The basic steps to send a friend request
To add someone on Facebook, search for their name or profile using the search bar at the top of any Facebook page. Click on their profile when it appears, then look for the "Add Friend" button — it's usually near the top of their profile, sometimes next to their name or in a menu marked with three dots. Click it, and Facebook sends them a friend request. They'll see a notification and can accept, decline, or ignore it.
If you already know their exact profile URL or have their username, you can type it directly into your browser's address bar (facebook.com/username) to reach them faster. This is useful if the search returns multiple people with the same name.
Once someone accepts your request, you become friends. This is when the privacy settings you've chosen on your profile actually matter — because now they can see the posts, photos, and information you've decided to share with friends.
Key Takeaways
- Search for someone by name or username using Facebook's search bar, then click "Add Friend" on their profile.
- When you send a friend request, the other person sees a notification but your request doesn't appear on your profile until they accept it.
- Once someone accepts your request, they can see whatever content you've set to "Friends" visibility — which is often more than you realize.
- You can cancel an unsent request, block someone to prevent them from adding you, or unfriend someone later if you change your mind.
- Facebook shows mutual friends and other connection details on someone's profile before you add them, so you can verify you have the right person.
What the other person sees when you send a request
When you send a friend request, Facebook notifies them — they'll see your name and profile picture in their friend requests section. They can see your profile picture, your name, and how many mutual friends you have in common. If your profile is public or semi-public, they can also click through to see some of your posts and photos before deciding whether to accept.
The request itself doesn't post to your timeline or theirs. Other people won't see that you've sent it unless you tell them. Facebook keeps friend requests private between you and the person you're requesting — it's not a public action the way posting a comment is.
If you send a request and the person doesn't respond, it stays in their requests section indefinitely. You can cancel it anytime by going back to their profile and clicking "Cancel Request." If you cancel and then want to add them again later, you can send a new request.
What they can see about you once they accept
After someone accepts your friend request, what they see depends entirely on the privacy settings you've chosen for each post and photo. If you've posted something set to "Friends," they can now see it. If you've posted something set to "Public," they could already see it before accepting. If you've set something to "Only Me," they'll never see it.
By default, Facebook shows friends your profile picture, cover photo, bio, and list of friends. They can also see your birthday (if you've added one), your relationship status, your work and education history, and any other information you've filled in on your "About" section. You can change what's visible by going to your profile, clicking "About," and adjusting the privacy icon next to each piece of information.
Friends can also see when you've been active on Facebook, unless you turn off your active status. To do this, click the circle with your profile picture in the bottom right corner, select "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings," then "Privacy," then find "Who can see your active status" and change it to "Nobody."
How to manage requests you've sent or received
To see friend requests you've received, click the friend icon (two people) at the top of Facebook, then select "Friend Requests." You'll see a list of people who've requested to add you. You can accept, decline, or ignore each one. Ignoring a request removes it from your list but doesn't notify the person — they can send another request later.
To see requests you've sent, click your profile picture in the top right, select "Settings & Privacy," then "Settings," then "Personal Information," then "Connections." Look for "Friend requests sent" — this shows everyone you've requested but who hasn't responded yet. You can cancel any of these by clicking the "Cancel Request" button next to their name.
If you want to prevent someone from sending you requests in the future, you can block them. Go to their profile, click the three dots menu, and select "Block." A blocked person can't see your profile, send you messages, or add you as a friend. You can unblock them later the same way.
When someone might not see your request
If someone's privacy settings are very strict, they might not accept requests from people they don't know. Some people set their profiles so that only people with mutual friends can send them requests. If you have no mutual friends with someone, your request might be filtered into a separate "Other" folder that they rarely check.
If you've blocked someone in the past, you can't send them a request — you'd have to unblock them first. Similarly, if they've blocked you, you won't be able to find their profile or send them a request at all.
Requests can also get lost if someone hasn't logged into Facebook in a long time. Their notifications pile up, and your request might be buried under hundreds of others. Sending them a message through another platform (text, email, or another social media site) to let them know you've sent a request can help.
Unfriending and what happens after
If you add someone and later change your mind, you can unfriend them. Go to their profile, click the three dots menu, and select "Unfriend." They won't get a notification that you've unfriended them, but if they look at your profile or try to message you, they'll notice you're no longer friends. They can send you a new friend request if they want to reconnect.
After you unfriend someone, they can no longer see posts you've set to "Friends" visibility. They can still see anything you've set to "Public." If you want to make sure they can't see anything at all, blocking is stronger than unfriending — a blocked person can't see your public posts either.
Privacy settings to adjust before adding people
Before you start adding friends, consider what you want them to see. Go to your profile, click "About," and review each section. Next to your birthday, phone number, email, work history, and other details, you'll see a privacy icon (usually a globe, a lock, or a people symbol). Click it to change who can see that information — "Public," "Friends," or "Only Me" are the main options.
You can also control who sees your posts going forward. When you create a post, before you click "Post," look for the privacy dropdown (usually showing "Friends" or "Public"). Click it and choose who can see that specific post. This is more granular than profile settings — you can make one post public and another visible only to friends.
If you're concerned about what you've already posted, you can review your timeline and change the privacy of old posts one at a time. Go to a post, click the three dots, select "Edit Post," and change the privacy setting. This takes time if you have many posts, but it's worth doing if you're adding people you want to keep at a distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see that I've looked at their profile?
No. Facebook does not tell people when you visit their profile. You can look at someone's profile as many times as you want without them knowing. The only exception is if you interact with their posts — liking, commenting, or reacting to something — then they'll see your name in the list of people who engaged.
What if I send a request to someone and they decline it?
If someone declines your request, you won't get a notification. You'll only know if you go back to their profile and notice the "Add Friend" button has returned. You can send another request after some time has passed, but sending multiple requests in a short period might seem pushy. It's better to wait a few weeks or months.
Can I add someone if they have a private profile?
Yes. Even if someone's profile is private, you can still send them a friend request. They'll see your request in their notifications, and they can accept or decline it. A private profile just means you can't see their posts or photos until they accept your request.
Does Facebook tell someone when I accept their friend request?
Yes. When you accept a friend request, the person who sent it gets a notification. They'll see your name and profile picture in a notification that says you accepted their request. This is different from sending a request — accepting one is a notification event.
What's the difference between unfriending and blocking?
Unfriending removes someone from your friends list, but they can still see your public posts and send you messages. Blocking prevents them from seeing your profile, your posts (even public ones), and messaging you. Blocking is stronger and more private, but it's also more obvious if they try to find you later.