Where to find your sent friend requests on Facebook

Facebook doesn't show you a dedicated list of friend requests you've sent, but you can see them by visiting someone's profile. Open the profile of the person you sent a request to, and look near the top where the "Add Friend" button normally appears. If your request is still pending, you'll see a button that says "Friend Request Sent" or "Cancel Request" instead. This is the most direct way to check the status of a single request.

If you want to review multiple requests at once, go to your Friends list and look for a section labeled "Friend Requests" — but note that Facebook primarily shows you requests you've received here, not ones you've sent. To see sent requests, you'll need to check individual profiles or use your activity log, which tracks actions across your account.

Key Takeaways

  • Visit someone's profile to see if your friend request is still pending — the button will say "Friend Request Sent" instead of "Add Friend".
  • Facebook doesn't maintain a single list of all requests you've sent, so you can't view them all in one place.
  • Your Activity Log shows all actions on your account, including friend requests you've sent, but you have to search through it manually.
  • If someone hasn't responded to your request after 30 days, you can cancel it and send a new one later.

Using your Activity Log to find sent requests

Your Activity Log is a record of everything you've done on Facebook. To access it, click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Settings and privacy" and "Settings." From there, go to "Your information and permissions" and click "Activity log." Once you're in your Activity Log, look for a filter option — usually on the left side — where you can narrow results by action type.

Search for "Friend requests" or scroll through the log until you see entries labeled "Added [person's name] as a friend" or "Sent a friend request to [person's name]." This shows you when you sent each request. The log doesn't tell you whether the request is still pending or was accepted, so you'll still need to visit the person's profile to confirm the current status.

What the "Friend Request Sent" button means

When you see "Friend Request Sent" on someone's profile, it means your request is waiting for them to respond. They haven't accepted or declined it yet. The button usually appears in the same spot where "Add Friend" would normally be, and it may also show a small clock icon or say "Pending."

If you change your mind, click that button and select "Cancel Request." This removes your request from their pending list. You can send a new request to the same person later, though Facebook may show a message asking you to wait a certain amount of time before trying again.

Why you can't see all sent requests in one place

Facebook designed its interface to prioritize received requests over sent ones. The main "Friend Requests" section in your menu shows people who've sent requests to you, not the other way around. This is partly because Facebook wants to encourage you to respond to incoming requests, and partly because the company assumes most people care more about who's trying to add them than who they've tried to add.

If you need to track multiple sent requests, your best option is to keep a note of the names or check profiles individually. Some people use their Activity Log as a reference point, though it requires more steps than a simple list would.

What happens if someone ignores your request

If someone doesn't respond to your friend request, it stays in their pending list indefinitely — there's no automatic expiration. However, after about 30 days, Facebook may stop showing your request as prominently in their notifications, making it less likely they'll see it.

If you want to try again, cancel your original request and send a new one. You can also send them a message instead, which might get their attention faster than a silent friend request. Some people check messages more regularly than they check friend requests.

Checking requests on mobile versus desktop

The process is similar on both Facebook's mobile app and desktop website, but the buttons and menu locations differ slightly. On the mobile app, open someone's profile and look for the button near their name and profile picture — it will say "Friend Request Sent" if your request is pending. On desktop, the button appears in roughly the same spot, usually to the right of their name.

To access your Activity Log on mobile, tap your profile picture, scroll down to "Settings and privacy," tap "Settings," then go to "Your information and permissions" and "Activity log." The steps are the same, just adapted to the smaller screen. The Activity Log itself looks the same on both versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see how long my friend request has been pending?

Your Activity Log shows the date you sent the request, so you can calculate how long it's been waiting. Visit your Activity Log, find the entry for that friend request, and check the timestamp. This tells you whether it's been days or weeks.

Does the person get notified if I cancel my friend request?

No, they don't receive a notification when you cancel a request. The request simply disappears from their pending list without any alert. They may notice it's gone if they check their pending requests, but Facebook doesn't send them a message about it.

What's the difference between a sent request and a blocked person?

A sent request is pending — the person hasn't responded yet. If someone blocks you, you won't be able to send them a request at all, and any existing request will be cancelled automatically. You also won't be able to see their profile or message them.

Can I send a friend request to someone who declined me before?

Yes, you can send another request after some time has passed. Facebook doesn't permanently prevent you from requesting someone who declined you, but it may ask you to wait a few weeks before trying again. The exact waiting period varies.