Inviting friends in MW3 Plutonium requires you to be in the main menu, find your friend's username, and send them an invite through the social or friends menu

MW3 Plutonium is a community-run version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 that runs separately from the official game servers. To play with friends, you need to send them an invite from within the game client. The process is straightforward once you know where to look, but the menu layout differs from the official Call of Duty launcher.

You cannot invite friends while in an active match — you must return to the main menu first. Once there, the friends or social menu (depending on your client version) will show your contacts and give you the option to send invites to people who own Plutonium.

Key Takeaways

  • Invites in MW3 Plutonium are sent from the main menu, not from inside a match or lobby.
  • Your friend must have Plutonium installed and launched at least once before you can see them in your friends list.
  • The friends menu is usually found in the top-right corner or under a social tab in the main menu.
  • If a friend does not appear in your list, ask them to verify their username matches what you are searching for.

Finding the friends menu in Plutonium

When you launch MW3 Plutonium and reach the main menu, look for a friends icon or social option. In most versions of the Plutonium client, this appears as a small icon in the upper right corner of the screen, or as a labeled tab in the menu bar. The exact placement depends on which build of Plutonium you are running, as the interface has been updated several times.

Click or select the friends menu. You will see a list of people you have already added, along with a search bar or option to add new friends. If the menu does not appear where you expect it, check the settings or help section of your Plutonium client — the developers sometimes move interface elements between updates.

Searching for and adding a friend

In the friends menu, use the search function to find the person you want to invite. Type their exact Plutonium username — usernames are case-sensitive in some versions, so ask your friend to confirm the spelling if the search returns no results. Once you find them, select their name and choose "Add Friend" or a similar option.

Your friend will receive a friend request notification the next time they launch Plutonium. They must accept the request before you can send them game invites. This is a one-time step — once they accept, you remain on each other's friends list.

Sending a game invite to a friend

After your friend has accepted your friend request, return to the friends menu from the main menu. Find their name in your friends list and look for an invite option — this is usually labeled "Invite to Game," "Invite to Lobby," or straightforward "Invite." Select this option.

Your friend will see a notification that you have invited them. They can accept the invite to join your lobby or current game session. If they are already in a match, they will typically see the invite after that match ends, though some versions allow them to accept mid-match and join after the round concludes.

What to do if an invite does not go through

If your friend does not receive an invite, first confirm they are online and have Plutonium running. Invites only appear to players who are actively in the Plutonium client — if they are in a match, they may not see it until afterward. Ask them to check their notifications or pending invites section.

If the invite still does not appear, verify that you are both on each other's friends list and that neither of you has blocked the other. Some older versions of Plutonium had bugs with the invite system; if you are running an outdated client, try updating to the latest version. You can also try restarting both the game and your computer if the problem persists.

Joining a friend's lobby after accepting an invite

When you accept an invite from a friend, you will be moved into their lobby automatically. From there, you can see the game mode, map, and other players in the session. You can back out at any time by selecting "Leave Lobby" before the match starts.

Once the match begins, you will spawn with your friend's team. If you want to leave mid-match, you can do so, but you will not be able to rejoin that specific match. Leaving and rejoining lobbies is useful for testing different game modes or waiting for other friends to come online.

Inviting multiple friends at once

Plutonium does not have a built-in feature to send one invite to multiple people simultaneously. You must send individual invites to each friend you want to play with. However, once several friends accept and join your lobby, you can all play together in the same match.

A practical approach is to send invites to your core group of friends, then message them outside the game (through Discord, text, or another platform) to let them know you are hosting a session. This way, they know to check Plutonium and accept the invite when they see it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to add someone as a friend before inviting them?

Yes. You must send a friend request first, and they must accept it. Only after that can you send game invites. This is a security feature to prevent spam invites from strangers.

Can I invite someone who does not have Plutonium installed?

No. Your friend must have Plutonium downloaded, installed, and launched at least once. If they have never opened Plutonium, they will not appear in your search results.

What if my friend is in a match when I send an invite?

They will see the invite notification after their current match ends. They cannot join mid-match, but they can accept the invite and join your lobby for the next round.

Why does my friend not appear in my search results?

Check that you have the username spelled correctly — usernames are case-sensitive. Also confirm they have launched Plutonium at least once and that you are both using compatible versions of the client. If you are still having trouble, ask them to verify their username in their Plutonium settings.

Can I invite friends to a private match or custom game?

Yes. The invite process is the same whether you are hosting a public match or a private custom game. Your friend will join whichever session you are currently in when they accept the invite.