The fastest way to add a friend on Steam

To add someone on Steam, you need their username or the number Steam assigns them (called a Steam ID). Open Steam on your computer, click your username in the top right corner, select "Friends", then click the "Add a Friend" button. Paste their username or Steam ID into the box that appears, then click "Add Friend". They will receive a notification and can accept or decline.

If you know the person in real life but not their Steam username, ask them directly. You can also search by their real name if they have made it public on their profile, though this is less reliable because multiple people may share the same name.

Once someone accepts your friend request, you can see when they are online, what game they are playing, and send them messages through Steam's chat feature. You can also join their game session if they allow it.

Key Takeaways

  • You need someone's Steam username or Steam ID to send them a friend request through the "Add a Friend" button in your Friends list.
  • The person you add will see a notification and must accept your request before you become friends.
  • Once you are friends, you can message them, see what they are playing, and join their games if they allow it.
  • If you do not know someone's username, you can search by their real name if they have made it public, but asking them directly is more reliable.
  • You can also add people through their profile page by clicking "Add Friend" if you find them while browsing the Steam community.

Finding someone's Steam username or ID

Every Steam account has a username (the name you chose when you created your account) and a Steam ID (a number Steam assigned automatically). Either one works for adding a friend. The username is easier to remember and share, so most people give you that instead.

If someone tells you their username but you are not sure you have it right, you can search for them in Steam. Click "Add a Friend", type what they told you, and Steam will show you matching accounts. Look for the right person by checking their profile picture or real name if they have added one.

If you have their Steam ID instead, you can also search by that number. Steam IDs look like long strings of numbers (for example, 76561198123456789). Paste the full number into the search box and Steam will find them.

Sending a friend request through someone's profile

Another way to add someone is to find their profile page first, then click "Add Friend" from there. You can reach someone's profile by searching the Steam community, finding them in a game's leaderboard, or clicking their name in a chat message or game lobby.

Once you are on their profile page, look for the "Add Friend" button near the top. Click it, and your request will be sent. They will see it in their notifications and can accept or decline from there.

This method is useful if you want to check someone's profile before adding them — you can see what games they own, how long they have been on Steam, and what their profile picture looks like to make sure you have the right person.

What happens after you send a request

When you send a friend request, the other person gets a notification in Steam. They can see your username, profile picture, and how many mutual friends you have (if any). They can then choose to accept, decline, or ignore the request.

If they accept, you both become friends when ready. If they decline, the request disappears and you cannot send another one for a set period of time. If they ignore it, the request stays in their notifications but does not block you from trying again later.

You can see the status of your pending requests by going to Friends, then clicking "Pending" at the top of the list. From there you can cancel a request if you change your mind.

Adding friends from the same game

If you play a game with someone and want to stay in touch, you can add them directly from the game lobby or scoreboard without leaving the game. Most multiplayer games show player names or usernames during matches. Right-click on their name and look for an "Add Friend" option, or click their name to open their profile and add them from there.

This is one of the easiest ways to add someone because you already know you have something in common — you are playing the same game. When you add them this way, you can message them later and suggest playing together again.

Privacy settings and friend requests

By default, anyone can send you a friend request on Steam. If you want to limit who can add you, you can change your privacy settings. Go to your profile, click "Edit Profile", then scroll to "Privacy Settings". You can set friend requests to "Friends Only" (only people who are already your friends can add you) or "Private" (no one can add you unless you add them first).

If someone sends you a request and you do not want to be friends, you can decline it. Declining does not notify them or block them — they just see that you declined. If you want to block someone completely so they cannot message you or see your profile, you can do that from their profile page by clicking the three dots menu and selecting "Block".

Troubleshooting friend requests that do not go through

If you try to add someone and get an error message, the most common reason is that you typed their username wrong. Double-check the spelling and try again. Usernames are case-sensitive on some searches, so try typing it exactly as they told you.

If the person exists but you cannot add them, they may have set their privacy settings to block new friend requests. In that case, you will see a message saying they are not accepting requests. You can still message them if they allow it, or ask them to add you instead.

If Steam itself is not working properly, try restarting the Steam process. Close it completely (right-click the Steam icon in your system tray and select "Quit Steam"), wait a few seconds, then open it again and try adding the friend once more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone add me without me knowing?

Yes, they can send you a request, but you will see a notification. You do not have to accept it. The request will sit in your pending list until you decide whether to accept, decline, or ignore it. They cannot become your friend without your action.

What if I accidentally declined someone's friend request?

You cannot undo a decline, but they can send you another request after some time has passed. If you want to add them instead, search for their username and send them a request yourself. They will see it and can accept.

Can I add someone if they have a private profile?

Yes, a private profile does not stop you from sending a friend request. However, you will not be able to see their games, friends list, or profile details until they accept and you become friends. Once you are friends, you can see whatever they have chosen to share with friends.

Do both people have to accept for us to be friends?

No, only the person you send the request to needs to accept. Once they click "Accept", you are both friends automatically. You do not need to do anything else on your end.

Can I add someone on Steam if they are not online?

Yes, you can add anyone at any time, whether they are online or offline. They will see your request the next time they open Steam, even if that is days later. Being offline does not prevent you from sending a request or them from accepting it.