How to Resolve the Issue When Blocked Facebook Friends Can’t See Your Friend Request

When managing your privacy on social media, it can be frustrating when someone you've blocked on Facebook and later unblocked can't see your friend request button. This article will guide you through the troubleshooting steps and suggest methods to resolve this issue.

Step 1: Look Up Each Other's Profile

One of the first things you should check is whether either of you can find each other via a search on Facebook. If you can find each other, but the friend request button is missing, it might mean that the other person has set a privacy setting that blocks friend requests. Here’s how to do a search:

Go to the Facebook search bar at the top of the page. Search for the person who blocked and unblocked you.

You might see an option to add a friend. If you do, that means you can both try sending a friend request. However, if the friend request button is not visible, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Cool-Down Periods and Permanent Bans

Facebook implements a cool-down period for blocking activities. If you've blocked and unblocked the same person multiple times, Facebook may automatically ban you from their account. This means you can no longer send friend requests, even if the person tries to add you back:

If both you and the other person are unable to send or receive friend requests, it means one or both of you are under a permanent ban due to repeated blocking.

To check if you or the other person have been permanently banned, look for any notifications or messages related to this. Facebook may send an email or in-app notification to inform you of such a ban.

Step 3: Privacy Settings and Custom Restrictions

Another reason for the inability to send a friend request could be the other person's privacy settings:

If they have blocked people from sending friend requests, it will prevent you from sending them a request. Check the other person's privacy settings:

Go to their profile. Click on the Settings and Privacy button on the top right corner. Select Privacy. Under the section Friends Hometown, look for the setting that controls who can send you friend requests.

If the setting is set to "Only Friends," this could be why you can't see the friend request button. Ask the person to allow friend requests from mutual friends or from your account.

Step 4: Contact Facebook Support

If none of the above steps work, the best course of action is to contact Facebook support for assistance:

Go to the Facebook Help Center. Fill out the form with your issue description and evidence of the problem. Submit the form and wait for a response from their support team.

Facebook support may offer a solution or escalate the issue to their technical team for further investigation.

Conclusion

Resolving the issue when someone you've blocked on Facebook and unblocked can't see your friend request button isn't impossible. By performing a basic search, checking privacy settings, and contacting Facebook support, you can resolve most issues. If the other person has set specific privacy restrictions or if you've been banned due to repeated blocking, there may be no way to send a friend request, and you may need to reconsider the relationship.