Block, Unfriend, or Restrict Someone on Facebook
Learn the difference between unfriending, blocking, and restricting on Facebook — and how to do each one.
5 min read · 6 steps · Checked May 2026
Step 1. Find the person's profile
Open the Facebook app or go to facebook.com in your browser. In the search bar at the top, type the name of the person you want to unfriend, block, or restrict. Tap or click their name to open their profile page.
Step 2. Unfriend someone
On their profile page, look for the "Friends" button (it looks like a person with a checkmark). Tap or click it. A menu will appear with several options. Choose "Unfriend." A confirmation message may appear — click "Confirm" or "Remove." They are now removed from your Friends list. They will not receive a notification.
Quick Tip
Quick Tip: On a computer, the "Friends" button is near the top of their profile, next to their name and photo.
Step 3. Block someone
On their profile page, look for three small dots (. . .) near the top right of the page. This is the "More options" menu. Tap or click those dots. Select "Block." Facebook will ask you to confirm — read the short explanation on screen, then click "Confirm." The block goes into effect right away.
Warning
Blocking is a significant step. The person will not be able to find you on Facebook at all. If you only want to limit what they see, use Restrict instead.
Step 4. Restrict someone
On their profile page, tap or click the "Friends" button. From the menu that appears, choose "Edit Friend List" or look for the "Restrict" option. On some versions of Facebook, you may need to tap "More options" (the three dots) and then choose "Restrict." Once restricted, their name will have a small lock icon in your Friends list on your own end. They will not see any change on their end.
Quick Tip
To view your Restricted list: go to your own profile, tap "Friends," then look for "More" or the gear icon to find "Restricted List."
Step 5. Unblock someone (if you change your mind)
To unblock someone, go to the Facebook menu (the three horizontal lines in the app, or the drop-down arrow on the web). Tap "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings." Scroll to "Blocking" or search for it. You will see a list of people you have blocked. Tap "Unblock" next to their name. Note: you must wait 48 hours before you can block that same person again.
Step 6. Check what others can see on your profile
To make sure strangers and unfriended people cannot see your posts, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Privacy. Look at "Who can see your future posts?" and set it to "Friends" if you want. Also review "Who can send you friend requests?" and "Who can look you up using your email address?" — setting these to "Friends of friends" gives you more control.
Quick Tip
Quick Tip: Facebook has a "View As" tool that lets you see your profile the way a stranger (or a specific person) would see it. Look for it in your profile settings.
Facebook gives you several ways to control your relationship with other people on the platform. The three main options — Unfriend, Restrict, and Block — each do something different. Knowing the difference helps you make the right choice for your situation.
Unfriend: a quiet parting of ways
When you unfriend someone, you remove them from your Friends list. Your profiles are no longer connected. They will stop seeing your posts in their feed. And you will stop seeing theirs. Facebook does not send them a notification when you unfriend them. They will only notice if they come to your profile and see the "Add Friend" button instead of "Friends."
After you unfriend someone, they can still send you a friend request again in the future if they want to. They can also see any posts you have set to "Public" (visible to everyone). If your posts are set to "Friends only," they cannot see them.
Block: a complete cutoff
Blocking is a stronger action. When you block someone, they cannot see your profile at all, cannot find you by searching for your name, cannot send you messages, and cannot tag you in posts or photos. You will also be unable to see their profile. Blocking goes both ways.
The person you blocked will not receive a notification, but if they try to find your profile, they will not be able to. It will appear as if you do not exist on Facebook.
You can unblock someone later. But there is a 48-hour waiting period before you can re-block them again. Also note that unblocking someone does not automatically re-friend them. You would need to send a new friend request if you wanted to reconnect.
Restrict: the quiet middle option
Restrict is a tool that lets you stay friends with someone while limiting what they can see. When you Restrict someone, they remain on your Friends list and your friendship looks the same from the outside. However, they will only see posts you share with "Public" — not posts you share with "Friends." They will not know you have restricted them.
This option works well for situations where unfriending someone might cause awkwardness — a coworker, a distant relative, or an acquaintance — but you do not want them reading your personal updates.
Which one should you choose?
- Someone you no longer want to keep up with, but no hard feelings: Unfriend
- Someone who is harassing you, contacting you when you do not want them to, or making you feel unsafe: Block
- Someone you want to stay connected to officially, but keep at arm's length: Restrict
A note about privacy
For any of these tools to protect your posts fully, make sure your default post audience is set to "Friends" or "Friends except" — not "Public." You can check this in your Facebook settings under Privacy.
Sources: Facebook Help Center (facebook.com/help), AARP Technology (aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology).
Official sources
- Facebook Help Center — facebook.com
- Instagram Help — instagram.com
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