Block, Unblock or Unfriend Someone on Facebook: What Happens and How

Does this match what you see?

• There’s no Block option in a post’s menu in Feed.
• You can’t find the person you want to block.
• Someone you blocked is still reaching you through another profile or a group.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Steps are from Facebook’s Help Center. Blocking covers computer, Android, iPhone, iPad, mobile browser and Lite; unfriending covers computer, Android, iPhone and iPad; Page blocking covers computer, iPhone and iPad.

Why this happens: the possible causes

Why you might not find the Block option.

• Block was removed from the Feed post menuCheck this first

  Meta says the Block option is no longer available directly from the post menu in Feed.

• They use another profile or a group nicknamePossible

  Meta says blocking one profile or nickname doesn’t block their other profiles or nicknames.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

What happens when you block someone

Meta says a profile or Page you block won’t be able to:

• see your posts
• tag you in posts, comments or photos
• invite you to events or groups
• start a conversation with you
• add you as a friend

• If you’re connected, blocking also unfriends, unlikes and unfollows them.
• Meta says they aren’t notified.
• What it doesn’t stop: Meta says blocking doesn’t include apps, games or groups you’re both in, and may not prevent all communication.
• Other profiles: Meta says blocking one of their profiles doesn’t block their other profiles, though it limits some ways they can reach you from them. If you block someone from several of your own profiles, they may work out that you own all of them.
• Unblocking later: Meta says you’ll need to send a new friend request (or follow a Page again), and you can’t block the same profile or Page again for a few days (see Unblock someone).

If someone is threatening you, or you think they’re in danger, contact local emergency services, as our advice. To report fake accounts, see Fake account or impersonation.

Unblock someone

• Computer: profile picture > Settings & privacy > Settings > Blocking (below Audience and visibility) > Edit > See your blocked list, then Unblock next to them > Confirm.
• Phone or tablet: Menu (top left on iPhone and Android, bottom right on iPad, top right in a mobile browser or Facebook Lite) > Settings & privacy > Settings > Blocking, then Unblock next to them, and Unblock again to confirm.
• Group nicknames: use the same Blocking settings, tap Unblock next to the nickname, then Unblock again to confirm.

Meta says an unblocked profile or Page can see your public posts again, but you won’t automatically be friends or follow them: send a new friend request, or like or follow the Page again. If you unblock a profile or Page, you can’t block it again for a few days (this wait doesn’t apply to nicknames).

Block a nickname in a Facebook group

1. Find a post or comment from the nickname, then tap or click the nickname or its profile photo.
2. Next to the nickname on its group profile page, tap or click Options.
3. Choose Block [Nickname], then Block to confirm.

Meta says a blocked nickname can’t tag you in posts or comments in the group or interact with your content there, and you won’t see its posts or comments in that group. But blocking a nickname doesn’t block the main profile behind it or its other nicknames, and in some cases it may still see your content.

Unfriend someone instead

1. Go to their profile (search their name; on Android and iPhone, tap Search in the top right).
2. Tap or click Friends, then Unfriend, and confirm (Confirm or OK).

• Meta says they won’t be notified, but you’ll also be removed from their friends list. To be friends again, you’ll need to send a new request.
• Can’t find them? Meta says the profile may be deactivated. Go to your own profile > Friends (or See All Friends; on iPhone, Menu in the top left > Friends > Your friends), find them, tap Options > Unfriend, then confirm (OK on iPhone and iPad).
• Meta says that if you don’t want someone to see your profile, add you or message you, block them instead.

Just want some distance? Take a break instead

If you don’t want to block or unfriend someone, Meta says you can take a break from their profile at facebook.com/take_a_break (external site, opens in a new tab). It’s also offered when you change your relationship status to single or divorced, or leave it blank. You can:

• See less of them: their posts, and posts they’re tagged in, won’t appear in your Feed, and you won’t be prompted to message or tag them. To see their posts again, follow them.
• Limit what they see: they’re added to your Restricted list, so they only see posts you share publicly or tag them in.
• Edit who can see past posts you’re both tagged in. Meta says these then only show to the people tagged, and disappear from your timeline, but may still appear on other timelines and in search unless the original poster removes them.

Meta says you’ll also be removed as a contributor from shared albums with them. Other options it mentions: change your profile picture, or archive your message thread with them.

Block someone from a Page you manage

Meta says you need Facebook access to the Page to block people from it. Blocking someone from your Page stops them seeing your Page posts, tagging the Page, inviting it to events or groups, starting a conversation with it, and finding it in search. If they follow the Page, they’re removed as a follower. It only applies to your Page, not to apps, games or groups.

• On a computer: switch into the Page (profile photo > See all profiles > the Page), then the Page’s profile photo > Settings & privacy > Settings > Blocking > Block profiles and Pages: Edit > Add to blocked list. You can also block from Followers (Options > Block) or by hovering over a commenter’s photo > Options > Block.
• On iPhone or iPad: Menu (top left on iPhone; bottom right on iPad) > Settings & privacy > Settings > Blocking > Add to blocked list.
• To unblock: switch into the Page, then Settings > Blocking, find the profile in the blocked list and tap or click Unblock.

How to know it worked

• The person is in your blocked list, or no longer in your friends list.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Someone is pretending to be you or a friend? See Fake account or impersonation.
2. Want to report a post or message? See Report content on Facebook.
3. Want some friends to see less? See Facebook Restricted list.

Frequently asked questions