Blocked someone on Facebook during a heated moment but now you need to reconnect? Be it a misunderstanding, accident, or change of heart, the need to reverse this decision to block is common. If you haven’t unblocked contact before, the process may feel unfamiliar. Moreover, Facebook keeps changing its interface updates, so the right process yesterday may not be right today. In this guide, we provide you with step-by-step solutions to unblock anyone on Facebook across all platforms.
Having helped thousands of troubleshoot Facebook privacy settings, we’ll walk you through clear, actionable instructions to restore your Facebook connections immediately (in as little than 5 minutes).
TL;DR: How to Unblock Someone on Facebook
Take these quick steps to unblock your connection:
- Go to Facebook Settings → Blocking → Find the person → Click “Unblock”
- On mobile: Menu → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Blocking → Unblock
- On desktop: Profile arrow → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Blocking → Unblock
Note: If you realize that you’ve unblocked the wrong person, you have a 48-hour waiting period before re-blocking them.
How to Unblock Someone on Facebook Mobile App (iOS & Android)
The mobile app provides the fastest route to unblock someone on Facebook. The process remains consistent across both iPhone and Android devices. There are only minor interface variations.
Step-by-Step Process to Unblock on Phone
- Open the Facebook app and tap the Menu icon. It is a hamburger menu with three lines.
- Navigate to Settings & Privacy and select Settings
- Scroll down to find Blocking under the “Audience and Visibility” section
- View the entire blocked users list
- Tap Unblock next to the person’s name you want to reconnect with
- Confirm your decision by tapping Unblock again in the popup window
Interface Variations to Take Note of
iOS users find the menu icon in the bottom-right corner, while Android users can locate it in the top-right corner. The blocking section appears under “Audience and Visibility” in recent app versions.
Feature Differences Between Blocking and Unblocking Someone on Facebook
The visibility of your profile and key features like friend requests and interactions with your posts undergo changes when you block someone on Facebook. Here’s the difference at a glance.
| Feature | Before Unblocking | After Unblocking |
| Profile Visibility | Hidden | Visible |
| Messaging | Blocked | Allowed |
| Friend Requests | Impossible | Possible |
| Post Interactions | None | Full access |
How to Unblock Someone on Facebook Desktop/Website
Desktop users can access more detailed blocking management tools through the Facebook website interface. Here, the navigation is easier and you can manage multiple blocked accounts at the same time.
- Visit Facebook.com.
- Log into your account.
- Click the dropdown arrow in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings & Privacy then Settings.
- Click Blocking from the left sidebar menu.
- Locate the Block users section and click Edit.
- Click See your blocked list to view all blocked accounts.
- Find the specific person and click Unblock beside their name.
- Confirm the action by clicking Continue in the popup dialog.
How to Unblock Someone on Facebook Messenger?
Facebook Messenger maintains its own blocking system. It is separate from the main Facebook platform and needs a different unblocking approach.
- Open the Facebook Messenger app.
- Tap the hamburger menu (three lines) in the bottom-right corner.
- Select the gear icon (Settings) at the top-right
- Navigate to Privacy and Safety.
- Find “Who can reach you” section and tap Blocked accounts.
- Locate the person you want to unblock.
- Tap their name and select Unblock from the options.
Being Blocked Vs. Being Unfollowed/Unfriended on Facebook
Unfriending on Facebook removes your contact from your friends list. They can send you messages and connection requests, but you won’t see their posts in your feed. Your profile stays visible to the friend you’ve unfriended.
A blocked contact makes you invisible to them. They cannot see your posts or send you messages. In this case, you also cannot receive a message from them. The person whom you have blocked cannot involve you in any activities on the platform, like inviting you to a group, or tagging you in any post.
| Action | Profile Visibility | Messaging | Search Results | Friend Requests | Post Interactions |
| Unfriending | Public posts visible | Allowed | Profile findable | Can send requests | Limited to public content |
| Blocking | Completely hidden | Blocked | Profile invisible | Impossible | Zero interaction |
Does Facebook Automatically Unblock People?
A concerning issue that Facebook users have been noticing lately is their blocked contacts getting unblocked automatically. This is more of a technical glitch than intentional feature error.
Some common unblocking incidents are as follows:
- Users discovering people they blocked years ago suddenly appearing in “People You May Know” suggestions
- Blocked individuals unexpectedly able to send friend requests or messages
- Multiple users experiencing the same person getting repeatedly unblocked without their action
Facebook’s blocking system is not completely reliable. While the platform has implemented a 48-hour waiting period to re-block someone after manually unblocking them, this security measure ironically creates problems when automatic unblocking occurs without user consent.
Here are some of our recommendations:
- Regularly check your blocked list in Settings > Privacy > Blocking
- Screenshot your blocked list as evidence if patterns emerge
- Report persistent issues to Facebook through their Help Center
- Be aware that blocked individuals may temporarily regain access to contact you or view some content
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I unblock someone I blocked on Facebook?
Navigate to Facebook Settings, select Blocking, and find the person in your blocked list. Click Unblock next to their name. Confirm the action in the popup window to restore their access to your profile and enable mutual interactions.
2. How do I find someone I blocked on Facebook?
Access your blocked users list through Settings & Privacy → Settings → Blocking. All previously blocked accounts appear in this section. You’ll also find options to unblock each person individually. The list displays usernames and profile pictures for easy identification.
3. How do I open a block list in Facebook?
Open Facebook’s main menu, navigate to Settings & Privacy, select Settings, then click Blocking under Audience and Visibility. This reveals your complete blocked users list. You will see management options for each blocked account.
4. How do I unblock previously blocked friends?
Use the same unblocking process regardless of previous friendship status. After unblocking, former friends don’t automatically return to your friends list. You must send a new friend request to re-establish the friendship connection.
Concluding Words
To unblock someone on Facebook, you need to follow a simple process. Simply find the Settings & Privacy option and then Settings. Choose the Blocking option from the left side bar menu. You will find the blocked users’ section and from there, you can unblock anyone. If you face any issue, contact customer support.