You can cancel a friend request on Facebook in two taps from your phone or three clicks on a computer
To cancel a friend request you've sent, find the person's profile, look for the button that says "Cancel Request" or "Requested", and tap or click it. The request disappears immediately, and the other person won't get a notification that you cancelled it. You can send a new request to the same person later if you change your mind.
The process is the same whether you're using Facebook on your phone, tablet, or computer. The button location and exact wording shift slightly depending on your device and which version of Facebook you're using, but the action itself takes seconds.
Key Takeaways
- The "Cancel Request" button appears on a person's profile next to where their name is displayed, replacing the normal "Add Friend" button after you've sent a request.
- Cancelling a request is silent — the other person receives no notification, and you can send a new request anytime.
- On mobile, tap the button directly; on desktop, you may need to click a three-dot menu to find the cancel option.
- If you've already sent multiple requests to the same person, you can only cancel the most recent one.
How to cancel a friend request on your phone
Open Facebook and search for the person's name using the search icon at the top of the screen. Tap their profile from the results. Once you're on their profile, look for a button near the top that says "Requested" or "Cancel Request" — it usually appears where the "Add Friend" button would normally be.
Tap that button once. The button will change back to "Add Friend" within a second or two, which means the request has been cancelled. You won't see any confirmation message, but the action is complete.
How to cancel a friend request on a computer
Go to Facebook.com and use the search bar at the top to find the person. Click on their profile from the search results. On their profile page, look for a button that says "Requested" or shows a checkmark with "Friend Request Sent" — this usually appears near the top of the profile, often to the right of their name or profile picture.
Click that button. A small menu may appear with options; select "Cancel Request" if you see it. If the button doesn't show a menu, clicking it once will cancel the request. The button will return to "Add Friend" once the cancellation is complete.
What happens after you cancel a request
The person you sent the request to will not receive any notification that you cancelled it. They won't see a message, alert, or any indication in their friend requests list. From their perspective, the request simply never existed.
You can send a new friend request to the same person at any time after cancelling. There's no waiting period or limit on how many times you can send and cancel requests to the same person, though sending repeated requests in a short time may trigger Facebook's spam filters.
If you can't find the cancel button
On some phones or older versions of Facebook, the button might be hidden in a menu. If you don't see "Requested" or "Cancel Request" on the profile, look for a three-dot menu icon (⋯) near the top of the profile. Tap or click it and look for an option that says "Cancel Request" or "Remove Request".
If the person has already accepted your request and you're now friends, you won't see a cancel option — instead you'll see options to unfriend or message them. To remove them as a friend, you'd need to unfriend them instead, which is a different action.
Difference between cancelling and declining a request
Cancelling a request means you sent a request first and now want to take it back. Declining a request means someone else sent you a request and you're rejecting it. These are two different actions on two different people's profiles.
If someone sent you a friend request and you want to reject it, go to your own friend requests (usually found in the menu or notifications area), find their name, and tap or click "Decline" or the X button next to their request. That person also won't be notified that you declined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I cancelled my friend request?
No. Facebook doesn't send notifications when you cancel a request. The person won't see any message or alert, and the request won't appear in their pending requests list. They have no way of knowing you sent one unless you tell them.
Can I cancel a friend request I sent a long time ago?
Yes. As long as the person hasn't accepted your request yet, you can cancel it no matter how long ago you sent it. Visit their profile, find the "Requested" button, and tap or click it to cancel.
What if I accidentally sent a request to the wrong person?
Cancel it immediately using the same steps above. Then search for the correct person and send them a request instead. Since the wrong person won't be notified of the cancellation, there's no awkwardness on their end.
Can I cancel multiple friend requests at once?
No. You have to cancel requests one at a time by visiting each person's profile. Facebook doesn't have a bulk cancel feature. If you've sent many requests, you'll need to go through them individually.
What's the difference between cancelling a request and blocking someone?
Cancelling a request just removes the pending friend request. Blocking someone prevents them from seeing your profile, messaging you, or sending you a request in the future. Blocking is a stronger action and the person may be notified depending on their settings.