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 keeps track of requests you've sent but haven't been accepted yet, and you can remove any of them in a few taps. The person won't get a notification that you cancelled it — the request will straightforward disappear from their notifications.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using Facebook on a phone or a computer, but the process takes less than a minute either way.
Key Takeaways
- You can only cancel a friend request you sent; you cannot undo a request after someone has already accepted it.
- On a phone, go to the person's profile, tap the "Cancel Request" button, and confirm your choice.
- On a computer, click the "Cancel Request" button on their profile or in your Friends list.
- The other person will not receive a notification that you cancelled the request.
- If you want to send a request to the same person later, you can do so at any time.
How to cancel a friend request on your phone
Open the Facebook app and navigate to the profile of the person whose friend request you want to cancel. You can find their profile by searching their name in the search bar at the top of the app, or by going to your Friends list and scrolling to find pending requests.
Once you're on their profile, look for a button that says "Cancel Request" or shows a checkmark with an X. Tap that button. Facebook will ask you to confirm — tap "Cancel Request" again in the popup window that appears. The request is now removed, and the person will not see it in their notifications.
How to cancel a friend request on a computer
Go to Facebook.com and search for the person's name using the search bar at the top. Click on their profile to open it. On their profile page, you'll see a button that says "Cancel Request" — it may also show as a checkmark icon with a small arrow next to it.
Click that button. A small menu may appear asking you to confirm. Click "Cancel Request" if prompted. The request will be removed when ready, and the person will not be notified.
Where to find pending requests you've sent
If you've sent several friend requests and can't remember who you've requested, Facebook shows you a list of pending requests. On your phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down, and select "Friends." Look for a section showing requests you've sent — this is usually labeled "Friend Requests Sent" or similar.
On a computer, click the Friends icon in the left sidebar, then look for "Friend Requests" at the top. You may see a tab or link for requests you've sent. From this list, you can cancel any request by clicking the "Cancel Request" button next to that person's name.
What happens after you cancel a request
Once you cancel a friend request, the person will no longer see it in their notifications or pending requests. They won't receive a message telling them you cancelled it — it will straightforward be gone from their view. If they check their pending friend requests, your name won't appear there.
You can send a new friend request to the same person at any time in the future. There's no waiting period or penalty for cancelling and resending requests. If you decide later that you do want to connect with them, just search for their profile and send a new request.
Difference between cancelling a request and unfriending someone
Cancelling a friend request is different from unfriending someone. You can only cancel a request that hasn't been accepted yet. If the person has already accepted your request and you're now friends, you cannot "cancel" the friendship — instead, you would unfriend them. Unfriending removes them from your friends list and is a separate action.
If you've already accepted someone's friend request and now want to remove them, you'll need to unfriend them instead. To do this, go to their profile, click the "Friends" button, and select "Unfriend" from the menu. That person will not be notified that you unfriended them, but they may notice if they check your profile.
Why you might want to cancel a friend request
People cancel friend requests for many reasons. You might have sent a request to someone by accident, or you may have changed your mind about connecting with them. You might realize you don't actually know the person well, or you may have sent the request to the wrong account. Whatever the reason, cancelling is quick and private.
Cancelling a request is also a good way to manage your privacy. If you've sent requests to people you no longer want to connect with, removing those requests keeps your friend list and activity more aligned with who you actually want to stay in touch with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I cancelled my friend request?
No. Facebook does not send a notification when you cancel a friend request. The request will straightforward disappear from their pending requests, and they won't receive any message about it. They may notice if they check their pending requests list, but they won't be alerted.
Can I cancel a friend request after someone accepts it?
No. Once someone accepts your friend request, you are friends with them. At that point, you can only unfriend them if you want to remove the connection. Cancelling only works on requests that are still pending — before the other person has responded.
What if I accidentally sent a request to the wrong person?
Cancel the request right away using the steps above. Then search for the correct person and send them a new request. The person who received the wrong request won't be notified that you cancelled it, so there's no awkwardness.
Can I see a list of all the friend requests I've sent?
Yes. On your phone, go to Friends in the menu and look for "Friend Requests Sent." On a computer, click the Friends icon and find the section for requests you've sent. This list shows everyone you've requested but who hasn't responded yet.
If I cancel a request, can I send another one to the same person later?
Yes. There's no limit on how many times you can send a request to the same person. You can cancel one request and send a new one whenever you want. Facebook doesn't restrict this, though sending multiple requests to someone who hasn't responded may come across as pushy.