How to Block Someone on Messenger (and What They’ll See)

Does this match what you see?

• Someone keeps messaging or calling you on Messenger.
• You want to stop messages without blocking them on Facebook.
• You’re in a group chat with someone you’ve blocked.
• You get tips and updates from the official Messenger account.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on Messenger Help “Block someone’s profile on Messenger” (computer, iPhone, iPad and Android tabs) and “Block automated messages from Messenger” (supplied by the site owner).

Why this happens: the possible causes

Which option fits. Our own summary of Meta’s page.

• Unwanted messages or callsCheck this first

  Meta says blocking messages and calls stops them messaging or calling you on Messenger or Facebook chat.

• You want a full breakPossible

  Meta says blocking their profile also blocks them on Facebook and, if you’re friends, unfriends them.

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.

“Block messages and calls” vs “Block on Facebook”

• Block messages and calls: Meta says they can’t message or call you on Messenger or Facebook chat, but you can still see their Facebook profile, and depending on their privacy settings, things like their status updates, comments, likes and tags.
• Block on Facebook (their profile): Meta says this also blocks them on Facebook. They can’t message, call or find your profile on Messenger or Facebook chat, and if you’re friends, it unfriends them.

More on blocking a profile on Facebook itself: see how to block someone on Facebook.

Group chats with someone you’ve blocked

• Meta says messages from a blocked profile are automatically hidden for you in group chats, and you won’t get notifications for them. You can unhide them, and they stay unhidden until you close the chat.
• You can’t react, reply or forward a hidden message unless you unhide it.
• Meta says the blocked person can still see your messages in the group and join a group call.
• You’ll be notified before you join a group call or open a group chat with someone you blocked.

Meta says this is how it works in the Messenger mobile apps; it may be different on a computer.

If you or they have more than one profile

Meta says blocking someone from the Messenger app only blocks them from the profile you’re using, so block them from your other profiles too, including any you create later. If they have more than one profile, Meta says blocking one limits how their other profiles can interact with you.

See your blocked list or unblock someone

In the Messenger app, Meta says go to Menu > Settings > Privacy & safety > Blocked Accounts (some versions say Blocked profiles), tap the person’s name, then Unblock.

On messenger.com, Meta says: click your profile picture (bottom left) > Preferences > Manage blocking. In your Facebook settings, click Blocking, scroll to Block messages, click Edit > See your blocked list, then Unblock next to the name.

• Meta says if you unblock someone’s Facebook profile on Messenger, you also unblock them on Facebook.
• Unblocking won’t add them as a friend again.
• You can’t block them again for 48 hours.

Restrict someone instead of blocking

Restricting is quieter than blocking. Meta says when you restrict someone:

• You won’t get notifications when they message you, and your phone won’t ring when they call.
• Your conversation disappears from your Chats list, and you can’t call or message them while they’re restricted.
• They can’t see when you’re online or whether you’ve read their messages, and you won’t see when they’re online.
• Meta won’t tell them you restricted them, and it lets you know before you enter a group chat with them.

1. Restrict (Android): in Chats, tap and hold the conversation, then tap Restrict.
2. Restrict (iPhone or iPad): open the chat, tap the person’s name at the top, then Restrict. Or in Chats, swipe left on the conversation > More > Restrict.
3. Unrestrict: Menu > Settings > Privacy & safety > Restricted accounts, tap the person, then tap Unrestrict at the bottom of the chat.

Meta says restricting isn’t available on a computer.

Not ready to block?

Meta suggests these instead:

• Restrict them.
• Turn off notifications for the chat: see Messenger notifications.
• Delete the conversation (external site, opens in a new tab).

Our tip: you can also choose whether messages from people you don’t know go to your chats or your requests: see who can message you.

Block messages from a business Page

Meta says when you block a Page, it can’t send you messages or call you on Messenger or Facebook chat.

• Phone or tablet: open the chat with the Page, tap its name at the top, scroll down and tap Block, then Block to confirm (on iPhone and iPad, Meta says tap Block messages and calls first).
• Computer: open the chat > Conversation information (right of the video call button) > Privacy and support > Block > Block messages and calls > Block.
• Unblock: in Chats, type the Page’s name, open it and tap Unblock (on a computer, Unblock messages and calls).

Meta says you won’t receive anything the Page sent during the block, even after you unblock it. Blocking a Page’s messages also doesn’t block the Page on Facebook, so you’ll still see it there.

Stop Messenger’s own automated messages

Meta says Messenger may send you automated messages with updates and tips. To stop them, block the official Messenger account (Meta says this isn’t available to everyone yet, and not on a computer):

1. Tap Menu > Settings > Privacy & safety > Blocked profiles > Add.
2. Search for “Messenger” and select the verified Messenger account.
3. Tap Block. You can also block it by tapping the name at the top of that chat, then Block.

To get them again, go to Menu > Settings > Privacy & safety > Blocked profiles, find Messenger (Verified account) and tap Unblock (on Android, Unblock on Facebook).

Blocking on Messenger Kids (for parents)

Meta says a child can block someone in the Messenger Kids app when they no longer want to message that friend one-to-one: open the chat, tap the person’s photo at the top, then tap Block and Block again. Meta is also testing a version of Messenger Kids inside Messenger, which has its own help page.

Meta says when a child blocks someone:

• The blocked person can’t contact the child one-to-one, but stays in group chats with them unless the child leaves.
• The child can still see the person’s photo and earlier chats. If you remove the friend from the Parent Dashboard, past chats are no longer visible.
• You’re notified, and the blocked friend and their parents are not notified.
• If you think the blocked friend breaks Meta’s Community Standards, you can report them.

See or undo a block

• See blocked friends (parent): in the Facebook app, tap Menu > Messenger Kids > your child’s name, and look below Updates to Friends.
• Unblock on iPhone or iPad: in Messenger Kids, tap your child’s profile at the top > Blocked Friends (below Privacy and Safety) > Unblock. The same list shows who’s blocked.
• Unblock on Android: in Messenger Kids, tap your child’s profile > People You’ve Blocked (below Privacy and Safety) > Unblock. The same list shows who’s blocked.

Teen (13–17) accounts on Messenger work differently. See Messenger Teen Accounts and supervision.

How to know it worked

• Our check: the person is listed under Blocked profiles.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Someone harassing you from several accounts? Block each one, and see report on Facebook.
2. Think your account was hacked? See Facebook hacked.

Frequently asked questions