You can delete a friend request you sent, and the person won't be notified

If you sent a friend request to someone on Facebook and want to take it back, you can delete it in a few taps. The person you sent it to won't receive a notification that you cancelled it — they'll simply see that the request is no longer pending. This works the same way whether you sent the request yesterday or weeks ago.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're using Facebook on a phone or a computer, but both take less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • You can cancel any friend request you've sent by visiting that person's profile and clicking or tapping the pending request button.
  • The person you sent the request to will not be notified when you delete it.
  • Once you delete a friend request, you can send a new one to the same person whenever you want.
  • If someone sent you a friend request and you want to decline it instead, that's a different button on their profile.

How to delete a friend request on Facebook using your phone

Open the Facebook app and search for the person's name using the search icon at the top. Tap their profile to open it.

Look for a button that says "Friend Request Pending" or shows a clock icon with a checkmark. Tap that button. A menu will appear with the option to "Cancel Request" — tap it. The request is now deleted, and the button will change back to "Add Friend."

If you're having trouble finding the button, make sure you're looking at the person's actual profile page, not a search result. The pending request button appears near the top of their profile, usually where an "Add Friend" button would normally be.

How to delete a friend request on Facebook using a computer

Go to Facebook.com and use the search bar at the top to find the person's name. Click on their profile to open it.

Look for a button near the top of their profile that says "Friend Request Pending" or shows a clock with a checkmark. Hover your mouse over that button — a small menu will pop up. Click "Cancel Request." The button will change back to "Add Friend," and the request is deleted.

If the button doesn't appear right away, try refreshing the page. Sometimes Facebook takes a moment to load all the profile details.

What happens after you delete a friend request

Once you delete the request, the person will no longer see it in their friend requests list. They won't receive a notification saying you cancelled it. From their perspective, the request simply disappears.

You can send a new friend request to the same person at any time after deleting the old one. There's no waiting period or limit on how many times you can send requests to the same person, though sending multiple requests in a short time might look unusual to them.

The difference between deleting a request you sent and declining one you received

If someone else sent you a friend request and you want to reject it, that's a different action. When you decline a request someone sent to you, they also won't be notified — the request just disappears from your list.

To decline a request you received, open your friend requests (usually found in the menu or notifications area) and look for a button that says "Decline" or shows an X. Click or tap it. The request is gone, and you can send them a request later if you change your mind.

Troubleshooting: The button isn't showing up

If you can't find the "Friend Request Pending" button on someone's profile, a few things might be happening. First, make sure you're actually logged into your Facebook account — if you're viewing the profile while logged out, you won't see any action buttons.

Second, check that you actually sent a request to this person. If you're already friends with them, there won't be a pending request button. If you blocked them or they blocked you, the profile may not load normally. Try logging out and back in, or try viewing the profile in a different browser if the button still doesn't appear.

If you're on a phone and the button seems hidden, try scrolling up to the very top of the profile — sometimes it's positioned above the profile photo or in a menu you have to tap to reveal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I deleted my friend request?

No. Facebook does not send notifications when you cancel a friend request. The person will simply see that the request is no longer in their pending list. They won't receive any message or alert about it.

Can I delete a friend request if the person already declined it?

If someone declined your request, there's nothing to delete — the request is already gone from both of your accounts. You can send a new request whenever you want.

What if I accidentally deleted a request I meant to keep?

You can't undo a deleted request, but you can simply send a new one. Open the person's profile and click or tap "Add Friend" to send a fresh request.

Does deleting a request affect whether I can message them?

No. Deleting a friend request doesn't change your ability to message someone. Messaging settings depend on the person's privacy settings, not on whether you have a pending request.

Can I delete multiple friend requests at once?

Facebook doesn't have a bulk delete feature for friend requests. You'll need to delete each request individually by visiting each person's profile.