Cancel a friend request you sent

To cancel a friend request you sent to someone, go to their profile, look for the button that says "Cancel Request" or "Requested", and click it. The request disappears when ready, and the other person will not get a notification that you cancelled it. You can send a new request to the same person later if you change your mind.

On mobile, tap their profile picture or name to open their profile, then tap the button showing "Requested" at the top. On desktop, the same button appears near their cover photo. Either way, one tap or click removes the request.

If you cannot find the "Cancel Request" button, the person may have already deleted the request themselves, or they may have blocked you. In either case, you will not see an option to cancel. You can also search for the person by name using the search bar at the top of Facebook to make sure you are on the right profile before looking for the button.

Decline a friend request someone sent you

When someone sends you a friend request, Facebook shows it in your notifications or on your Friends page under "Friend Requests". To decline it, tap or click the X button next to their name. The request disappears, and they will not know you declined it unless they check back and notice you are not on their friends list.

On mobile, open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll to "Friends", then tap "Friend Requests". Find the request you want to decline and tap the X. On desktop, click the friend icon at the top, select "Friend Requests", and click the X next to the person's name.

Declining a request does not block the person. They can send you another request later, and you will see it the same way. If you want to prevent them from sending requests in the future, you will need to block them separately.

Key Takeaways

  • To cancel a request you sent, find the person's profile and click or tap the "Cancel Request" button near their name.
  • To decline a request someone sent you, tap or click the X button next to their name in your Friend Requests list.
  • Cancelling or declining a request does not notify the other person or block them from sending a new request later.
  • On mobile, access Friend Requests through the menu and Friends section; on desktop, use the friend icon at the top of the page.
  • Cancelling a request and removing a friend are different actions — removing a friend requires unfriending someone who is already on your friends list.

What happens after you cancel or decline

Once you cancel a request you sent, the other person's profile no longer shows that you requested them. If they visit your profile, they will see the option to send you a friend request instead. Neither of you receives a notification about the cancellation.

When you decline someone's request, they do not receive a notification either. From their perspective, the request straightforward sits in their sent requests until they check back. If they visit your profile later, they will see the option to send you a new request. The timing of when they can send another request depends on Facebook's settings, but there is usually no waiting period.

Removing a friend is different from cancelling a request

Cancelling a request and removing a friend are two separate actions. If someone is already your friend, you cannot cancel a request — instead, you unfriend them. To unfriend someone, go to their profile, tap or click the "Friends" button, and select "Unfriend".

Unfriending removes them from your friends list and stops them from seeing your posts unless your privacy settings allow it. Like cancelling a request, unfriending does not send them a notification, though they may notice if they visit your profile. After you unfriend someone, they can send you a new friend request at any time.

Handling requests from people you do not recognize

If you receive a request from someone you do not know, you have three options: decline it, ignore it, or block them. Declining removes the request. Ignoring leaves it in your requests list so you can decide later. Blocking prevents them from sending you requests, messaging you, or seeing your profile.

To block someone, go to their profile, tap or click the three dots menu, and select "Block". You can unblock them later the same way if you change your mind. Blocking is stronger than declining because it prevents all contact, not just friend requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know if I cancel my friend request?

No. Facebook does not send a notification when you cancel a request. The person will only know if they check their friend requests and notice your request is no longer there.

Can I cancel a request I sent a long time ago?

Yes. As long as the request is still pending (they have not accepted or declined it), you can cancel it at any time. Go to their profile and click "Cancel Request".

What if I decline a request by mistake?

You cannot undo a decline, but the person can send you another request whenever they want. You can also visit their profile and send them a request yourself if you change your mind.

Does declining a request block someone?

No. Declining just removes that one request. They can send you another request later. If you want to prevent them from contacting you, you need to block them separately.

Where do I find old friend requests I have not answered?

On mobile, open the menu, tap Friends, then Friend Requests. On desktop, click the friend icon at the top and select Friend Requests. Requests stay there until you accept or decline them.