Finding friends on Facebook starts with the search bar at the top of your screen

The fastest way to find someone on Facebook is to type their name into the search bar — the white box at the very top of your screen or app. Type their full name or part of it, then press Enter. Facebook shows you a list of people with that name, sorted by how likely they are to be the person you're looking for (usually based on mutual friends or location).

When you find the person you want to add, click or tap their profile picture or name to open their full profile. Look for the "Add Friend" button, usually near the top of their profile next to their name. Click it, and your request goes to them — they have to accept before you become friends.

If you don't remember someone's exact name, you can still search for partial information. Try searching for their first name plus their city, their workplace, or a school they attended. Facebook's search will narrow the results based on what you type.

Key Takeaways

  • Use the search bar at the top of Facebook to find people by typing their name, and click "Add Friend" on their profile to send a request.
  • If you don't remember someone's full name, search for their first name combined with their city, workplace, or school to narrow results.
  • Facebook shows you suggested friends based on people you already know, mutual connections, and networks you belong to — these appear on your Friends page or in a dedicated suggestions section.
  • You can also find friends by looking at the friend lists of people you already know, or by joining groups related to your interests or location.
  • Once you send a friend request, the other person gets a notification and can accept, decline, or ignore it — you won't know which unless they accept.

Using Facebook's "People You May Know" suggestions

Facebook automatically suggests people you might want to add as friends. These suggestions appear in a section called "People You May Know," which you can find by going to your Friends page and looking for a dedicated tab or section. The suggestions are based on mutual friends, shared networks (like schools or workplaces), and groups you both belong to.

To see these suggestions, open Facebook and click on the Friends icon (usually a silhouette of two people) in the left menu. Look for a section labeled "People You May Know" or "Suggestions." You'll see profile pictures and names of people Facebook thinks you might know. Click "Add Friend" under anyone you want to connect with.

You can also see suggestions on individual profiles. When you visit someone's profile, Facebook sometimes shows you other people who are friends with that person, with an "Add Friend" button next to their name. This is a good way to find friends of friends you might want to connect with.

Finding friends through groups and networks

If you belong to Facebook groups — communities based on interests, locations, or hobbies — you can find friends there. When you're in a group, you can see the names and profiles of other members. Click on someone's name or profile picture to visit their profile, then click "Add Friend" if you want to connect.

You can also find people through networks. If you added your workplace or school to your profile, Facebook shows you other people who work or studied there. Go to your profile, click on your workplace or school name, and you'll see a list of other people in that network. This is especially useful if you're new to a job or school and want to connect with colleagues or classmates.

Joining groups related to your interests — whether that's a hobby, a local community, or a cause you care about — naturally puts you in contact with people who share your interests. You can add friends from these groups just like you would from a regular search.

What happens after you send a friend request

When you click "Add Friend," Facebook sends that person a notification that you've requested to be friends. They see your name and profile picture in their friend requests section. They can accept your request (making you friends), decline it (rejecting the request), or ignore it (leaving it pending without responding).

You won't receive a notification about what they chose unless they accept. If they accept, you become friends and can see each other's posts, send messages, and interact on Facebook. If they decline or ignore the request, nothing happens — you straightforward don't become friends, and you won't be notified of the rejection.

If you want to cancel a friend request you've already sent, go to that person's profile and look for a button that says "Cancel Request" or "Pending." Click it, and your request is withdrawn. You can send a new request later if you want.

Finding friends by looking at existing friend lists

One of the easiest ways to find new friends is to look at the friend lists of people you already know. When you visit someone's profile, you can usually see their friends (unless they've set their friend list to private). Click on the "Friends" section or button on their profile to see a list of their friends.

Scroll through their friends and look for people you recognize or want to connect with. Click on their name or profile picture to visit their profile, then click "Add Friend." This method works well when you're trying to reconnect with people from your past — for example, if you want to find classmates from high school, you can look at the friend lists of people from your class.

Keep in mind that some people set their friend lists to private, so you won't be able to see who they're friends with. In that case, you'll need to use the search bar or suggestions instead.

Using Facebook on mobile versus desktop

The steps for finding friends are the same on Facebook's mobile app and on a computer, but the buttons and menus look slightly different. On mobile, the search bar is usually at the top of the screen. On desktop, it's in the top left or center of the page.

On mobile, the Friends section is usually accessed through the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the screen. On desktop, it's in the left sidebar. Once you find the Friends page, the process of viewing suggestions, searching, and sending requests is the same.

If you're having trouble finding a button or section on your device, try looking in the menu or settings. Facebook updates its layout occasionally, so the exact location of buttons may change, but the core features remain the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone see that I sent them a friend request?

Yes. When you send a friend request, the person gets a notification with your name and profile picture. They can see that you've requested to be friends, and they can choose to accept, decline, or ignore the request. If they accept, you become friends. If they decline or ignore it, you won't know unless you check their profile and see that the "Add Friend" button is back.

What if I can't find someone by searching their name?

If a search doesn't return results, the person may have set their profile to be unsearchable, or they may not have a Facebook account. Try searching with different variations of their name, or search for their workplace or school instead. You can also ask a mutual friend to send you a link to their profile, or ask them to introduce you on Facebook.

Can I send a friend request to someone I don't know?

Yes, you can send a friend request to anyone on Facebook, whether you know them or not. However, people are more likely to accept requests from people they recognize or have mutual friends with. If you send a request to a stranger, they may decline or ignore it.

How many friend requests can I send at once?

Facebook doesn't publish a specific limit, but sending too many requests in a short time can trigger a temporary restriction. Facebook may limit how many requests you can send if it detects unusual activity. If this happens, wait a few days before sending more requests.

What's the difference between a friend request and a follow?

A friend request asks someone to be your friend — if they accept, you can see each other's posts and send messages. A follow lets you see someone's public posts without being friends. You can follow someone without sending a friend request, and they don't have to approve it. Not all Facebook profiles have a follow option.