You can cancel a friend request you sent before the other person accepts it
If you sent a friend request and changed your mind, you can take it back before the person responds. Facebook lets you remove the request from your end, and the other person will no longer see it in their notifications. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using Facebook on a computer or a phone, but the process takes less than a minute either way.
Once you cancel a request, the other person will not receive a notification that you withdrew it. They straightforward will not see the request anymore. You can send a new request to the same person later if you change your mind again — Facebook does not penalize you for canceling requests.
Key Takeaways
- You can only cancel a request you sent before the other person accepts it; once they accept, you must unfriend them instead.
- On a computer, go to the person's profile, find the "Cancel request" button, and click it.
- On a phone, open the person's profile, tap the button showing a pending request, and select cancel from the menu.
- The other person will not be notified that you canceled the request.
- You can send a new request to the same person at any time after canceling.
How to cancel a request on Facebook's website
Open Facebook in your web browser and search for the person's name using the search bar at the top of the page. Click on their profile to open it. Look for a button that says "Cancel request" — it usually appears near the top of their profile, often in a light gray color next to other action buttons.
Click the "Cancel request" button. The button will disappear, and the request is now canceled. The person's profile will show no pending request, and they will not see any notification about it.
If you cannot find the "Cancel request" button, the request may have already been accepted or declined. If it was accepted, you are now friends and will need to unfriend the person instead. If it was declined, the request is already gone and you can send a new one whenever you want.
How to cancel a request on the Facebook mobile app
Open the Facebook app and search for the person using the search icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap their name to open their profile. Look for a button showing a pending request — it usually says "Cancel request" or displays an icon with a person and an X.
Tap and hold the button, or tap it once to see a menu of options. Select "Cancel request" from the menu if one appears. If the button shows only "Cancel request" without a menu, tapping it once will cancel the request when ready.
After you tap cancel, the button will change or disappear. The request is now withdrawn, and the other person will not see it in their notifications.
What happens after you cancel a request
Once you cancel a request, the other person's profile will show no pending request from you. They will not receive a notification that you sent a request or that you canceled it. From their perspective, nothing happened — they straightforward will not see a request from you in their notifications or friend requests list.
You are free to send a new request to the same person at any time. There is no waiting period or limit on how many times you can send requests to the same person. If you want to reach out to them in a different way first — such as through a message — you can do that without the request being active.
The difference between canceling a request and unfriending
Canceling a request and unfriending are two different actions for two different situations. You cancel a request when the other person has not yet accepted it — the request is still pending. You unfriend someone when you are already friends with them and want to remove that connection.
If someone already accepted your friend request and you want to remove them, you cannot cancel the request anymore. Instead, go to their profile, click the "Friends" button, and select "Unfriend" from the menu. Unfriending removes the connection on both sides, though the other person will not receive a notification that you unfriended them.
What to do if you cannot find the cancel button
If you are looking at someone's profile and do not see a "Cancel request" button, one of three things has happened: the request was already accepted, the request was already declined, or the button is in a different location than expected.
If the button shows "Friends," the request was accepted and you are now connected. If the button shows "Add friend," the request was declined or expired, and you can send a new one. If you still cannot locate any button related to a pending request, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the app — sometimes the interface does not update when ready.
Why you might want to cancel a request
People cancel requests for many reasons. You might have sent a request to the wrong person, or you might have realized you do not actually want to connect with someone. You may have sent multiple requests by accident, or you might want to wait before connecting with someone you just met.
Canceling a request is a low-pressure way to change your mind. The other person will not know you sent a request, so there is no awkwardness or explanation needed. You can always send a new request later if circumstances change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I canceled my friend request?
No. The other person will not receive any notification that you sent a request or that you canceled it. They will straightforward not see a pending request from you in their notifications or friend requests list.
Can I cancel a request after someone accepts it?
No. Once someone accepts your request, you are friends and the request is no longer pending. To remove the connection, you must unfriend them instead. Go to their profile, click "Friends," and select "Unfriend."
How long does a friend request stay pending before it expires?
Facebook does not have a set expiration date for friend requests. A request can stay pending indefinitely until the other person accepts it, declines it, or you cancel it. Some people may never respond to a request.
Can I cancel a request I sent a long time ago?
Yes, as long as the request is still pending — meaning the other person has not accepted or declined it. You can cancel a request you sent weeks or months ago using the same steps. If you cannot find the cancel button, the request may have already been declined.
What if I accidentally sent a request to the wrong person?
Cancel the request when ready using the steps above. The person will not be notified, so there is no need to send them a message explaining the mistake. You can then send a request to the correct person.