The basic steps to send a friend request

To add a friend on Facebook, find their profile, click or tap the "Add Friend" button, and wait for them to accept. The button appears on their profile page — it looks like a person with a plus sign next to it. Once you click it, Facebook sends them a notification that you've requested to connect. They can accept, decline, or ignore the request.

The person you're requesting doesn't see your request until they open Facebook and check their notifications. They have no time limit to respond, and you can cancel your request anytime by going back to their profile and clicking "Cancel Request."

Key Takeaways

  • Find someone's profile by searching their name in the Facebook search bar at the top of any page.
  • Click the "Add Friend" button on their profile — it's the icon showing a person with a plus sign.
  • Your request sits in their notifications until they accept, decline, or you cancel it.
  • If someone declines your request, you can send another one later, but Facebook may limit how often you can do this.
  • You can also add friends through mutual connections by viewing their friend list and sending requests from there.

Finding someone's profile to send a request

Use the search bar at the top of Facebook to find the person you want to add. Type their name and press Enter or tap the search icon. Facebook shows you a list of people with that name, sorted by how many mutual friends you have with them — people you both know appear first.

If the name is common, you may see many results. Look for details that match the person you know: their profile picture, where they live, their workplace, or mutual friends listed on their profile. Click on the profile that matches, and you'll see their full profile page.

If you can't find someone by name, try searching for their email address or phone number if you have it. Some people set their profiles so their names don't appear in search results, which means you'll need another way to reach them — like asking a mutual friend to send you a link to their profile.

What happens after you send a request

Once you click "Add Friend," the button changes to "Cancel Request." The person receives a notification, usually within seconds, but they don't have to respond right away. They can accept your request immediately, wait days or weeks, or decline it without telling you.

While your request is pending, you can still see some of their public information — their profile picture, cover photo, and posts they've marked as public. You won't see private messages, photos they've shared only with friends, or their full friend list until they accept.

If they accept, you become friends and can message each other, see each other's posts (depending on privacy settings), and appear on each other's friend lists. If they decline, you won't be notified, but the "Add Friend" button will reappear on their profile so you can send another request later.

Adding friends through mutual connections

If you know someone who is already friends with the person you want to add, you can use that connection. Go to your mutual friend's profile, click on their friend list, find the person you're looking for, and click "Add Friend" from there. This is often faster than searching if you're not sure of their exact name spelling.

Sending a request through a mutual friend doesn't notify the mutual friend — it only sends a request to the person you're trying to add. However, they may be more likely to accept if they see you have friends in common.

When Facebook limits how often you can send requests

Facebook doesn't publish exact numbers, but the platform does limit how many friend requests you can send in a short period. If you send many requests in one day — especially to people you don't know — Facebook may temporarily prevent you from sending more requests for a few hours or days.

This limit exists to reduce spam and fake accounts. If you hit this limit, wait a day or two before sending more requests. The restriction usually lifts on its own. If you're trying to add many people at once, space out your requests over several days instead.

If someone declines your request, you can send another one, but Facebook may restrict how often you can re-request the same person. There's no set number of times you can try — it depends on Facebook's spam detection system.

Adding friends on Facebook mobile app versus desktop

The process is the same on both the Facebook mobile app and the desktop website. Search for the person's name using the search icon (mobile) or search bar (desktop), open their profile, and tap or click "Add Friend." On mobile, the button appears near the top of their profile, usually below their cover photo. On desktop, it's in the same location.

The mobile app sometimes shows the button in slightly different places depending on your phone's screen size and which version of the app you have. If you can't find the button, scroll down slightly — it's always near their profile picture and name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone see that I sent them a friend request?

Yes. They receive a notification showing your name and profile picture, and they can see your request in their notifications or in their "Friend Requests" section. They know you sent it, but they don't know when you sent it or how many times you've viewed their profile.

What if I accidentally sent a request to the wrong person?

Click "Cancel Request" on their profile to take back your request. It disappears from their notifications immediately. You can then send a request to the correct person. There's no penalty for canceling.

Can I send a message with my friend request?

No. Facebook doesn't allow you to attach a message to a friend request. However, once someone accepts your request, you can message them. If you want to explain why you're adding them, you can message them after they accept, or ask a mutual friend to introduce you first.

Why does the "Add Friend" button not appear on someone's profile?

They may have turned off friend requests, set their profile to private so only existing friends can see the button, or blocked you. If you're already friends, the button won't appear. If you think you should be able to add them but can't, try searching for them again or asking a mutual friend for their profile link.

How long does it take for someone to see my request?

Facebook sends the notification immediately, but they only see it when they open the app or website and check their notifications. Some people check Facebook daily; others check less often. There's no way to know how long it will take them to respond.