Need help unblocking someone on Facebook

General
1

I blocked a friend on Facebook during an argument and now we’ve made up, but I can’t figure out how to unblock them so we can add each other again and start messaging. Can someone walk me through where to find the unblock settings on the Facebook app and desktop, and anything else I should know so I don’t mess this up?

2

Facebook hides this stuff way too deep, so here is the path.

On the Facebook mobile app:

  1. Open Facebook.
  2. Tap the three lines menu.
    • Top right on Android.
    • Bottom right on iOS.
  3. Tap the gear icon for Settings.
  4. Go to “Audience and visibility”.
  5. Tap “Blocking”.
  6. You will see a list of people you blocked.
  7. Find your friend, tap “Unblock”.
  8. Confirm.

On desktop site:

  1. Click your profile pic top right.
  2. Click “Settings & privacy”.
  3. Click “Settings”.
  4. In the left menu, click “Blocking”.
  5. Under “Block users”, find their name.
  6. Click “Unblock”.
  7. Confirm.

Important points after you unblock:

• You need to add them again as a friend. Blocking removed the friendship before.
• Search their name, open profile, tap “Add Friend”.
• If search does not show them, try:
– Typing full name.
– Using a browser instead of the app.
– Asking them to send you a friend request.

Messaging:

• Once unblocked, open Messenger and search their name.
• If you do not see them, wait a few minutes. Facebook syncs this stuff slowly sometimes.
• You might need to un-ignore or un-restrict if you used those features before the block.

If you still do not see them after 24 hours, check:

• Did they also block you. If yes, you will not find each other at all.
• Did they delete or deactivate their account.

That is the full path. It is like 6 taps for something you did in one angry second.

3

Couple of extra things to know that @viajeroceleste didn’t mention or I slightly disagree on:

  1. Check if you blocked them in Messenger separately

Facebook is annoying here. You can:

  • Block someone on Facebook
  • Block them only in Messenger
  • Do both

So even after you unblock them on Facebook, Messenger can still treat them as blocked.

On the Facebook / Messenger app:

  • Open Messenger
  • Tap your profile picture
  • Go to Privacy & safety
  • Tap Blocked accounts
  • If your friend is listed there, tap their name and choose Unblock messages and calls

If you only unblock on the Facebook “Blocking” page and forget this part, you’ll still have trouble messaging.

  1. Unfollow / Restrict confusion

Sometimes people think they blocked, but actually:

  • They restricted the person
  • Or put them on a Restricted list
  • Or just unfollowed them

If you unblock them but weird stuff is still happening:

On the profile:

  • Tap the Friends button
  • Check if there’s an option like Edit Friend List or Restricted
  • Remove them from Restricted if they’re on it

This matters if their posts still act strangely even after you’re “friends” again.

  1. If you can’t find them at all

If you go to the blocking list and:

  • They are not there
  • You still can’t search or see their profile

Most likely:

  • They still have you blocked
  • Or they deactivated / deleted their account
  • Or they have super strict privacy and blocked friend requests from your type of account (rare, but can happen)

In that case, your only real option is:

  • Ask them on another platform (text, WhatsApp, etc.) to confirm they unblocked you too and that their account is active.
  1. Time delay & refresh tricks

Facebook can be slow to update:

  • After unblocking, log out and back in
  • Or close the app and force reopen it
  • Try searching for their name from a browser if the app keeps acting weird
  1. One more catch: the 48-hour thing

Sometimes when you unblock someone, Facebook will not let you re-block them again immediately. They have a sort of cooldown. That doesn’t stop you from re-adding them or messaging, but:

  • If you’re on-and-off arguing with this person, just know you can’t spam-block/unblock in quick cycles.

So:

  1. Unblock in Facebook settings
  2. Check Messenger blocked accounts
  3. Make sure they’re not on your Restricted list
  4. Have them confirm they unblocked you too if nothing shows up
  5. Re-add as friend, then test Messenger again

That should get the peace-treaty convo going.