How to Block Someone on Messenger: A Step-by-Step Guide
Messenger, the popular messaging app by Meta (formerly Facebook), allows you to connect with friends, family, and colleagues. However, there might be instances where you need to block someone to prevent them from contacting you. Whether it’s unwanted messages, harassment, or simply a desire to cut off communication, blocking someone on Messenger is a straightforward process. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps on how to block someone on Messenger on various devices, including smartphones (Android and iOS) and desktop computers.
## Why Block Someone on Messenger?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand why you might want to block someone on Messenger:
* **Unwanted Messages:** If someone is sending you unsolicited or annoying messages, blocking them can stop the influx.
* **Harassment or Abuse:** Blocking is a necessary step if you’re experiencing harassment, cyberbullying, or any form of online abuse.
* **Privacy Concerns:** You might want to block someone to protect your privacy and prevent them from accessing your profile information.
* **Ending Communication:** Sometimes, you simply want to end communication with someone, and blocking is a clear way to do so.
* **Avoiding Conflict:** Blocking can help avoid potential conflicts or arguments.
## What Happens When You Block Someone on Messenger?
It’s essential to know what happens when you block someone on Messenger. Here’s a breakdown:
* **They Can’t Message You:** The blocked person will no longer be able to send you messages through Messenger.
* **You Won’t See Their Messages:** You won’t receive any new messages from the blocked person.
* **They Can’t See Your Online Status:** They won’t be able to see when you’re online or your last seen time.
* **They Can’t See Your Profile Picture Updates:** They won’t see any changes you make to your profile picture.
* **Mutual Friends Can Still See Your Interactions:** Blocking someone on Messenger doesn’t affect how mutual friends see your interactions (posts, comments, etc.) on Facebook. If you want to limit what a person sees of your profile and interactions on Facebook, adjust your Facebook privacy settings separately.
* **They Won’t Be Notified:** The person you blocked will not receive a notification that they’ve been blocked. However, they might be able to figure it out when they try to message you and the message isn’t delivered, or when they can no longer see your profile information.
* **Blocking on Messenger Doesn’t Block on Facebook (and Vice Versa):** Blocking someone on Messenger only blocks them on Messenger. To block them on Facebook as well, you need to block them separately on Facebook. We’ll cover how to do that later in this article.
## How to Block Someone on Messenger on a Smartphone (Android and iOS)
The process for blocking someone on Messenger is very similar on both Android and iOS devices. Here’s how to do it:
**Method 1: Blocking from a Conversation**
This is the most common and straightforward way to block someone.
1. **Open the Messenger App:** Launch the Messenger app on your smartphone.
2. **Find the Conversation:** Locate the conversation with the person you want to block. You can scroll through your recent conversations or use the search bar at the top to find their name.
3. **Open the Conversation:** Tap on the conversation to open it.
4. **Tap on the Person’s Name:** At the top of the conversation, tap on the person’s name or profile picture. This will take you to their profile options within Messenger.
5. **Scroll Down:** Scroll down the profile options page until you find the “Block” section.
6. **Tap “Block”:** Tap on the “Block” option. You will typically see two options:
* **Block on Messenger:** This option blocks the person from contacting you on Messenger.
* **Block on Facebook:** This option blocks the person on both Messenger and Facebook. If you want to prevent them from seeing your Facebook profile and content, choose this option.
7. **Confirm Blocking:** A confirmation message will appear, asking if you’re sure you want to block the person. Tap “Block” to confirm. If you selected “Block on Facebook” it might prompt you to also confirm that. Be sure to read what the prompt says to ensure you are taking the intended action.
**Method 2: Blocking from the People Tab**
This method allows you to block someone even if you don’t have an active conversation with them.
1. **Open the Messenger App:** Launch the Messenger app on your smartphone.
2. **Tap on Your Profile Picture:** In the top left corner of the screen, tap on your profile picture.
3. **Scroll Down and Tap “People”:** In the menu that appears, scroll down and tap on the “People” option. This may also be labeled as “Contacts” or have a people icon next to it, depending on your version of the app.
4. **Find the Person:** You’ll see a list of your Messenger contacts. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar at the top to find the person you want to block.
5. **Tap on Their Name:** Once you find the person, tap on their name to open their profile within Messenger.
6. **Scroll Down:** Scroll down the profile options page until you find the “Block” section.
7. **Tap “Block”:** Tap on the “Block” option. You will typically see two options:
* **Block on Messenger:** This option blocks the person from contacting you on Messenger.
* **Block on Facebook:** This option blocks the person on both Messenger and Facebook. If you want to prevent them from seeing your Facebook profile and content, choose this option.
8. **Confirm Blocking:** A confirmation message will appear, asking if you’re sure you want to block the person. Tap “Block” to confirm. If you selected “Block on Facebook” it might prompt you to also confirm that. Be sure to read what the prompt says to ensure you are taking the intended action.
## How to Block Someone on Messenger on a Desktop Computer
Blocking someone on Messenger through a desktop computer is also a simple process.
**Method 1: Blocking from a Conversation**
1. **Open Messenger in Your Browser or the Desktop App:** Go to Messenger.com in your web browser or open the Messenger desktop app.
2. **Find the Conversation:** Locate the conversation with the person you want to block. You can scroll through your recent conversations on the left side of the screen or use the search bar at the top to find their name.
3. **Open the Conversation:** Click on the conversation to open it.
4. **Click on the Gear Icon (Settings):** At the top of the conversation window, click on the gear icon (settings). It may be represented by three dots arranged horizontally.
5. **Select “Block”:** A dropdown menu will appear. Select the “Block” option. You will likely see two options:
* **Block on Messenger:** This option blocks the person from contacting you on Messenger.
* **Block on Facebook:** This option blocks the person on both Messenger and Facebook. If you want to prevent them from seeing your Facebook profile and content, choose this option.
6. **Confirm Blocking:** A confirmation message will appear, asking if you’re sure you want to block the person. Click “Block” to confirm. If you selected “Block on Facebook” it might prompt you to also confirm that. Be sure to read what the prompt says to ensure you are taking the intended action.
**Method 2: Blocking from the Settings Menu**
1. **Open Messenger in Your Browser or the Desktop App:** Go to Messenger.com in your web browser or open the Messenger desktop app.
2. **Click on Your Profile Picture:** In the top left corner of the screen, click on your profile picture. This will open a menu.
3. **Select “Settings & Privacy”:** From the dropdown menu, select “Settings & Privacy.”
4. **Select “Privacy”:** From the options, choose “Privacy”.
5. **Find “Blocking”:** Scroll down the page until you find the “Blocking” section.
6. **Click “Edit”:** Next to “Blocking”, click the “Edit” button.
7. **Search for the Person:** A text box will appear labeled “Block users”. Type the name of the person you want to block in the search box and press Enter.
8. **Click “Block”:** A list of users matching your search query will appear. Find the user you want to block and click the “Block” button next to their name.
9. **Choose Blocking Scope:** A popup window will appear. You will likely see two options:
* **Block on Messenger:** This option blocks the person from contacting you on Messenger.
* **Block on Facebook:** This option blocks the person on both Messenger and Facebook. If you want to prevent them from seeing your Facebook profile and content, choose this option.
10. **Confirm Blocking:** A confirmation message will appear, asking if you’re sure you want to block the person. Click “Block” to confirm. If you selected “Block on Facebook” it might prompt you to also confirm that. Be sure to read what the prompt says to ensure you are taking the intended action.
## How to Unblock Someone on Messenger
If you change your mind and want to unblock someone you’ve previously blocked, here’s how to do it:
**On a Smartphone (Android and iOS):**
1. **Open the Messenger App:** Launch the Messenger app on your smartphone.
2. **Tap on Your Profile Picture:** In the top left corner of the screen, tap on your profile picture.
3. **Scroll Down and Tap “People”:** In the menu that appears, scroll down and tap on the “People” option (or “Contacts”).
4. **Tap on “Blocked”:** At the top of the “People” (or “Contacts”) screen, you’ll see an option labeled “Blocked.” Tap on it.
5. **Find the Person:** You’ll see a list of people you’ve blocked. Scroll through the list to find the person you want to unblock.
6. **Tap on Their Name:** Tap on the person’s name.
7. **Tap “Unblock”:** On their profile, tap the “Unblock” button. A confirmation message will appear.
8. **Confirm Unblocking:** Tap “Unblock” again to confirm.
**On a Desktop Computer:**
1. **Open Messenger in Your Browser or the Desktop App:** Go to Messenger.com in your web browser or open the Messenger desktop app.
2. **Click on Your Profile Picture:** In the top left corner of the screen, click on your profile picture.
3. **Select “Settings & Privacy”:** From the dropdown menu, select “Settings & Privacy”.
4. **Select “Privacy”:** From the options, choose “Privacy”.
5. **Find “Blocking”:** Scroll down the page until you find the “Blocking” section.
6. **Click “Edit”:** Next to “Blocking”, click the “Edit” button.
7. **Find the Person:** You’ll see a list of people you’ve blocked. Scroll through the list to find the person you want to unblock.
8. **Click “Unblock”:** Next to the person’s name, click the “Unblock” button.
9. **Confirm Unblocking:** A confirmation message will appear. Click “Confirm” to unblock the person.
## Blocking vs. Reporting
It’s important to distinguish between blocking and reporting. Blocking prevents someone from contacting you, while reporting alerts Facebook/Meta to potentially policy-violating behavior.
* **Blocking:** Prevents further communication with the person. It is a personal choice.
* **Reporting:** Sends a report to Facebook/Meta about the person’s behavior (e.g., harassment, spam, hate speech). Facebook/Meta will then investigate the report and take action if necessary. Reporting may be anonymous.
You can block someone without reporting them, or you can report them without blocking them, or you can do both. If you’re experiencing serious harassment or abuse, it’s recommended to both block the person and report them to Facebook/Meta.
To report someone on Messenger:
1. **Open the Conversation:** Open the conversation with the person you want to report.
2. **Tap on the Person’s Name:** At the top of the conversation, tap on the person’s name or profile picture.
3. **Scroll Down:** Scroll down to the bottom of the profile options.
4. **Tap “Something’s Wrong” or “Report”:** Tap on “Something’s Wrong” or “Report” (the label may vary slightly depending on your version of the app).
5. **Select a Reason:** Choose the reason for reporting the person (e.g., harassment, spam, hate speech).
6. **Submit the Report:** Follow the on-screen instructions to submit the report. You may be given the option to include screenshots or other evidence.
## Privacy Settings on Messenger
Messenger offers several privacy settings that can help you control who can contact you and how they can find you.
* **Who Can See Your Phone Number:** You can choose who can see your phone number on Messenger (e.g., friends, friends of friends, or only you).
* **Who Can Send You Message Requests:** You can choose who can send you message requests (e.g., everyone, friends of friends, or only people you know on Facebook).
* **Story Privacy:** You can control who can see your Messenger stories.
* **Active Status:** You can choose whether to show when you’re online or your last seen time.
To access these settings:
1. **Open the Messenger App/Website:** Launch the Messenger app or go to Messenger.com.
2. **Tap on Your Profile Picture:** In the top left corner, tap on your profile picture.
3. **Select “Settings & Privacy”:** In the menu that appears, tap or click on “Settings & Privacy.”
4. **Select “Privacy”:** You should find “Privacy” in the list. From here you can adjust the different privacy options.
## Conclusion
Blocking someone on Messenger is a simple yet effective way to protect yourself from unwanted messages, harassment, or simply to end communication with someone. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily block and unblock people on Messenger using your smartphone or desktop computer. Remember to also explore Messenger’s privacy settings to further control your online experience and protect your personal information. If you are experiencing harassment or abuse, remember to both block the person and report them to Facebook/Meta. Protecting yourself online is crucial, and Messenger provides the tools you need to do so effectively.