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    Beginner
    2 min read 5 stepsMarch 31, 2026Verified March 2026

    How to Add Friends on Facebook

    Connecting with family and old friends on Facebook is easy — here's how to send a friend request and accept ones you receive.

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Search for someone
    2. 2.Identify the right person
    3. 3.Send a friend request
    4. 4.Accept a friend request
    5. 5.Manage your friends list
    1

    Search for someone

    ~15s
    Click the search bar at the top of Facebook and type the person's name. Press Enter. Facebook will show you a list of people with that name.
    2

    Identify the right person

    ~18s
    Look at the profile photos and any mutual friends shown beneath the names. Mutual friends — people you both know — are a good sign you have found the right person.

    Quick Tip

    If you are not sure, check their About section for details like hometown or workplace to confirm it's who you're looking for.

    3

    Send a friend request

    ~15s
    Click the person's name to go to their profile. Click the blue "Add Friend" button. They will get a notification that you sent a friend request. You can cancel a pending request by going back to their profile and clicking "Cancel Request."
    4

    Accept a friend request

    ~18s
    When someone sends you a friend request, a red number appears on the people icon at the top of Facebook. Click it to see pending requests. Click "Confirm" to accept or "Delete" to decline.

    Warning

    Do not accept friend requests from people you do not recognize. Scammers sometimes create fake profiles to gain access to your information.

    5

    Manage your friends list

    ~16s
    To see all your Facebook friends, go to your profile and click "Friends." To unfriend someone, click the three dots next to their name and choose "Unfriend." They will not be notified.

    Quick Tip

    For Facebook's official guide to adding friends, visit facebook.com/help/336320879782850. AARP has free Facebook tutorials at aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology.

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    Official Resources

    Facebook Help CenterAARP Social Media GuideFTC — Social Media Safety

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    How to Add Friends on Facebook — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure