Facebook's Take a Break lets you see less of someone, usually an ex, without unfriending or blocking them. Go to facebook.com/take_a_break, pick the person, then choose whether to hide their posts from your Feed, limit what they see of yours, and tidy up past posts you're both tagged in.
Unfriending an ex can feel like a statement. Blocking can feel like a bigger one. Take a Break sits in the middle: they stay on your friends list, but they quietly disappear from your Feed, and you can stop them seeing new posts too. It was built for break-ups, but it works for anyone you need some distance from.
What Take a Break does
| Option | What it changes |
|---|---|
| See less of them | Their posts, and posts they're tagged in, stop appearing in your Feed. Facebook stops suggesting you message them or tag them in photos |
| Limit what they see of you | They're added to your Restricted list, so they only see posts you share publicly or tag them in |
| Edit who sees past posts | Old posts you're both tagged in can be limited so only the people tagged in them can see them |
You choose each part separately, so you can hide them from your Feed without hiding yourself from theirs, or the other way round. Facebook also removes you as a contributor from any shared albums you had with them, which is easy to forget about until a new photo appears.
How to take a break from someone
- Go to facebook.com/take_a_break while logged in, or open it from the prompt Facebook shows when you change your relationship status.
- Choose the person you want to take a break from.
- Pick how much you want to see of them.
- Choose whether to limit what they can see of your posts.
- Decide what to do about past posts you're both tagged in.
- Save your choices.
Facebook offers Take a Break when you change your relationship status to single or divorced, or leave it blank. You don't have to wait for that prompt though. You can use it for any profile you're friends with.
Does the other person know?
Facebook's help page doesn't say the other person is told, and nothing in Take a Break is a message to them. They may notice indirectly: if you limit what they see, your friends-only posts stop showing up for them, and if you edit past posts, those posts disappear from your timeline. But there's no notification saying you've taken a break.
What happens to your old photos together
This is the most useful part, and the most misunderstood. If you choose to limit past posts, the ones you're both tagged in can only be seen by the people tagged in them, and they'll no longer appear on your timeline. They're not deleted, though. Facebook says they'll still appear on other people's timelines and in search results unless the person who originally posted them removes them.
So if a friend posted the photo, it's their post. You can untag yourself, or ask them to remove it. To find old posts, my guide on seeing your memories on Facebook helps you find the posts that still show up.
Take a Break vs restrict vs unfriend vs block
| Tool | They stay a friend? | What they can see | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take a Break | Yes | Your choice: everything, or only public and tagged posts | Less or none of their posts |
| Restricted list | Yes | Only your public posts and posts you tag them in | Unchanged |
| Unfriend | No | Only your public posts | Only their public posts, if you follow them |
| Block | No | Nothing on your profile | Nothing of theirs |
If you only want them out of your Feed, Take a Break is gentler than unfriending someone on Facebook. If they're harassing you, don't hesitate: block them. Facebook reminds you that you can always block or unfriend instead. More on the middle option in my guide to what restricted means on Facebook.
It's not just for exes
Facebook built Take a Break around relationship changes, but it works for any friend you need space from. Some situations where it's the right tool:
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- A friend whose constant posting about one topic is wearing you down.
- A colleague you've fallen out with but will still see at work.
- A family member going through something you can't keep reading about every day.
- A former friend you don't want to unfriend because of mutual friends.
In each case you get your Feed back without the awkwardness of a friend list change that other people might notice. And because they stay a friend, it's easy to reverse when things settle down, with no friend request to send.
How to undo Take a Break
Changed your mind? Go back to facebook.com/take_a_break, choose the person and change your settings. To see their posts in your Feed again, Facebook says you can simply follow them again.
My verdict
Take a Break is the kindest way to get distance on Facebook without a public statement. Hide them from your Feed first, limit what they see if you'd rather they didn't follow your new life, and deal with old tagged posts when you're ready. If it's more than a break you need, block them, and don't feel bad about it.
Frequently asked questions
What does Take a Break do on Facebook?
It lets you see less of someone, limit what they see of you and limit past posts you're tagged in together, without unfriending or blocking them.
Does someone know if you take a break from them on Facebook?
Facebook's help page doesn't mention any notification. They may notice they can't see your friends-only posts if you limit them.
How do I take a break from someone on Facebook?
Go to facebook.com/take_a_break, choose the person and pick your settings. Facebook also offers it when you change your relationship status.
Does Take a Break delete old photos?
No. Limited posts disappear from your timeline but still appear on other timelines unless the original poster removes them.
