How to Unfriend Someone on Facebook (and What They'll See)

Most of us have a friends list that's grown for years without much thought. Old colleagues, people you met once at a networking event, someone's cousin you can't place. Trimming it isn't rude, it's housekeeping, and it gives you more control over who sees your friends-only posts. If you use your personal profile to support your business, a tidier list also means your updates reach the people who care about them.

Unfriend someone on Facebook using the app

Menus vary by app version, but the route Facebook's help pages describe hasn't changed much:

1. Open the Facebook app and go to the person's profile.
2. Tap the Friends button, the one with a small tick or person icon under their name.
3. Tap Unfriend.
4. Tap Confirm.

Unfriend a Facebook friend on a computer

1. Go to facebook.com and open the person's profile.
2. Click the Friends button near the top of their profile.
3. Click Unfriend, then Confirm.

You can also do it from your own friends list. Open your profile, click Friends, find the person, click the three dots next to their name and choose Unfriend. That's quicker if you're tidying several people in one sitting.

What changes for both of you when you unfriend on Facebook

• There's no notification from Facebook. They'll only find out if they look for you on their friends list or visit your profile.
• They stop seeing your friends-only posts. Anything you've shared as Public is still visible to them, just as they are to anyone.
• Your chat history stays put. Unfriending doesn't delete a conversation.
• They may still be able to message you, depending on your message settings.
• Either of you can send a new friend request later if you change your mind.

One thing people don't expect: if you've set your posts to Friends of friends, someone you've unfriended could still see them through a mutual friend. If that matters, choose Friends as your audience instead. My guide to locking your Facebook profile from strangers goes further into those audience settings.

Unfriend versus unfollow versus block on Facebook

Unfriending sits in the middle of Facebook's options. It's stronger than unfollowing and much gentler than blocking.

Option	They see your friends-only posts?	You see their posts?	Can they message you?
Unfollow	Yes	No	Yes
Unfriend	No	Only public ones you look for	Depends on your settings
Block	No, your profile is hidden	Not while the block is on	No, conversations are blocked

If the real problem is that their posts annoy you, you don't need to end the friendship. My guide on unfollowing someone on Facebook without them knowing is the quieter route. If they're harassing you, unfriending won't stop them, and you'll want to block them on Facebook instead.

There's a fourth option people forget. If you want to stay friends but keep your personal posts away from someone, the Restricted list does exactly that, and Facebook doesn't tell them. It's often the right answer for a manager or a client who sent a request you felt you couldn't refuse.

Questions to ask before you unfriend someone on Facebook

Unfriending is easy to undo technically, but sending a new friend request later can feel awkward. Before you tap the button, I'd ask yourself:

• Is it their posts that bother me, or the fact they can see mine? If it's their posts, unfollow. If it's yours, restrict or unfriend.
• Will we see each other in real life? Family events and school gates are where an unfriending tends to come up.
• Are we in the same Facebook groups? You'll still see each other's posts and comments there.
• Do I just need a break? A short pause from their posts might be enough, and you can do that without anyone knowing.

If you've answered those and still want them gone, go ahead. Your friends list is yours to curate, and you don't need to explain it.

Unfriending people when your profile supports your business

Plenty of small-business owners I talk to use their personal profile as a quiet shop window. That's fine, but a few habits help:

• Don't unfriend customers in a hurry after a disagreement. They often notice, and it can look petty. Unfollow them for a while instead.
• Consider moving business contacts to your Page, so your profile stays personal and your Page does the selling.
• If someone is only on your list to promote their own products in your comments, unfriending is perfectly reasonable.

If the Unfriend option isn't showing on Facebook

• If the button says Add friend, you aren't friends. They may already have unfriended you, or the request was never accepted.
• If it says Following rather than Friends, you're following a public profile, not connected as friends. Use Unfollow instead.
• Update the app, because older versions put the option in a different menu.
• If their profile won't open at all, they may have blocked you or deactivated their account.

Unfriending lots of Facebook friends at once

Facebook doesn't offer a tool to unfriend people in bulk, and I'd steer clear of browser add-ons that promise to do it, because they ask for access to your account. Going through your friends list a few names at a time is slower but safe. Start with people you don't recognise, then anyone you haven't spoken to in years.

Frequently asked questions

Does Facebook tell someone when you unfriend them?

No. Facebook doesn't send a notification, though they may notice if they look at their friends list or your profile.

If I unfriend someone, can they still see my posts?

They can still see anything you share as Public. Friends-only posts are hidden from them.

Does unfriending delete our Messenger chats?

No. Unfriending doesn't delete a conversation.

Can I add someone back after unfriending them?

Yes. Send a new friend request. They'll need to accept it again.

Can I see who I've unfriended on Facebook?

I haven't found a list of people you've unfriended in Facebook's settings, so if you think you might reconnect one day, note their name somewhere.

What's the difference between unfriending and blocking on Facebook?

Unfriending ends the friendship. Blocking also stops them seeing your profile, tagging you, inviting you or starting a conversation with you.