Facebook allows you to connect with friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances from all over the world. Over time, you may wish to remove some of these connections for various reasons. Fortunately, Facebook makes it easy to delete friends from your Friends list. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to delete a friend on Facebook using the website or mobile app.
How To Delete A Friend On Facebook Using The Website
Here are the steps to delete a friend on Facebook using the desktop website:
- Log into your Facebook account on the desktop website (www.facebook.com).
- Click on your profile icon (top right corner) and select “Friends” from the dropdown menu.
- On your Friends page, scroll to or search for the friend you want to remove.
- Hover over the friend’s name and click the “Friends” button that appears.
- Select “Unfriend” from the dropdown menu.
- A confirmation box will appear – click “Confirm” to delete the friend.
Once you unfriend someone, they will no longer appear on your Friends list or see your posts on their News Feed. However, you may still appear as friends on their profile or in mutual friends’ About sections. The person will also remain friends with your friends.
How To Delete A Friend On Facebook Using The Mobile App
You can also easily unfriend someone right from the Facebook mobile app. Here is how to delete a friend on Facebook using your smartphone or tablet:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the “Friends” tab at the bottom.
- Tap “All Friends” at the top to see your full Friends list.
- Scroll to or search for the friend you want to unfriend.
- Tap on their name to open their profile.
- Tap the “Friends” button below their cover photo.
- Select “Unfriend” from the dropdown menu.
- Tap “Confirm” on the pop-up to complete unfriending the person.
The process works the same whether you’re using the Facebook app for iPhone or Android. The person will be immediately removed from your Friends list.
What Happens When You Delete A Friend On Facebook?
Here’s an overview of what happens when you delete someone as a friend on Facebook:
- They are removed from your Friends list and can no longer see your posts.
- You no longer see their posts in your News Feed.
- Any future posts you make are hidden from them.
- You both remain friends on Messenger unless you block each other.
- They may still see you listed as a friend on their own profile.
- You remain friends in any mutual Friends lists.
- You can no longer tag each other in posts or photos.
- You both retain access to previously tagged posts.
- Group membership is not affected.
- Future event invites will no longer be sent between you.
In summary, unfriending someone on Facebook removes them from your social network feed while retaining some connections like Messenger. However, it does not delete your past interactions and connections.
Can You Delete A Friend Request On Facebook?
If you have sent someone a friend request on Facebook and wish to delete it before they accept, here is how to cancel a pending friend request:
- On the website, click the requests icon shown a red notification number.
- Click “Cancel Request” next to the friend request you wish to remove.
- On mobile, tap the “Friends” tab and then “Sent Requests”.
- Tap “Cancel Request” to delete the pending request.
Once canceled, the friend request will be removed and the person will no longer be able to accept your request. You can send them a new friend request in the future if you change your mind.
Can You Block Someone You Unfriended On Facebook?
Yes, when you unfriend someone on Facebook you can also choose to block them. Doing so will prevent them from:
- Viewing your Facebook profile or posts
- Starting conversations with you on Messenger
- Adding you as a friend again
- Inviting you to events or groups
- Tagging you in photos or posts
- Contacting you on Facebook
To block an unfriended person on desktop, click on the “Block” link after selecting “Unfriend” from their profile. On mobile, toggle on “Block” after unfriending them via their profile.
Can You Undo Unfriending Someone On Facebook?
If you accidentally deleted someone as a friend on Facebook, you can easily send them another friend request to re-add them. They will see a notification that you want to add them as a friend again. However, there is no way to undo an unfriend action and automatically re-add the person as your Facebook friend.
How Do I Hide Someone’s Posts Without Unfriending Them?
Rather than unfriend someone completely, you can choose to just hide their posts from your News Feed. On desktop, you can:
- Click the three dots above their post
- Select “Hide post”
- Choose to hide all posts, or just those from the person
On mobile:
- Tap the three dots above the post
- Tap “Hide post” or “Hide all from [person]”
You can also adjust News Feed preferences to see less from a friend without unfollowing them completely.
Can I Limit Someone’s Profile Viewing Without Unfriending?
Facebook allows you to restrict someone’s ability to view your profile and posts without fully unfriending them. On desktop:
- Go to your profile and click “Edit Privacy”
- Click “Limit Old Posts”
- Enter names to customize viewing of past posts
On mobile:
- Go to “Settings & Privacy”
- Tap “Privacy Settings”
- Tap “Limit Past Posts”
- Search for names to customize viewing
This prevents the selected people from seeing any of your past posts while remaining friends.
Should I Notify Someone After Unfriending Them On Facebook?
It’s generally not necessary to inform someone that you have unfriended or blocked them on Facebook. The change will become apparent to them as they lose access to your profile information and posts. However, if the reason for unfriending is due to a misunderstanding or temporary disagreement, it may be courteous to send them a private message explaining your decision.
What Should I Do If Someone Gets Upset About Being Unfriended?
If someone contacts you demanding an explanation after you unfriend or block them, feel free to calmly explain your reasoning. However, you have no obligation to justify your Facebook connections. If the person becomes harassing, aggressive, or threatening, report them to Facebook immediately and consider speaking with a trusted authority figure if you have concerns about your safety or wellbeing.
Can Unfriending Cause More Harm Than Good?
In some cases, unfriending or blocking someone on Facebook without an explanation can cause more interpersonal strife. If done hastily or passive-aggressively, it may damage the relationship further. Consider if an in-person discussion, phone call, or private Facebook message could resolve the conflict in a more constructive manner. However, you should always prioritize your own boundaries and wellbeing when evaluating Facebook connections.
Conclusion
Facebook’s unfriending feature allows you to easily remove connections that are no longer positive or relevant without destroying the friendship completely. In most cases, unfriending someone will reduce unwanted annoyances and frictions. But consider communicating outside of Facebook if the issues are deeper or more nuanced. At the end of the day, curate your Facebook friend list in whatever way makes you feel happiest and most comfortable.