How to Unfriend Someone on Facebook

This article explains how to unfriend someone on Facebook. It also explains what happens after your social media friendship is over.

How to Unfriend Someone on Facebook

Unfriending someone on Facebook is a fast and straightforward solution that's a bit stronger than unfollowing them, yet not as dramatic as blocking someone completely.

When you unfriend someone on Facebook, that person won't see posts that you publish to your friends, and any direct messages are filtered into your Message Requests inbox for you to approve before reading.

1. Go to Facebook or open the app and log in, if necessary.

2. Go to your profile and select Friends.

3. Choose the name of the person you want to unfriend to open their profile page.

4. Select the Friends icon at the top of their profile.

5. Select Unfriend.

Can People Tell They've Been Unfriended?

Facebook users aren't notified when someone unfriends them. However, there are indirect ways in which they are likely to discover what's happened.

• They might realize that they haven't seen any of your posts in their Facebook feed and visit your profile. They can tell you unfriended them when they see the option to add you as a friend.
• If you have mutual friends, Facebook might recommend you as a suggested friend.

How Do I Reverse an Unfriending on Facebook?

It is impossible to undo an unfriending. The only way to reconnect with someone on Facebook is to send them a friend request as you did when you first became Facebook friends.

Because they must approve your friend request manually, they will realize that you unfriended them. If you unfriended them by accident, explain what happened.

Is Unfriending the Same as Blocking and Unfollowing?

Unfriending someone on Facebook isn't the same as blocking or unfollowing them. Unfollowing someone on Facebook maintains the friend connection but hides their posts from your Facebook feed. Unfollowing can be a good option for friends or family members that you can't cut off entirely yet don't want to see the content they post in your timeline. People you unfollow can still send you messages and see your posts.

Blocking someone on Facebook is the most-extreme action you can take as it not only unfriends an account but also prevents them from seeing your public posts and stops them from sending you any form of direct message.

What Is a Facebook Purge?

A Facebook purge is what many users humorously call it when they go through their list of Facebook friends and unfriend those that they no longer talk to, don't get along with, or don't recognize.

After the mass unfriending, the user often posts something to their remaining Facebook friends to let them know that a purge took place and that if they can read that message, it means that they have survived and are still considered a true friend.