Friend requests appear in a dedicated section, not mixed in with your regular messages

Facebook keeps friend requests separate from your inbox and notifications. You'll find them in one of two places depending on whether you're on a computer or phone, and the requests stay there until you accept or decline them. Most people miss them because they're looking in the wrong spot — they're not in your main feed or message list.

The location changed slightly over the years as Facebook redesigned its interface, so if you haven't checked in a while, the button might not be where you remember it.

Key Takeaways

  • On a computer, click the people icon with a plus sign in the top navigation bar to see all pending friend requests at once.
  • On a phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and scroll down to find "Friends" to view requests.
  • You can accept, decline, or delete a request without the other person being notified if you decline.
  • Requests stay in your queue indefinitely unless you act on them — they don't expire or disappear on their own.

Finding requests on a computer or laptop

Open Facebook in your web browser and look at the top of the page. You'll see a row of icons on the right side of the blue header bar. One of them looks like a person with a plus sign next to it — that's your friend requests button. Click it and a dropdown menu appears showing all pending requests.

If you don't see that icon, your browser window might be too narrow. Make your window wider or look for a menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the far right of the header instead. Clicking that will show you more options, including a link to your friend requests.

Once you open the friend requests section, you'll see each person's name, profile picture, and a note about how you might know them (mutual friends, school, workplace, etc.). Next to each request are two buttons: one to accept and one to decline.

Finding requests on a phone or tablet

Tap the menu icon at the bottom right of your screen — it looks like three horizontal lines inside a square. Scroll down through the menu until you see "Friends" listed. Tap that option and you'll see a submenu with several choices, including "Friend Requests."

Tap "Friend Requests" and you'll see the same list as on a computer: pending requests with profile pictures, names, and the two action buttons. The layout is vertical instead of horizontal, but the information is identical.

If you're using the Facebook app on Android or iPhone, the process is the same. If you're using Facebook through a mobile web browser instead of the app, follow the computer instructions above — the mobile website looks similar to the desktop version.

What happens when you accept or decline

Clicking "Accept" adds the person to your friends list immediately. They'll see you as a friend on their profile, and you'll both be able to see each other's posts (depending on your privacy settings). They won't receive a notification that you accepted — it just happens silently.

Clicking "Decline" removes the request from your queue. The person who sent it won't be notified that you declined. They can send you another request later if they want to, and there's no limit to how many times someone can try.

If you want to remove a request without choosing accept or decline, you can also delete it. This works the same way as declining — the person won't know, and the request disappears from your list.

Requests that are stuck or not showing up

Sometimes a request appears to be there but won't let you accept or decline it. This usually means Facebook is having a temporary issue. Refresh the page or close and reopen the app, then check again. The button should work after a few seconds.

If you're certain you received a request but can't find it anywhere, it's possible the person deleted it before you saw it. Requests can be withdrawn by the person who sent them at any time. You'll never see a notification that this happened — the request just vanishes from your queue.

Another reason a request might not show up: if you've already declined it, it won't appear in your pending list. It's gone. If you change your mind later, you'd need to search for that person's profile and send them a friend request yourself instead.

Managing requests from people you don't recognize

You don't have to accept every request. If someone you don't know sends you a request, you can decline it without any consequence. Facebook won't tell them you declined, and they won't be able to see your profile unless you change your privacy settings to allow it.

If you're getting requests from accounts that look suspicious or spam-like, you can report them. Click the three dots or menu icon next to the request and select "Report" or "Block." Blocking someone prevents them from sending you future requests and removes them from your friends list if they're already connected to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who I sent friend requests to?

Yes. In the same menu where you find incoming requests, look for "Sent Requests" or "Friend Requests You've Sent." This shows people you've requested who haven't responded yet. You can cancel any of these requests by clicking the "Cancel Request" button next to their name.

Do friend requests expire or disappear after a certain time?

No. A request stays in your queue indefinitely until you accept, decline, or delete it. Facebook doesn't automatically remove old requests. If someone sent you a request years ago and you never responded, it's still sitting there waiting for you to act on it.

What if I accidentally declined someone and want to add them now?

Search for their name or profile in the Facebook search bar at the top of the page. When you find them, click the "Add Friend" button on their profile. This sends them a new request. They won't see any record of the previous declined request — it's treated as a fresh request.

Can I see a list of all my friends?

Yes. Go to your own profile and click the "Friends" section. This shows everyone you're currently connected with. You can also search within this list or sort by how long you've been friends with someone.

Why can't I find the friend requests button on my phone?

Make sure you're using the official Facebook app or the mobile website, not a third-party app. If you're in the app, the menu icon should be at the bottom right of your screen. If it's at the top instead, you might be using an older version — try updating the app from your phone's app store.