How to send a friend request on Facebook
To send a friend request on Facebook, find the person's profile, look for the "Add Friend" button (usually near their name or profile photo), and click it. The button may say "Add Friend," "Friend Request," or show a person icon with a plus sign, depending on which device you're using. Once you click it, Facebook sends them a notification that you've requested to connect. They can then accept, decline, or ignore your request — you'll see the status change on your end.
The exact location of this button changes slightly between Facebook's mobile app, the website on a computer, and Facebook's mobile website. On all versions, though, the button appears in roughly the same spot: near the top of someone's profile, close to their name and photo.
Key Takeaways
- The "Add Friend" button appears near a person's name on their profile and works the same way across Facebook's app, website, and mobile browser.
- Once you send a request, the person receives a notification and can accept, decline, or leave it pending — you can see which one happened by checking their profile again.
- If someone declines your request, you can send another one later, but Facebook may limit how often you can do this to prevent spam.
- You can cancel a pending request at any time by clicking the button again, which will change back to "Add Friend."
- Sending a friend request does not let the other person see your full profile or past posts unless they accept — your privacy settings control what they see beforehand.
Finding the person's profile
Start by searching for the person you want to connect with. In Facebook's app or website, tap or click the search icon (a magnifying glass) at the top of the page. Type their name into the search box. Facebook will show you a list of people with that name, along with their profile photos and any mutual friends you have in common.
If you know their username or have a link to their profile, you can also paste the link directly into your browser or tap it from a message or other website. Either way, you'll end up on their profile page. Make sure you've found the right person — check their profile photo, location, mutual friends, or other details to confirm it's someone you actually want to connect with.
Locating and clicking the Add Friend button on a computer
On Facebook's website, open the person's profile. Look near the top of their profile, just below or to the right of their name and cover photo. You should see a button that says "Add Friend" or shows a person icon with a plus sign next to it. Click that button once.
After you click, the button will change. It may now say "Friend Request Sent," "Pending," or show a checkmark. This tells you that Facebook has sent your request. The person will see a notification that you've sent them a request, and they can respond whenever they choose.
Locating and tapping the Add Friend button on the Facebook app
Open the Facebook app on your phone and navigate to the person's profile. On both iPhone and Android, the "Add Friend" button appears near the top of their profile, usually below their name or next to other action buttons like "Message." The button may show as text that says "Add Friend" or as an icon (a person with a plus sign).
Tap the button once. Your phone may briefly show a confirmation message, or the button will change to show that your request is pending. You can close the app or navigate away — your request has been sent, and you don't need to do anything else.
What happens after you send a request
Once you send a friend request, the other person receives a notification. They can see your name, profile photo, and the option to accept or decline. They might accept right away, decline, or straightforward leave it sitting in their requests without responding. You can check the status of your request by going back to their profile — the button will show you whether it's still pending, accepted, or declined.
If they accept, you become friends. You'll then be able to see more of their posts (depending on their privacy settings), and they'll see more of yours. If they decline, the request disappears from their notifications, and the button on their profile returns to "Add Friend" — you can send another request later if you want, though Facebook may slow down how often you can do this to the same person.
Canceling a friend request you've already sent
If you change your mind after sending a request, you can cancel it. Go back to the person's profile and click or tap the button that now says "Friend Request Sent" or "Pending." Clicking it again will cancel the request, and the button will return to "Add Friend." The person will no longer see your request in their notifications.
Canceling a request is useful if you sent it by accident, if you realize you don't actually know the person, or if you want to wait before connecting. There's no penalty for canceling — you can send a new request whenever you're ready.
Understanding privacy when you send a request
Sending a friend request does not automatically let the other person see your full profile or all your past posts. What they see depends on your privacy settings. Before they accept your request, they might see only your profile photo, name, and mutual friends — or they might see more, depending on what you've chosen to share publicly.
Once they accept your request and you become friends, they'll be able to see posts and information based on your friendship privacy settings. If you want to control what a specific person sees, you can adjust your privacy settings before or after you send the request. This is part of how Facebook lets you manage who sees what information about you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between sending a friend request and following someone?
A friend request asks someone to connect with you as a mutual friend. Following someone lets you see their public posts without being friends. You can follow someone without sending a request, and they can follow you without accepting your request. Some people prefer followers to friends because it requires less privacy sharing.
Can I send a friend request to someone who has blocked me?
No. If someone has blocked you, you won't be able to find their profile, send them a request, or contact them through Facebook. If you think you've been blocked, you can try searching for their name — if their profile doesn't appear, they may have blocked you or deactivated their account.
How long does it take for someone to see my friend request?
They'll see a notification right away, but they might not check it for hours or days. Facebook shows friend requests in a dedicated section of their notifications, so they'll know it's there even if they don't respond when ready. You can check back on their profile anytime to see if they've accepted, declined, or left it pending.
What if I accidentally sent a request to the wrong person?
Cancel the request when ready by going to their profile and clicking the "Friend Request Sent" button again. This removes your request from their notifications, and they won't see it. You can then search for the correct person and send them a request instead.
Can I see who has sent me friend requests?
Yes. On Facebook's website, click the friend icon (two people) at the top, then select "Friend Requests." On the app, tap the menu icon and go to "Friends," then "Friend Requests." You'll see a list of pending requests with options to accept or decline each one.