.
The blocked person will see an error message if they try to message you or visit your profile — something like "This person isn't available right now." They won't see the word "blocked," but they'll understand they can't reach you. If they try to search for you, your profile won't appear in their results.
How to unblock someone later
If you change your mind, you can unblock someone at any time. On the Messenger app, go to your Settings (usually a gear icon), then select "People" or "Blocked." You'll see a list of everyone you've blocked. Find the person and tap "Unblock."
On Facebook's website, go to Settings, then "Blocking" in the left menu. You'll see your blocked list there. Click "Unblock" next to the person's name. Neither the unblock nor the original block will send them a notification — they'll simply regain the ability to message you and see your profile.
Blocking versus other privacy options
Facebook offers several ways to control who can contact you, and blocking is the strongest one. If you want someone to stop messaging you but don't want to block them completely, you can mute their messages — they'll still be able to message you, but you won't get notifications. You can also restrict someone, which limits what they see on your profile without them knowing.
Restricting is useful if you want to stay connected but limit their access. Blocking is for when you want no contact at all. Muting is for when you want to ignore someone temporarily without taking action. Choose based on what you actually want to happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I blocked them?
They won't receive a notification, but they'll figure it out when they can't find your profile or message you. If they search for you and can't find your profile, or try to message you and get an error, they'll know something is wrong. Facebook doesn't tell them directly that you blocked them, though.
Can I block someone without them seeing our old messages?
No. The conversation history stays in your Messenger inbox and in theirs. Blocking only stops future contact. If you want to remove the conversation from your view, you can delete it from your chat list, but that doesn't affect what they see on their end.
What if I block someone and then they create a new account?
The block applies only to that specific account. If they create a new Facebook profile, they can message you from that new account unless you block it too. Facebook doesn't automatically block someone's new accounts. You'd need to block each one separately if they keep trying to contact you.
Can I block someone on Messenger without blocking them on Facebook?
No. Blocking on Messenger automatically blocks them on Facebook, and blocking on Facebook automatically blocks them on Messenger. The two platforms are linked for blocking purposes. You can't separate the two.
Can I see if someone I blocked is still using Facebook?
No. Once you block someone, you can't see their profile, posts, or activity. You won't know if they're active, what they're doing, or if they've changed their profile picture. The block cuts off your view of them entirely.