Where to find your sent friend requests
Your sent friend requests live in your profile menu, not in your main notifications. To see them, click your profile picture in the top right corner of Facebook, then select "Friends" from the dropdown menu. On the Friends page, look for a section labeled "Friend Requests" — this shows requests you've received. To see requests you've sent out, click the three dots next to "Friends" at the top of that same section and select "View Sent Requests."
On mobile, the path is slightly different. Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down to "Friends," then tap "Friend Requests." You'll see a tab at the top that says "Sent" — tap that to view all the friend requests you've sent to other people.
Facebook keeps sent requests visible until the other person responds. Once someone accepts, declines, or you cancel the request, it disappears from this list.
Key Takeaways
- Sent friend requests appear in a separate tab from received requests, accessible through your profile menu or the Friends section.
- You can cancel a sent request at any time by clicking the "Cancel Request" button next to the person's name.
- A sent request stays visible until the recipient accepts, declines, or you remove it.
- On mobile, tap the "Sent" tab in Friend Requests to see all outgoing requests you've made.
- Facebook does not notify the other person when you cancel a request you've sent.
How to cancel a sent friend request
If you change your mind about a friend request you've sent, you can remove it without the other person knowing. Go to your sent requests list using the steps above. Find the person's name and click the "Cancel Request" button next to their profile picture. The request disappears immediately from both your list and their notifications.
On mobile, swipe left on the person's name (iPhone) or press and hold their name (Android), then tap "Cancel Request." The action is instant and leaves no trace in their notifications or message history.
What happens when someone responds to your request
When someone accepts your friend request, they move from your sent list to your friends list automatically. You'll see a notification that they accepted, and you can then message them, see their posts, and interact with their profile depending on their privacy settings.
If someone declines your request, it disappears from your sent list and you receive no notification. You won't know they declined unless you check back and notice the request is gone. You can send another request to the same person after some time has passed, but Facebook may limit how often you can do this.
Resending a request to someone who declined
Facebook doesn't tell you directly when someone declines a request, but you can tell by checking your sent list. If a request you sent is no longer there and the person isn't in your friends list, they likely declined it. You can send another request, but wait at least a few weeks before doing so.
Sending multiple requests to the same person in a short time can trigger Facebook's spam filters and may temporarily limit your ability to send new requests. If you're trying to connect with someone specific, consider sending them a message first to ask if they'd like to be friends, or check whether their privacy settings allow friend requests from people outside their network.
Why you might not see a sent request you remember sending
A sent request disappears from your list for three reasons: the person accepted it, the person declined it, or you cancelled it. Facebook doesn't keep a record of declined or cancelled requests, so once they're gone, there's no way to see them in your sent list.
If you're looking for someone you thought you sent a request to, check your friends list first — they may have accepted without you noticing. If they're not there and not in your sent requests, the request was either declined or you cancelled it. You can always send a new request or try messaging them instead.
Limits on how many requests you can send
Facebook limits the number of friend requests you can send in a single day to prevent spam. The exact limit isn't published, but most accounts can send between 50 and 100 requests per day without triggering restrictions. If you hit the limit, you'll see a message saying you've sent too many requests and need to wait before sending more.
If you repeatedly send requests that people decline or ignore, Facebook may temporarily restrict your ability to send new requests. This is an automated safety measure. Wait a few days before trying again, and focus on sending requests to people you actually know or have something in common with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the other person see when I cancel a friend request?
No. When you cancel a request, it disappears from their notifications and they receive no message about it. They won't know you sent a request unless they checked their pending requests before you cancelled it.
What's the difference between a sent request and a pending request?
They're the same thing. "Sent request" and "pending request" both refer to a friend request you've sent that the other person hasn't responded to yet. Different parts of Facebook use different words for the same status.
If someone declines my request, can I send another one right away?
Technically yes, but Facebook discourages it. Sending multiple requests to the same person in a short time can trigger spam filters and temporarily limit your ability to send new requests. Wait at least a few weeks before resending.
Why does my sent request list look empty?
Your sent list is empty when you haven't sent any pending requests, or all your previous requests have been accepted, declined, or cancelled. This is normal. You can start sending new requests whenever you want.
Can I see a list of all requests I've ever sent, including old ones?
No. Facebook only shows requests that are currently pending. Once a request is accepted, declined, or cancelled, it's removed from your sent list permanently and there's no archive to view.