Deleting friends on Facebook can help you manage your connections and declutter your friends list. Here’s a step-by-step guide to deleting friends on the Facebook app for iPhone and Android.
Why Delete Facebook Friends?
There are a few key reasons you may want to delete Facebook friends:
- Your friend list is too cluttered.
- You want to remove old connections you no longer interact with.
- You had a falling out with someone and want to disconnect.
- Someone is spamming you or making inappropriate posts.
- You want more privacy in your Facebook profile and posts.
Deleting Facebook friends helps pare down your connections to those you actively engage with and trust. It can make your news feed less cluttered too.
How to Delete a Facebook Friend on iPhone
Here are the steps to delete a Facebook friend on the iPhone app:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the hamburger menu icon (3 horizontal lines) in the bottom right.
- Select “Friends” from the menu.
- Tap your friend’s name to open their profile.
- Tap the “Friends” button below their cover photo.
- Select “Unfriend” to delete them.
- Tap “Confirm” on the pop-up to verify you want to delete them.
Your selected friend will immediately be removed from your friends list. They won’t be notified you deleted them.
Removing Multiple Facebook Friends on iPhone
You can also delete multiple Facebook friends at once on your iPhone:
- Go to your Facebook Friends list.
- Tap the icon with 3 horizontal lines in the top right corner.
- Select “Edit Friends List.”
- Tap the circle icon beside each friend you want to remove.
- Tap “Done” once you’ve selected everyone to delete.
- Confirm you want to remove the selected friends.
This enables you to prune a larger number of connections in just a few taps.
How to Delete Facebook Friends on Android
The process works similarly on the Facebook app for Android:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the hamburger menu.
- Choose “Friends” from the menu.
- Tap your friend’s name to go to their profile.
- Tap the “Friends” button below their cover photo.
- Select “Unfriend” to remove them.
- Confirm you want to delete them on the pop-up.
Again, this immediately disconnects that friend from your profile and friends list.
Removing Multiple Friends on Android
You can also mass delete friends on Android:
- Go to your Facebook Friends list.
- Tap the 3 dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Choose “Edit Friends List.”
- Tap the circle beside each friend you want to remove.
- Tap “Done” once you’ve selected everyone.
- Confirm that you want to delete the selected friends.
This makes it easy to prune your friends list on Android in just a few taps.
How to Delete Friend Requests
In addition to deleting existing friends, you can also delete incoming friend requests:
- Go to your Facebook profile.
- Tap the Friends menu.
- Select “Friend Requests” to see who’s requested to connect.
- Tap the “X” icon beside any request to delete it.
This removes the friend request so it’s like they never sent it in the first place. They won’t be notified.
How to Block Someone on Facebook
If you want to go a step further than just unfriending someone, you can block them on Facebook:
- Go to their Facebook profile page.
- Tap the 3 dot “More” menu in the top right.
- Choose “Block” from the menu.
- Select “Block” again on the confirmation pop-up.
Blocking prevents them from viewing your profile or posts. You also won’t see anything they share. They won’t be notified they’ve been blocked.
How to Undo Unfriending or Blocking
If you change your mind after deleting a friend or blocking someone, undo it quickly:
- Unfriend: Go to their profile and re-add them as a friend.
- Block: Go to your blocked list under Settings, tap “Unblock” beside their name.
If it’s been a while, they’ll have to confirm your new friend request before you reconnect.
What Happens When You Delete or Block Someone?
Here’s what happens on both sides when you delete a Facebook friend or block someone:
| Action | What You See | What They See |
|---|---|---|
| Delete Friend | They are removed from your friends list. | Your profile and posts disappear from their view. |
| Block User | You can no longer see their profile or posts. | Your profile and posts disappear from their view. |
In essence, removing a friend or blocking someone mutually disconnects you on Facebook.
Other Facebook Friend List Options
Beyond deleting and blocking, you have a few other options to curate your Facebook friends:
- Organize Friends: Sort your list into Close Friends, Acquaintances, and Restricted.
- Unfollow: Keep them as friends but hide their posts from your feed.
- Turn Off Notifications: Mute notifications from a friend without unfriending.
Use these to fine-tune your friend connections as needed.
Conclusion
Deleting friends and pruning your Facebook connections helps streamline your profile and news feed. Now you know how to remove friends directly on the Facebook mobile app for both iPhone and Android. Block unwanted connections if needed. You can always re-add friends later or undo blocks if you change your mind.