Decision tool
Unfriend, Unfollow or Block?
Answer four questions to choose the right Facebook boundary for your situation.
Recommended
Unfollow
You want to see less of their posts without removing the friendship.
What changes
- Their posts stop appearing in your feed.
- You stay Facebook friends.
- You can still visit their profile.
What stays the same
- The friend connection.
- Messenger contact.
- Their access to public posts.
If you also want to limit what they see, Restrict may fit better.
Recommended
Restrict
You want a quieter middle ground: keep the friendship but limit what they see.
What changes
- They see less of your profile and posts.
- You stay Facebook friends.
- They may still message you.
What stays the same
- The friend connection.
- Messenger contact.
- Public posts.
If you want to remove the connection completely, Unfriend is the direct option.
Recommended
Unfriend
You want to remove the friend connection without blocking them.
What changes
- You are removed from each other's friends lists.
- Friend-only posts may stop being visible.
- Messenger may still work.
What stays the same
- Public profile access.
- Messenger contact, often.
- Old comments, likes, and tags.
If avoiding notice matters more than removing the connection, Restrict is the quieter compromise.
Recommended
Block
You need a clear boundary: stop contact and limit profile access.
What changes
- The friend connection is removed.
- They cannot normally message you or view your profile.
- Most direct interaction is blocked.
What stays the same
- Old comments and tags on other people's posts may remain.
- Some public content may still be visible in limited contexts.
Blocking is stronger than unfriending. Use it when you need a clear privacy or safety boundary.
The short answer
The right option depends on how much of the connection you want to change. Unfollowing changes your feed. Restricting limits what the other person sees. Unfriending removes the friend connection. Blocking is the strongest boundary.
| What you want | Best option |
|---|---|
| See less of their posts, keep the friendship | Unfollow |
| Limit what they see without unfriending | Restrict |
| Remove the friend connection | Unfriend |
| Stop messages and profile access | Block |
Unfollow: change your feed, keep the friendship
Unfollowing changes what appears in your feed without removing the friend connection. You stay friends, the other person is not notified, and you can still visit their profile when you want to.
It is the lightest option when the problem is seeing too much of someone. If you also want to limit what they see of your profile, compare Restrict and Unfollow.
Restrict: a middle ground
Restricting keeps the friendship but limits what the other person can see of your profile and posts. They may still message you, and the friend connection stays in place.
It fits when you want distance without a visible break. If you need to remove the connection completely, unfriending is the direct option.
Unfriend: remove the friend connection
Unfriending removes the connection for both accounts. Friend-only posts may stop being visible, but Messenger contact and old comments can remain. Facebook does not send a direct notification, although the other person may notice later.
Read whether you can unfriend someone without them knowing if notice is your main concern.
Block: stop contact and profile access
Blocking is the strongest boundary. It removes the friend connection, limits profile access, and prevents normal messaging. Use it when you need a clear privacy or safety boundary, not just a quieter feed.
If you are trying to interpret a missing profile, read how to know if someone blocked you on Facebook.
What Still Friends can and cannot see
Still Friends tracks your Facebook friend list over time. It can show that a profile disappeared between snapshots, but it cannot prove whether the cause was an unfriend, a block, a deactivation, or a privacy change.
The result is a signal, not proof of intent. For the full workflow, read how to see who unfriended you on Facebook.
Frequently asked questions
Does unfollowing notify the other person? +
No. Facebook does not normally send a notification when you unfollow someone. They may notice changes in engagement over time, but there is no direct alert.
Does restricting someone remove the friendship? +
No. Restricting keeps the friend connection. It limits what the other person can see of your profile and posts, and it can reduce some interactions.
Will someone know if I unfriend them? +
Facebook does not send a direct notification, but they may notice if they visit your profile, see Add Friend, or lose access to friend-only posts.
When should I block someone? +
Blocking fits when you need to stop contact or profile access, or when unfriending and restricting are not enough for the boundary you need.
Can Still Friends tell which option someone used? +
No. Still Friends can show friend list changes, but it cannot prove whether the cause was an unfriend, a block, a deactivation, or a privacy change.
Track your Facebook friend list
Open Still Friends to compare changes over time and review lost or new friends.