Contents
- 1 9 Best Ways to Fix Facebook Not Sending Friend Requests
- 1.1 1. You Are Blocked From Sending Friend Requests
- 1.2 2. You or the Other Person Has Reached the Friend Limit
- 1.3 3. Your Friend Request Is Pending
- 1.4 4. You Have Blocked the Person
- 1.5 5. The Person Has Disabled Friend Requests
- 1.6 6. Facebook Has Restricted the Account
- 1.7 7. Clear Facebook Cache
- 1.8 8. Sign out and Login Again
- 1.9 9. Update Facebook
- 1.10 Expand Your Friends List on Facebook
9 Best Ways to Fix Facebook Not Sending Friend Requests
Despite recent changes, the basics of Facebook remain unchanged. To add someone to your friends list, you must send a friend request and wait for their acceptance. However, some users have reported issues with Facebook not sending friend requests. If you experience this problem, here are some ways to resolve it.
Sending or receiving friend requests is a core feature of Facebook. Facebook may display a ‘it looks like you may not know this person’ message. Before the error breaks your Facebook experience, use the tricks below to troubleshoot the problem.
1. You Are Blocked From Sending Friend Requests
There are times when Facebook restricts your account from sending friend requests. Here are some factors that lead to such limitations:
– Sending too many friend requests in a short time.
– Most of your past requests have gone unanswered.
– Your past friend requests were rejected or marked as unwelcome.
Facebook doesn’t lift the block early. The temporary restriction stays active for a few days. Facebook recommends sending friend requests to people you know and avoiding unknown individuals. Keep the following points in mind while sending friend requests:
– Send friend requests to people you know.
– Follow celebrities instead of sending them friend requests.
Make sure to use your real name on your Facebook profile. Using an unfamiliar name may result in people denying your friend requests.
2. You or the Other Person Has Reached the Friend Limit
Facebook allows users to have up to 5,000 friends. If this limit is exceeded, friend requests may not be sent. To connect with more than 5,000 friends, users can enable professional mode or unfriend other users.
3. Your Friend Request Is Pending
If you’ve sent a friend request on Facebook and it’s still pending, you’ll have to wait until it’s accepted or rejected before sending another request. Once the request is accepted or rejected, the ‘Add Friend’ button will appear on your profile.
4. You Have Blocked the Person
When things go sour with someone on Facebook, you can block them to sever all ties. Blocking a person on Facebook automatically removes them from your friends list. If you want to reconnect with them, follow these steps:
1. Open Facebook and navigate to your profile.
2. Go to Settings and privacy, then click on Settings.
Step 3: Select Blocking and unblock the person from the menu.
5. The Person Has Disabled Friend Requests
Facebook allows you to disable friend requests from unknown people. You can only receive requests from friends of friends. If you don’t have any mutual friends, you can’t send friend requests.
To set this preference on your Facebook account, follow these steps:
1. Open Facebook Settings on your phone.
2. Scroll to ‘How people find and contact you.’
3. Choose ‘Who can send you friend requests?’ and select ‘Friends of friends.’
6. Facebook Has Restricted the Account
If you liked or commented on abnormal posts quickly, Facebook may flag your account as a bot and restrict it. During this restriction, you cannot perform essential tasks such as sending messages or friend requests. Your account is limited to read-only mode. You must wait for Facebook to remove the restrictions on your account before trying again.
7. Clear Facebook Cache
Facebook collects cache in the background to improve app performance on Android and iPhone. When the app collects corrupt cache, you may face issues sending friend requests. Clear your Facebook cache and try again. Refer to our post to learn how to clear your Facebook app’s cache.
8. Sign out and Login Again
Facebook not sending friend requests can be due to an authentication error. To fix this, sign out of your account and sign back in.
Step 1: Open Facebook and go to your profile.
Step 2: Scroll down and choose Log out.
Step 3: Confirm your decision. Sign in with your Facebook account details and try sending friend requests again.
9. Update Facebook
An outdated Facebook app on your phone can be the main culprit. Update Facebook to the latest version from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Expand Your Friends List on Facebook
To ensure successful friend requests on Facebook, check the app’s server status using Downdetector. If the servers are down, you may encounter issues. In this case, simply wait for Facebook to resolve the server-side problems. Share your experiences and any helpful tricks in the comments.
As Fred Humiston, the author behind Twothirds.us, I focus on providing practical and easy-to-follow guides and solutions for a variety of technical issues that people commonly face.
My articles cover a wide range of topics, from troubleshooting out-of-sync audio on TikTok and managing Firestick devices, to understanding the impact of Capcut on video quality and resolving sound issues on Hisense Roku TVs.
I also delve into more general tech tips, like how to block numbers on landlines or use VPNs without Wi-Fi. My goal is to make technology more accessible and less intimidating for everyone, whether you’re a tech novice or a seasoned user. I strive to offer clear, concise, and helpful advice to make your digital experience smoother and more enjoyable.