Until now, it was only possible to restrict people on Facebook, using the Facebook mobile app or website. However, Facebook has now added a new ‘Restrict’ option in the latest version of Messenger for iPhone and Android. It allows users to directly restrict someone on Messenger instead of Facebook.
The Restrict feature in Messenger is an ideal way to limit interactions with someone you know without having to block or unfriend them. Unlike blocking, you can see restricted messages, just like you view messages from people you aren’t friends with on Facebook.
At the same time, you might have noticed that there is no option to ignore messages on Messenger 2023 anymore. That’s because the new Restrict option replaces the ‘Ignore messages‘ feature, present earlier in the Facebook Messenger app.
What happens if you restrict someone on Messenger?
Here’s how restricting works when you restrict a person or contact in your Messenger chat.
- The conversation is removed from the Chats list to Restricted accounts.
- You won’t receive notifications when a restricted person messages or calls you.
- The restricted contact won’t see when you’ve read their messages or your Active Status.
- The person won’t be notified when you restrict them.
- You can’t message or call the restricted person.
- You cannot see the online status of someone whom you’ve restricted.
Although Restrict on Facebook and Messenger serve a similar purpose, they both work independently. This means the people you restrict on Facebook will remain unrestricted on Messenger unless you restrict them in Messenger as well. As a result, people in your Facebook Restricted list won’t appear in the Restricted list on Messenger and vice versa.
If you want to reply to messages in a restricted chat on Messenger, you first have to unrestrict a certain person.
Now let’s see how you can restrict or unrestrict someone on Facebook Messenger.
How to restrict messages on Messenger
- Make sure you’re running the latest version of Messenger.
- Open the Messenger app and go to a conversation you want to restrict.
- Tap the profile picture of the person.
- Under Privacy and support, select “Restrict”.
- Once restricting is done, a popup saying ‘XYZ is restricted’ will appear at the top.
Note that the above steps apply to both iPhone and Android.
TIP: Below is an alternate way to quickly restrict several people in Messenger.
On Android – Go to the ‘Chats’ tab and long-press a particular chat conversation. Choose the ‘Restrict’ option from the list.
On iPhone and iPad – While you are on the Chats screen, swipe left on a conversation, tap ‘More’, and then tap on ‘Restrict’.
How to see restricted messages on Messenger
Follow the steps below to find restricted accounts on Messenger:
- Open the Messenger app and go to the Menu tab at the bottom right.
- Tap on ‘Settings‘ under your profile name.
- Go to ‘Privacy & safety‘.
- Under Who can reach you, go to ‘Restricted accounts‘.
- Here you will see the list of people you’ve restricted on Messenger.
How to unrestrict someone on Messenger
If you restricted a person by mistake, then follow these steps to remove restriction in Messenger:
- Tap the Menu button in the bottom right corner and go to Settings.
- Head to Privacy & safety > Restricted accounts.
- Tap the person’s name you want to remove from restricted.
- In the chat window, tap the ‘Unrestrict‘ option at the bottom.
- An ‘XYZ is unrestricted’ notification will show up, and the particular conversation will move back to your Chats list.
Hope you found this article helpful.
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Not helpful. I dont want to use mobile phone to unrestrict someone. I want to use a computer.
Can people still see your Facebook posts if you restrict them in messenger?
Can people still message you if you restrict them on Facebook messenger?
It does not answer that
Thanks
Hi, Dean. If I’m understanding your question correctly, the answer is addressed under the section “What happens when you restrict Simone on Messenger”.
????You won’t receive notifications when restricted person messages or calls you.????
I’ve highlighted the answer you’re looking for. Yes, they’re still able to send you a message, but you won’t receive any sort of notification for it, similar to the way you would a message from an unknown contact or non-Facebook friend that goes to your junk folder (provided your settings are set to have it done that way.)
If you’d like to respond, you’d just need to unrestrict that person first.
Hope this helps.
Question: What if you restricted someone, but both of you are in a group chat, will you be able to see, mention or chat there?
I restricted someone from messenger, but whem I was about to unrestrict him, the “Unrestrict” buttom was gone. How can I unrestrict him now?
If you restricted someone, will she or he b able to see your stories?
Is there a limit to how often you restrict & un-restrict someone?
Or a time frame?
Very Helpful.
If I’m connected on messenger but they didn’t accept my freind request on fb how is this possible and also it says Connected with this person when I search them on messenger but when I send a message it has the blue circle outline with the white circle which is sent and not delivered, so does this mean that they have ignored or muted or restricted me , and also I didn’t get a notification we were connected on messenger I only noticed when I searched their name on messenger but the friend request on fb I sent them wasn’t accepted and when I go on their profile the add freind button is not there anymore what does this mean
why i cant find unrestricted button at the bottom of our convo?
This doesn’t work. I tried this as offered ‘On Android – Go to the ‘Chats’ tab and long-press a particular chat conversation. Choose the ‘Restrict’ option from the list.’ only to see that the Restrict option does not exist on Group Chats. Is there another way to Restrict Chat Groups?
But can you restrict a group?
I cannot restrict a particular person in my chat list. Why? I couldrestrict this person before but recently i cannot. Does this mean i’m restricted too?
Does the restricted persons messages show as sent or delivered?