How to take a break from someone on Facebook in 2023

How to use Take a Break feature on Facebook

The “Take a Break” feature enables you to limit your engagement with someone on Facebook. You will see very few posts from them and vice versa. So, it’s an ideal method to mute users without blocking or unfriending them. In this article, I’ll 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 will not notify them. Also, whenever you change your mind, you need to manually reset the settings.

1. Visibility of posts

After taking a break, Facebook algorithms will ensure you don’t see each other’s posts on the News Feed.

So, to see their most recent updates, search and open their Facebook profile. It’s because the Facebook Take a Break feature changes the privacy settings of your posts and stories and puts that profile on the restricted list.

So, only when you post anything publicly or tag them, the post will be visible. Additionally, when you are adding tags, Facebook will not suggest them. If you and that Facebook friend are attending the same events, you will not receive any notifications.

2. Managing past posts

Not only the future posts, but the Take a Break feature will affect the past posts also. The restricted person can not see all your tagged posts. If they have tagged you anywhere, Facebook will remove the tag automatically and those posts won’t appear to you. Moreover, posts on each other’s timelines will be deleted forever.

How to take a break from someone on Facebook from iPhone

Facebook Take a Break feature includes multiple 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 anyone by following the steps below. Note that the function is available on Facebook’s web version. 

  1. Launch the Facebook app on your iPhone.
  2. Now, search and open the Facebook profile you want to restrict. 
  3. Tap Friends and choose to Take a Break.

    Tap on Take a Break on Facebook iOS app 
  4. Now it will redirect to a page to change privacy settings.
    • Adjust what you will see: Tap See Options under See less of [friend’s name] profile. Now, tick Limit where you see profile and tap Save.

      Adjust what you will see in Take a Break on Facebook
    • Update your privacy settings: Scroll down and choose to See Options under Limit what [friend’s name] will see. Then select Hide your posts. It will put the profile on a restricted list, and they won’t see your posts until you tag them. Tap Save

      Update your privacy settings in Take a Break on Facebook
    • Manage past posts: Choose to See Options under Edit Who Can See Past Posts. Now select Edit all my posts and posts I’m tagged in to make posts private. Confirm by tapping Done.

      Manage past posts in Take a Break on Facebook   

Which things remain the same after taking a break on Facebook?

  • You can still access your chats on Messenger and send messages.
  • While sharing content, their name will not be shown as suggestions.
  • If you don’t want to see them in the inbox, archive or delete the chat. Besides, you both can see each other’s comments on any posts and reply to them.
  • Moreover, you have the option to write on their timeline after taking a break.

How to undo Take a Break on Facebook from iPhone

As I said before, you will need to manually reset all the settings to default to undo Take a Break on Facebook. For that, again open their profile and tap Take a break under the Friends menu. Similarly, go to each section and take back all limitations. So, you both can see each other on the news feed like before. 

Also, ensure you are following them and unlisted them from the restricted list. 

  1. Open their profile and tap Friends → Edit Friend List.

    Edit Friend List in Take a Break on Facebook
  2. Now check off Restricted and tap Done

    Tap Restricted and check off Restricted and tap Done in Facebook iOS app
  3. Also, if you see a Following button, tap it.

So, that’s all for today, folks!

Apart from Take a Break, there’s also a feature that lets you hide your friend list on Facebook. Meta has rolled these features keeping mental health in mind. Further, taking a break from someone allows you to mute them without unfriending or blocking them. What are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments below!

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Author Profile
Content Writer at iGeeksBlog

Ava is an enthusiastic consumer tech writer coming from a technical background. She loves to explore and research new Apple products & accessories and help readers easily decode the tech. Along with studying, her weekend plan includes binge-watching anime.

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