Alex Ruben
How To Unblock Someone on Facebook: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve ever accidentally blocked someone or just decided you want to reconnect with an old friend, the unblocking process on Facebook is pretty straightforward—once you know where to look. But honestly, it can be a bit janky sometimes. The menus change a little with updates, and the steps aren’t always super clear if you’re new to the app. This guide should help clear things up, whether you’re on iOS or Android. After following these steps, you’ll be able to unblock that annoying coworker, estranged relative, or whoever else you blocked without pulling out your hair.
Prerequisites
Before jumping in, make sure you’ve got:
- An active Facebook account.
- The Facebook app installed — available for iOS and Android.
- Access to your device’s settings and app permissions.
How to Unblock Someone on Facebook
Open the Facebook App
First things first: launch that app. Log in to the account you want to manage. If you aren’t already logged in, well, that’s step zero. Make sure you’re in the right account because otherwise, you might be looking at the wrong blocked list. (Been there, done that.)
Navigate to the Menu
On an iPhone, tap the menu icon (that’s usually the three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. On an Android, it’s at the top right or sometimes a side menu—tapping that reveals the menu options. Sometimes the icons change, of course, because Facebook loves to mess with the UI without telling anyone.
Access Settings and Privacy
- Scroll down to find Settings & Privacy.
- Tap it, then select Settings. For simplicity, just look for the gear icon if you’re not sure.
Find the Block List
Once in Settings, scroll down until you see Privacy or sometimes directly Blocking. The exact path might vary, but it’s usually under Audience and Visibility or directly labeled Blocking. On some versions, you’ll see a list of people you’ve blocked.
If you don’t see it, it’s worth checking if you’re in the right account or if you’ve already unblocked that person.
Unblock the Person
- Locate the person you want to unblock.
- Tap the Unblock button or link next to their name.
A small pop-up or confirmation box often appears, asking if you’re sure. Usually it says something like “Unblock this person?”.
Confirm the Unblock
- Press Confirm or Unblock.
Done. The other person is now unblocked, and you can see their profile again, send messages, or add them back as a friend. Note: if you want to reconnect, don’t forget to send a friend request because unblocking doesn’t automatically add someone back.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
But yeah, sometimes things don’t go as expected. Here are some quick tips:
- If you can’t find someone in the block list, maybe you never blocked them on this account, or they’ve been unblocked already. Or you’re on a different Facebook account than the one you think.
- Updating the Facebook app to the latest version is sometimes needed if menus seem wonky or options are missing.
- On some setups, the blocked list is a bit hidden inside a submenu, so be patient.
And just so you know, unblocking someone doesn’t restore all previous interactions—if you want to be friends again, you’ll need to send a new friend request. Plus, Facebook has a 48-hour cooldown if you decide to block someone again, so planning ahead is smart.
Wrap-up
Unblocking on Facebook is simple in theory but can be a streamline of frustrations thanks to app updates and UI changes. Hopefully, this breakdown makes the process less annoying and more predictable. Just remember to check which account you’re logged into, update the app if needed, and keep an eye out for the right menu options.
Summary
- Launch Facebook and login.
- Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Find and tap on Blocking.
- Locate the user and hit Unblock.
- Confirm your choice, and you’re good to go.
Final Note
Yeah, it’s a bit of a dance sometimes, but unblocking someone isn’t that complicated once you get used to where everything lives now. Facebook loves changing things just enough to make you rethink your life, but with patience, it’s all manageable. Good luck unblocking — hopefully this saves someone a few minutes of head-scratching.