The fastest way to add a friend on Epic Games

To add a friend on Epic Games, open the Epic Games Launcher, select your account menu in the top right, and click Friends. Then click the plus icon or Add Friend, type their Epic Games username or email address, and send the request. They will see a notification and can accept or decline. Once they accept, you can see when they are online, join their games, and send them messages.

The process works the same whether you are playing Fortnite, Rocket League, or any other game on the Epic Games platform. Your friends list is shared across all Epic Games titles, so you only need to add someone once.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add friends by username or email address from the Friends menu in the Epic Games Launcher.
  • The person you add will receive a friend request notification and must accept before you appear on their friends list.
  • If you know someone's username but not their exact spelling, the search will show close matches as you type.
  • You can also add friends directly from in-game lobbies or by accepting their friend request if they add you first.

Adding a friend by username or email

Open the Epic Games Launcher and look for your account icon or username in the top right corner. Click it and select Friends from the dropdown menu. You will see your current friends list and a button to add new friends — this is usually a plus sign or labeled Add Friend.

Click that button and a search box will appear. Type the person's Epic Games username exactly as they have it set, or type their email address if you know it. As you type, the launcher will show matching usernames below the search box. Click the person you want to add, then click Send Friend Request. That is all you need to do on your end — they will get a notification and can respond.

What happens after you send a request

When you send a friend request, the other person will see a notification in their Epic Games Launcher or in-game, depending on where they are playing. They can accept the request, decline it, or ignore it. If they accept, you will both see each other on your friends lists when ready.

If they decline or ignore the request, you will not be able to see them on your list, but you can send another request later if you want. There is no limit to how many times you can send a request to the same person, though sending many in a short time may look like spam.

Adding friends from inside a game

You do not have to go back to the launcher to add someone. While you are playing Fortnite, Rocket League, or another Epic Games title, you can add friends directly from the game menu. Look for a social menu or friends list — this is usually accessible from the main menu or pause menu, depending on the game.

Find the player you want to add (often by searching their username or by selecting them from a recent players list), and choose Add Friend. The request will be sent through Epic Games, and they will see it the same way they would if you had sent it from the launcher. This is faster if you just played with someone and want to stay connected.

Finding someone if you do not know their exact username

Epic Games usernames are case-sensitive, but the search function is forgiving. If you type part of someone's name, the launcher will show you usernames that match what you have typed so far. For example, if you type "alex", you might see "AlexGaming", "AlexTheBuilder", and "alex_plays" all appear as options.

If you still cannot find them, ask them to spell their username exactly as it appears in their account settings, or ask for their email address instead. Email addresses are easier to search because they are usually more straightforward. You can also ask them to send you a friend request first — you can then accept it without needing to search for them.

Accepting friend requests from others

When someone sends you a friend request, you will see a notification in the Epic Games Launcher or in-game. Click on the notification or go to your Friends menu and look for a Pending Requests or Incoming Requests section. You will see the person's username and have the option to accept or decline.

Click Accept to add them to your friends list, or Decline to reject the request. If you decline, they will not be able to see that you declined — the request will straightforward disappear from their pending list after a while. You can change your mind later and send them a request yourself if you want to be friends.

Managing your friends list and privacy settings

Once someone is on your friends list, you can see when they are online, what game they are playing, and whether they are in a party. You can also send them messages and join their game if they allow it. If you want to remove someone, right-click their name in your friends list and select Remove Friend.

If you want to control who can add you or message you, go to your account settings in the Epic Games Launcher. Look for Privacy or Social settings and adjust who can send you friend requests. You can set it to friends only, allow requests from anyone, or block specific people. These settings explore across all Epic Games titles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone if I do not know their username?

If you know their email address, you can search by that instead. Otherwise, you will need to ask them for their exact username. You can also ask them to send you a friend request first, and then you can accept it without searching.

What if someone sends me a friend request and I do not recognize them?

You can decline the request without any consequence. They will not receive a notification that you declined — the request will straightforward expire. If they keep sending requests, you can block them from your privacy settings.

Do I have to accept every friend request I receive?

No. You can decline any request, and you can also block people so they cannot send you requests at all. Go to your privacy settings to block someone or adjust who can send you requests.

Can I add friends across different Epic Games titles?

Yes. Your friends list is shared across all games on the Epic Games platform. If you add someone while playing Fortnite, they will also appear on your friends list in Rocket League or any other Epic Games title.

What if I add someone by mistake?

You can remove them from your friends list at any time by right-clicking their name and selecting Remove Friend. They will not receive a notification that you removed them, but they may notice you are no longer on their friends list if they check.