You can cancel a friend request on Facebook in two taps from your phone or three clicks on a desktop
When you send a friend request on Facebook, you have the option to take it back before the other person responds. The process is straightforward: find the person's profile, locate the pending request button, and select the option to cancel. The request disappears from their notifications immediately, and they will not receive a message saying you withdrew it.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Facebook on a phone or computer, but both routes take less than a minute. Once you cancel, you can send a new request to the same person after a few days if you change your mind.
Key Takeaways
- On your phone, open the person's profile, tap the button showing "Friend Request Sent," and choose "Cancel Friend Request" from the menu.
- On a computer, click the button labeled "Friend Request Sent" on their profile and select "Cancel Request" from the dropdown.
- The person will not be notified that you cancelled the request, and it disappears from their pending list immediately.
- You can send a new request to the same person after waiting a few days, though Facebook does not publish an exact waiting period.
How to cancel on your phone
Open the Facebook app and navigate to the profile of the person whose request you want to cancel. You can find them by searching their name in the search bar at the top of the screen. Once their profile loads, look for the button that says "Friend Request Sent" — it usually appears near the top of their profile, often in a blue or gray color depending on your phone's settings.
Tap the "Friend Request Sent" button. A small menu will pop up with several options. Select "Cancel Friend Request" from this menu. The button will change back to "Add Friend," confirming that your request has been withdrawn. The person will not see any notification about this action.
How to cancel on a computer
Go to Facebook.com and search for the person's name using the search bar at the top of the page. Click on their profile to open it. Near the top of their profile, you will see a button labeled "Friend Request Sent" — it is usually blue or gray depending on your browser and settings.
Click on the "Friend Request Sent" button. A small dropdown menu will appear. Click "Cancel Request" from the options shown. The button will change back to "Add Friend," which means your request has been successfully cancelled. Like on mobile, the person will not receive a notification.
What happens after you cancel
Once you cancel a friend request, the request is removed from the other person's pending friend requests list. They will not see a notification saying you withdrew it, and there is no record of the cancelled request on their profile or in their notifications. From their perspective, it is as though you never sent the request at all.
If you change your mind later, you can send a new request to the same person. Facebook does not specify an exact waiting period, but waiting a few days before sending a second request is generally safe and avoids appearing overeager or suspicious.
Why you might want to cancel a request
You may cancel a friend request for several reasons. You might have sent it to the wrong person by mistake, or you may have decided you do not want to connect with that person after all. Some people cancel requests if they realize they do not actually know the person well enough, or if they sent a request while emotional and later reconsidered.
Cancelling is also useful if you sent a request to someone and they have not responded in a long time. Rather than leaving a stale request sitting in their notifications, you can withdraw it and try again later if you still want to connect.
Difference between cancelling and blocking
Cancelling a friend request is different from blocking someone. When you cancel a request, you simply withdraw the invitation to connect — the person can still see your profile (depending on your privacy settings) and can send you a friend request themselves. Blocking prevents someone from seeing your profile, messaging you, or finding you through search.
If you want to prevent someone from seeing your profile or contacting you, blocking is the stronger action. If you just want to take back a request you sent, cancelling is the right choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I cancelled my friend request?
No. Facebook does not send a notification when you cancel a friend request. The request simply disappears from their pending list, and there is no record that you sent it.
Can I cancel a friend request if the person already accepted it?
No. Once someone accepts your friend request, you are connected as friends. At that point, you would need to unfriend them instead, which is a different action. Unfriending removes the connection but may or may not notify them depending on their settings.
How long should I wait before sending a new request to the same person?
Facebook does not publish a specific waiting period, but waiting a few days is a safe approach. This gives time to pass and avoids the appearance of repeatedly trying to connect with someone who may not want to be friends.
What if I accidentally sent a request to someone I do not know?
Cancel the request immediately using the steps above. The person will not be notified, and there will be no trace of the request. You can then search more carefully for the person you actually meant to add.
Does cancelling a request affect my ability to message someone?
No. Cancelling a friend request does not change your ability to message the person. Whether you can message them depends on their privacy settings and message request filters, not on whether you have sent or cancelled a friend request.