Where to find your sent friend requests
Your sent friend requests live in your profile settings, not in your main feed or notifications. Facebook keeps them separate from requests you've received, so you need to know exactly where to look. The fastest way is to go to your profile, open the menu next to your name, and select the friends section — from there you can see pending requests you've sent out.
On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right corner, then click your name to go to your profile. Look for the "Friends" button near the top of your cover photo. Click the small down arrow next to it and select "Friend requests sent" from the dropdown menu. You'll see a list of people you've requested, along with how long ago you sent each request.
On a phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down to "Friends," and tap it. Then tap "Friend requests sent" to see your pending requests. The layout is the same — you'll see each person's name, profile picture, and when you sent the request.
Key Takeaways
- Sent friend requests appear in a separate section from received requests, accessed through your profile's Friends menu.
- You can cancel a sent request at any time by clicking or tapping the "Cancel request" button next to that person's name.
- Facebook does not notify the other person when you cancel a request, so they won't see that you changed your mind.
- If someone declines your request, it disappears from your sent list and you cannot resend it for at least a week.
How to cancel a request you've sent
If you change your mind about a friend request, you can cancel it without the other person knowing. Find the person's name in your "Friend requests sent" list and look for the button next to their name. On a computer it says "Cancel request" — click it once and the request is gone. On a phone, tap "Cancel request" and confirm if Facebook asks you to.
Canceling a request is when ready and silent. The person you sent it to won't receive a notification that you canceled it, and they won't see it in their requests anymore. If you want to send them a request again later, you can do so — Facebook doesn't prevent you from resending after a cancellation.
What happens when someone declines your request
When someone declines your friend request, it automatically disappears from your "Friend requests sent" list. You won't see a notification telling you they declined — Facebook keeps that private. The request straightforward vanishes, and you're left without confirmation of what happened.
If you want to send a request to that person again, Facebook usually makes you wait about a week before allowing it. This waiting period prevents you from repeatedly requesting the same person. After a week has passed, you can send a new request if you choose to.
Requests that sit unanswered for a long time
Facebook doesn't automatically delete sent requests after a certain number of days. A request you sent months ago will still sit in your "Friend requests sent" list unless the other person declines it or you cancel it yourself. This means your list can grow long if you've sent many requests over time.
If you want to clean up old requests, you'll need to cancel them manually. Go through your list, decide which requests are still worth keeping, and cancel the ones you no longer care about. There's no bulk delete option, so you'll need to cancel them one at a time.
Why a request might disappear from your list
A sent request vanishes from your list for a few reasons. The most common is that the person declined it. Another reason is that you canceled it yourself. Less commonly, the person may have deactivated or deleted their account — in that case, the request disappears because there's no account to send it to anymore.
If a request disappears and you're sure you didn't cancel it, the other person almost certainly declined it. Facebook doesn't send you a notification when that happens, so the disappearance is often the only sign.
Checking requests on different devices
Your sent requests are the same whether you check on a computer, phone, or tablet — they're all connected to your account. If you send a request on your phone, you'll see it in your sent list on your computer too. The timing might be a few seconds off while Facebook syncs, but the list itself stays consistent across devices.
The steps to find your sent requests are slightly different depending on what you're using. On a computer, use the dropdown menu next to the Friends button. On a phone or tablet, use the menu icon and navigate to Friends. But once you're in the "Friend requests sent" section, the information and options are identical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person see that I sent them a friend request?
Yes, they can see it in their friend requests section. They'll see your name, profile picture, and a button to accept or decline. If you cancel the request, it disappears from their list and they won't be notified that you canceled it.
How long does a friend request stay pending?
Facebook doesn't set a time limit on how long a request can sit unanswered. It will remain in both your sent list and their received list until they accept it, decline it, or you cancel it. Some requests can sit for months or years.
What if I accidentally sent a request to the wrong person?
Go to your "Friend requests sent" list, find that person's name, and click or tap "Cancel request." The request will be removed when ready and they won't be notified. You can then send a request to the correct person if you want to.
Can I see when someone viewed my profile but didn't accept my request?
No, Facebook doesn't tell you whether someone saw your request or straightforward ignored it. You only know if they accepted it, declined it, or if the request is still pending. There's no way to see profile views or request views.
Do I need to wait before sending another request to someone who declined mine?
Yes, Facebook usually requires you to wait about a week before you can send another request to the same person. The exact timing can vary, but attempting to send too soon will show you a message saying you need to wait.