How to Block and Unblock Facebook

Taking control of your Facebook feed sometimes means removing someone from it entirely, and that’s perfectly okay. Whether you're decluttering your digital space, setting personal boundaries, or simply tired of seeing content from a particular person or Page, blocking is a powerful tool at your disposal. This guide gives you complete, step-by-step instructions for how to block and unblock anyone on Facebook, using either your desktop computer or mobile device.

What Happens When You Block Someone?

Before you block someone, it helps to understand what this action actually accomplishes. Blocking isn't just about hiding someone from your feed, it’s a comprehensive way to create digital distance. When you block a person on Facebook, you're building a wall between your profiles.

Here’s exactly what blocking does:

• They can't see anything on your profile. Your photos, posts, status updates, and profile information become completely invisible to them.
• They can't contact you. This includes sending you Facebook messages or trying to add you as a friend.
• They can't tag you in anything. They won’t be able to tag you in posts, photos, comments, or any other content.
• They can't invite you to events or groups. You will no longer receive invitations from them.
• You are automatically unfriended. Blocking someone immediately severs your friend connection on the platform.
• It’s a two-way street. Just as they can't see your profile, you also cannot see theirs. It's as if you don't exist to each other on the platform.

Blocking vs. Unfriending vs. Taking a Break

Blocking is the most firm option, but it's not the only one. Sometimes a less permanent solution is all you need. Here's a quick look at the differences:

• Unfriending: This simply removes the person from your friends list. They can still see your public posts and your profile (based on your privacy settings), and they can send you another friend request in the future. It’s a good option if you want to dial back the connection without cutting it completely.
• Taking a Break: This is Facebook’s way of letting you quietly cool off from someone. When you "take a break," you can choose to see fewer of their posts in your feed, limit what they see of your posts, and edit who can see your past posts with them. It’s a temporary measure that the other person is not notified about.
• Blocking: This is the most definitive step. It cuts all ties - they can't find you, message you, tag you, or see your content. It’s the best choice when you need a clean and complete break.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Blocking Someone on Facebook

The process for blocking someone is simple and works in just a few clicks or taps, whether you're at your computer or on your phone.

On a Desktop Computer (Web Browser)

There are two primary ways to block someone on the desktop version of Facebook: directly from their profile or through your settings.

Method 1: Blocking from Their Profile

This is the most direct way to do it if you know who you want to block.

1. Navigate to the profile of the person you want to block.
2. Find the three horizontal dots button (...) located on the right side of their profile, near the "Message" and "Add Friend" buttons.
3. Click on the three dots (...) to reveal a dropdown menu.
4. Select "Block" from the list of options.
5. A confirmation window will appear, explaining what happens when you block someone. Read it over and click "Confirm."

That's it. The person is now blocked.

Method 2: Blocking from Your Settings Menu

This method is useful if you don't want to visit the person's profile directly or if you're having trouble finding them in search.

1. Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen.
2. From the dropdown menu, select "Settings &, Privacy," and then click on "Settings."
3. In the left-hand menu, click on "Blocking." You may have to click "Privacy" first to see this option.
4. Under the "Block users" section, you'll see a text box. Start typing the name or email address of the person you want to block.
5. A list of matching profiles will appear. Select the correct person and click the "Block" button.
6. You may be shown a list of people with similar names. Pick the specific person you want to block and click "Block" again next to their name.

On the Facebook Mobile App (iOS &, Android)

The process on the mobile app is just as simple and works nearly identically on both iPhone and Android devices.

1. Open the Facebook app and navigate to the person’s profile. You can do this by searching for their name or tapping their name on a post or comment.
2. Look for the three dots icon (...) below their name, usually next to the "Add Friend" or "Message" button.
3. Tap the three dots (...) to open a menu of actions.
4. From this menu, tap "Block."
5. A pop-up will ask for confirmation. Tap "Block" again to finalize the action.

Changed Your Mind? Here's How to Unblock Someone

It's completely normal to change your mind, and Facebook makes it easy to reverse the action. However, there are two important things to remember when you unblock someone:

• Unblocking does not automatically make you friends again. You will have to send them a new friend request if you want to reconnect.
• You must wait 48 hours to block them again. Once a person is unblocked, this cooling-off period prevents reflexive re-blocking.

Unblocking on a Desktop Computer

You can only unblock someone from your main settings menu, as their profile will be inaccessible to you while they are blocked.

1. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner.
2. Go to "Settings &, Privacy", "Settings."
3. In the left menu, select "Blocking."
4. You will now see a complete list of everyone you've blocked under the "Block users" heading.
5. Find the name of the person you want to unblock and click the blue "Unblock" link next to their name.
6. A confirmation message will appear. Click "Confirm" to officially unblock them.

Unblocking on the Mobile App (iOS &, Android)

The steps on mobile are straightforward and take you to the same master block list.

1. In the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines, located in the bottom-right on iOS or top-right on Android).
2. Scroll down and tap "Settings &, Privacy," then tap "Settings."
3. Scroll down to the "Audience and Visibility" section and tap on "Blocking."
4. Here you'll see the list of people you have blocked. Tap the "Unblock" button next to the person's name.
5. A final pop-up will ask you to confirm. Tap "Unblock" one last time.

Advanced Blocking: It's Not Just About Profiles

Facebook's blocking tools extend beyond just removing people from your sight. In the same "Blocking" settings area, you have granular control over other types of interactions, which can help tailor your experience without completely severing a connection.

On your desktop "Blocking" settings page, you'll also find these useful lists:

• Block Messages: This is a Messenger-specific setting. If someone is bothering you via messages but you don't want to block their entire profile, you can block them on Messenger. They won't be able to call or message you, but you'll remain Facebook friends.
• Block App Invites: Tired of getting dozens of Candy Crush requests from a well-meaning relative? Add their name to this list, and they won't be able to send you any more app invites. You will still remain friends and see their posts.
• Block Event Invites: If a specific friend continuously invites you to events you have no interest in, add them to this list to stop the notifications. It’s a polite way to quiet the noise without unfriending them.
• Block Pages: Just as with people, you can also block Pages. If a specific business or organization's content is not for you, blocking their page will stop you from seeing it, and prevent them from interacting with your posts. You can do this directly from the Page's profile (using the three-dot menu) or from your "Blocking" settings.

Final Thoughts

Blocking someone on Facebook is a straightforward way to manage your social experience and create a more positive online space for yourself. Whether you’re on desktop or mobile, you have full control over who can interact with you and see your content, giving you the power to curate your community as you see fit.

Just as it's important to manage individual interactions for your personal profile, managing community engagement is vital for a business or brand. At Postbase, we built our platform to give you that same sense of control over your brand’s social media. Our unified inbox brings all your comments and DMs from every platform into one clean space, making it simple to manage conversations and maintain a positive community without jumping between apps. With Postbase, you can spend less time wrestling with chaotic inboxes and more time building a brand your audience loves.

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