How to take a break from someone on Facebook in 2023

The Take a Break feature lets you limit your interactions with anyone on Facebook. You will see very few posts from them and vice versa. As such, it’s the perfect way to disable users without blocking or unfriending them. In this article, I will show you how to take a break from someone on Facebook from iPhone.

What happens when you take a break from someone on Facebook?

If you take a break from someone, Facebook won’t notify them. Also, whenever you change your mind, you need to manually reset your settings.

1. Visibility of posts

After the break, Facebook’s algorithms ensure that you don’t see each other’s posts in News Feed.

So, to see their latest updates, find and open their Facebook profile. This is because the Facebook Break feature changes the privacy settings of your posts and stories and puts this profile on the restricted list.

This way, only when you post something publicly or tag them, the message will be visible. Also, when you add tags, Facebook won’t suggest them. If you and that Facebook friend attend the same events, you won’t receive any notifications.

2. Managing past messages

Not only future posts, but the Break feature will also affect past posts. A restricted person can’t see all the posts you flag. If they tagged you anywhere, Facebook will automatically remove the tag and those posts won’t be shown to you. Moreover, messages in each other’s timelines will be permanently deleted.

How to take a break from someone on Facebook from iPhone

The Facebook Take a Break feature includes several steps. Whenever you change your relationship status to single or divorced, Facebook will prompt you to take a break from your ex.

You can also restrict someone by following these steps. Please note that this feature is available on the web version of Facebook.

  1. Launch the Facebook app on your iPhone.
  2. Now find and open the Facebook profile you want to restrict.
  3. Click “Friends”and select “Take a Break”.
  4. It will now redirect to a page to change your privacy settings.
    • Customize what you see: Click “View Options”under “Less on [friend’s name] profile”. Now check the “Limit where you see the profile”checkbox and click “Save”.
    • Update your privacy settings. Scroll down and select “View Options”under “Restrict what [friend’s name] sees.”Then select Hide your messages. This will put the profile on the restricted list and they won’t see your posts until you flag them. Tap Save.
    • Manage past messages: Select “View options”under “Edit who can see past messages.”Now select Edit all my posts and posts I’m tagged in to make the posts private. Confirm by clicking Done.

What things stay the same after the Facebook break?

  • You can still access your Messenger chats and send messages.
  • When sharing content, their names will not appear as suggestions.
  • If you don’t want to see them in your inbox, archive or delete the chat. In addition, both of you can see each other’s comments on any messages and reply to them.
  • Plus, you have the option to write on their timeline after the break.

How to undo the “Break on Facebook”action from iPhone

As I said before, you will need to manually reset all settings to default in order to undo the “Break”action on Facebook. To do this, open his profile again and click “Break”in the “Friends”menu. Similarly, go to each section and remove all restrictions. So, both of you can see each other in the news feed just like before.

Also, make sure you keep an eye on them and remove them from the restricted list.

  1. Open his profile and click “Friends”→ “Edit friends list”.
  2. Now check “Limited”and click “Finish”.
  3. Also, if you see a Subscriptions button, tap it.

So that’s all for today, friends!

In addition to Take a Break, there is also a feature that allows you to hide your Facebook friends list. Meta has reversed these features with mental health in mind. Plus, if you take a break from chatting with someone, you can turn them off without unfriending or blocking them. What do you think about it? Let me know in the comments below!

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