The simplest way: use Facebook's restricted list
Facebook lets you block someone from seeing your posts without unfriending them or telling them you did it. The person stays your friend, but they cannot see what you share — and you will not see their posts either. This is called putting someone on your restricted list, and it takes about 30 seconds.
Open Facebook on your phone or computer. Go to your own profile by clicking your name at the top. Find the person you want to restrict in your friends list (or search for them). Click or tap their name to open their profile. Look for the three dots in the top right corner of their profile header — the same dots you would use to report someone. Click those dots and select "Restrict [their name]" from the menu.
That is it. They will not get a notification. The next time they visit your profile, they will see only the posts you have marked as public — the ones visible to everyone on Facebook. Your other posts will be hidden from them.
Key Takeaways
- Restricting someone hides your posts from them without unfriending them or sending a notification.
- A restricted person can still message you, but their messages will go to your message requests folder instead of your main inbox.
- You can restrict multiple people, and you can remove someone from the restricted list at any time by visiting their profile and clicking the three dots again.
- If you want to hide posts from someone but keep seeing theirs, use the "Unfollow" option instead of restricting them.
- Posts you have already shared will be hidden from restricted people when ready — you do not need to delete them.
What a restricted person can and cannot see
When you restrict someone, they lose access to most of your activity. They cannot see posts you share with friends only, posts shared with specific groups, or posts visible to only certain people. They also cannot see your photos, videos, or status updates unless you have marked them as public.
However, a restricted person can still see your profile picture, your cover photo, and your basic information like your name and location — the things Facebook shows to everyone. They can also see posts you have tagged in, because those posts belong to the person who shared them, not you. If your friend posts a photo and tags you in it, the restricted person will see that tag and the photo.
Messages work differently. A restricted person can still send you messages, but those messages will not arrive in your main inbox. Instead, they go to your message requests folder, which you can check or ignore. You can read the message without the person knowing you have seen it.
The difference between restricting, unfriending, and blocking
Restricting is not the same as unfriending or blocking, and each one does something different. When you restrict someone, you stay friends, but they cannot see most of your posts. When you unfriend someone, they are no longer your friend, and they cannot see your posts or your profile (unless it is public). When you block someone, they cannot see you at all — they cannot find your profile, message you, or see your posts anywhere on Facebook.
Use restricting when you want to keep the friendship but limit what one person sees. Use unfriending when you want to end the connection but do not want to hurt someone's feelings by blocking them. Use blocking when someone is harassing you or you want a complete separation.
One more option: unfollowing someone means you stay friends, but you will not see their posts in your feed. They can still see your posts (unless you have restricted them). This is useful if you want to stay connected but do not want to see someone's content every day.
How to restrict multiple people at once
If you want to restrict several people, you have to do it one at a time — Facebook does not have a bulk restrict feature. Go to each person's profile and follow the same steps: click the three dots, select "Restrict," and move to the next person.
If you find yourself restricting many people, consider whether a different privacy setting might work better. For example, you can change who sees a specific post before you share it. Click the audience selector (usually showing "Friends" or "Public") and choose "Friends except..." to hide that post from certain people. This way, you can share different content with different groups without restricting anyone.
How to see your restricted list and remove someone
You can view everyone you have restricted and remove them from the list at any time. On your phone, open Facebook and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu). Scroll down and tap "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings." Tap "Privacy," then scroll down to "Restricted List." You will see everyone you have restricted.
On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook, then "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings." Click "Privacy" in the left menu, then scroll to "Restricted List." To remove someone from the list, click the three dots next to their name and select "Unrestrict."
Once you unrestrict someone, they will be able to see your posts again the same way they did before you restricted them. They will not get a notification that you have unrestricted them.
What happens to posts you shared before restricting someone
When you restrict someone, all your old posts become hidden from them when ready. You do not have to delete anything or change any settings. The next time they visit your profile or scroll through their feed, they will not see the posts you shared before you restricted them.
The only exception is posts you have marked as public. Public posts are visible to everyone on Facebook, including restricted people, because that is what public means. If you want to hide a public post from a restricted person, you have to change that post's privacy setting or delete it.
When restricting is not enough
Restricting works well if you want to quietly limit what someone sees. But if someone is bothering you, harassing you, or you want them to know you do not want contact, blocking is stronger. A blocked person cannot message you, find your profile, or see anything you post anywhere on Facebook.
You can also report someone to Facebook if they are breaking the rules — sending unwanted messages, posting threatening content, or impersonating you. Click the three dots on their profile or on a post they made, select "Report," and choose the reason. Facebook will review the report and may remove the person's account or restrict their access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I restricted them?
No. Facebook does not send a notification when you restrict someone. However, if they visit your profile and notice they cannot see your posts anymore, they might figure it out. There is no way to know for certain that you have restricted them without asking you directly.
Can I restrict someone and still see their posts?
No. Restricting is a two-way block — when you restrict someone, you cannot see their posts and they cannot see yours. If you want to see their posts but hide yours from them, use the "Unfollow" option instead. You will stay friends, you will see their posts, but they will not see yours (unless you have not restricted them).
What if I restrict someone by mistake?
Go back to their profile, click the three dots, and select "Unrestrict." They will when ready be able to see your posts again. There is no penalty for unrestricting someone, and they will not be notified.
Can I restrict someone on Facebook Messenger?
You cannot restrict someone directly from Messenger, but if you restrict them on Facebook, the restriction applies to Messenger too. Their messages will go to your message requests folder. You can also block someone on Messenger alone without restricting them on Facebook — tap their name at the top of the chat, scroll down, and select "Block."
If I restrict someone, will they see my comments on other people's posts?
Yes. If you comment on a public post or a post shared by someone who has not restricted you, a restricted person can see that comment. Restricting only hides posts you have shared directly to your own profile or to specific groups.