How to Find and Add Friends on Facebook

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Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: May 16, 2024 Tested

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Sending a Request

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Accepting a Request

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Tips

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Warnings

This wikiHow guide teaches you how to send and accept Facebook friend requests on both mobile and desktop platforms. You can easily add friends on Facebook on any computer, as well as on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. Once your friend request is accepted (or you accept another person's friend request), you'll be added to one another's Facebook friends lists.

Quick Guide: Adding Friends on Facebook

Search for the friend you want to add.
Click or tap their profile.
Click or tap Add Friend.
Wait for the person to accept your request.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Sending a Request

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Mobile

1
Open Facebook on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. It's a dark-blue app with a white "f" on it. This will open your Facebook News Feed if you're already logged into Facebook on your phone or tablet.
- If you aren't logged into Facebook, enter your email address (or phone number) and password to continue.
2
Search for a friend you want to add. Type a person's name into the search bar, then tap their name when it appears below the "Search" field. This will take you to their profile.
- You can also tap a person's name in your News Feed to visit their profile.
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This person-shaped icon is just below your selected person's profile picture. Doing so will send them a friend request; if they accept it, they will be added to your friends list.

Desktop

1
Go to Facebook's website. Go to https://www.facebook.com in your preferred browser. This will load your News Feed if you're already logged into Facebook.
- If you aren't already logged into Facebook, enter your email address (or phone number) and password before continuing.
2
Search for a person to add. Type a person's name into the search bar, then click their name in the drop-down menu. This will take you to their profile.
- Alternatively, click this person's name in the News Feed if you see it to visit their profile.
This button is to the right of the person's profile picture; clicking it will send a friend request to them. If they accept it, they will be added to your friends list.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Accepting a Request

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Mobile

1
Open Facebook. It's a dark-blue app with a white "f" on it. This will open your Facebook News Feed if you're already logged into Facebook on your phone or tablet.
- If you aren't logged into Facebook, enter your email address (or phone number) and password to continue.
It's in either the bottom-right corner of the screen (iPhone) or the top-right corner of the screen (Android).
This option is near the top of the menu.
This blue button appears below the requester's name. Tapping Confirm accepts the request and adds the person to your friends list.

Desktop

1
Go to https://www.facebook.com/find-friends in your web browser. If you're signed in to Facebook, this takes you to a list of your friend requests.^{[1]
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- If you're not signed in, you'll be prompted to do so now.
2
Click Confirm next to a person's name. This accepts the request and adds the person to your Facebook friends list.
- If you don't have any pending friend requests, clicking the "Friends" icon will instead display a list of suggested friends.

Common Questions: Friend Requests on Facebook

How do I send a friend request on Facebook if there's no button?

If you don't see the Add Friend button, the person you want to be friends with may have disabled it in their settings. If so, you may want to ask them about it. However, if the other person says that they don't want to add you on Facebook (for whatever reason), be prepared to accept and respect their decision.

How do I update my Facebook friend request settings?

Go to your Facebook privacy settings and select Audience and Visibility > How People Find and Contact You. You can change the option next to Who can send you friend requests? to restrict who is allowed to send you friend requests to everyone, or just friends of friends.

How do I cancel a Facebook friend request?

If you want to cancel a friend request you sent, just go to that person's Facebook profile and click the Cancel Request button (which is where the Add Friend button used to be). To delete a request you got, click on the friend request notification and click Delete next to the request.