How to Tell If Someone Blocked You On Facebook Messenger

It's a common problem in today's Digital Age: you think you're friends with someone, only to have the sneaking suspicion they've blocked you on Facebook Messenger. This guide explains how to check whether you've been blocked on Messenger but not on Facebook, including methods for checking on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. While there's no explicit confirmation that someone blocked you, there are several tell-tale signs to look for that are just as good.

How to Tell If Someone Blocked You on Messenger: Mobile Version

The easiest way to check whether you've been blocked on Messenger but not on Facebook is to use the mobile app and check whether or not a message gets through.

Illustration of a person finding out they've been blocked on Facebook Messenger — Lifewire / Derek Abella

If it doesn't, you can then check if that person is still on Facebook. If they are, then they've blocked you on Messenger only.

While in the Messenger app, tap the Search bar and type in your friend's name.
Tap your friend's name when it appears in the search results.
Type your message in the text box near the bottom of the screen and hit Send.

If the message sends as normal, your friend hasn't blocked you on Messenger. But, if you're told "Message Not Sent" and that "This person isn't receiving messages at this time" this means either:

You've been blocked on Messenger but not Facebook.
You've been blocked on Facebook itself.
Your friend has deactivated their account.

If you get one of these messages, your next step is to determine which of these possibilities actually applies. To do that, open the Facebook app and conduct a search for your friend's name there. If your friend appears in the search results after typing their name, then they've blocked you on Facebook Messenger without blocking you on Facebook itself. But if your friend's account doesn't appear, this doesn't necessarily mean they've also blocked you on Facebook. They may have deactivated their account.

How to Tell If Someone Blocked You on Messenger: Desktop Version

The same basic methods apply when using your computer to check whether someone blocked you on Messenger, although the steps are slightly different.

Go to messenger.com and log in to your Facebook account.
Select the New Message icon in the top-right corner of the left-hand column.
Type the person's name into the search bar and select it once it appears.
Type a message in the conversation box and press Send.

After clicking the Send button, you may receive a message which reads, "This person isn't available at the moment." Once again, this doesn't necessarily mean they've blocked you on Messenger since they could've either blocked you on Facebook or deactivated their account.