Why Is There No Add Friend Button on Some Facebook Profiles?
Have you tried to send a friend request to another Facebook user, but there isn’t a button to do so?
Many users have also encountered this problem before, so you are not alone at all.
Sending friend requests is what makes Facebook one of the best platforms for communicating with others.
Hence, if you are incapable of adding a person’s profile to your account because the option that should be there isn’t, then we have a problem.
Worry no more - continue reading this blog post so you can learn everything you must know about the following matters:
- Why is there no “Add Friend” button on some Facebook profiles?;
- How to send friend requests if there isn’t a button to do so;
- What to know about your friend list and someone’s Facebook profile limitations.
Why Is There No “Add Friend” Button on Some Facebook Profiles?
There isn’t a button for “Add Friend” on Facebook due to three main reasons:
- The person you are trying to add has changed their privacy settings;
- Your personal account has been limited by Facebook’s policies;
- The Facebook app is not working properly on your device.
Clearly, when you try to add friends on Facebook, then you can still see someone’s profile picture, then they haven’t blocked or restricted your profile.
It’s not like you Can’t Add Someone on Facebook, it’s more like the option isn’t where it should be.
Since Facebook lets users manage their settings as they want, it is possible that you can’t add someone as a friend because they simply don’t want to get added.
In any case, in order to find the right answer and solution for this matter, we need to take a close look at the root cause of the problem.
Follow the steps mentioned below so you can add Facebook friends again in no time.
1. User Restricted “Add Unknown People”
Facebook users can manage their settings to prevent someone on Facebook from adding them if they don’t know how they are.
In this case, neither the Friends Button nor the message option will appear.
Most users don’t change these settings and they can receive requests from anyone, though.
Fix: Add Mutual Friends and Send Friend Request
You will need to have at least one mutual friend with the person you want to add before being able to send friend requests.
Only people you have in common will work for this matter.
Try to put the name of someone you know on the search bar, and send a friend request to someone that you know might be linked to the person you want to add.
Remember that you can also enable these privacy options if you select the three horizontal lines, tap “Settings,” and change “who can send you friend requests” from “Anyone” to “Friends of Friends.”
2. Friend Request on Facebook Pending
Perhaps they didn’t change the “Who Can Send You Friend Requests” settings and instead, they have just forgotten to accept your invitation.
Fix: Wait for Them to Accept Friend Requests
Take into account that each friend request on Facebook must be accepted before you add a user to your account.
You can try to send a message to your friend outside Facebook and remind them to accept your friend request.
Otherwise, just wait until they remember!
3. Friend Request Denied or Reported
Whenever a friend request gets denied, the Friend Button will disappear.
As a consequence, you won’t be able to become friends on Facebook with that person for a while.
Also, if they reported your friend request as “Spam,” then the Add Friend Button won’t appear again whenever you check someone’s profile.
Read Also: Did someone just Poke You on Facebook? What does that even mean?!
Do not despair - check our related article so you can learn everything about this Facebook feature.
Fix: Wait for a While Before You Send Them a Friend Request
If your friend request was denied, then wait for a few days until the Add Friend Button appears again.
If your friend request was marked as “Spam,” then they will need to send you a friend request instead since you will be incapable of doing so.
4. You Have Reached Your Friend Limit
There are two scenarios that might have led you to reach your limit:
- You or the other person have more friends than they are capable of;
- Your profile has been banned, or shadowbanned, from Facebook.
In these specific cases, you won’t see the Add Friend Button in anyone’s profile.
It doesn’t matter if you have mutual friends or not - the Add Friend button won’t be there if your account is limited.
Fix: Wait for the Limit to Restore
Facebook states that you can have up to 5,000 friends. Thus, if you want to have the Add Friend Button again, start deleting some friends from your list!
Also, if you have been banned, but still can use Facebook to see posts, videos, and more, then the ban will probably lift after a while.
You can try sending a request to Facebook Support, or just wait until the problems are solved.
5. Facebook App Issues
The “Add Friend” button might not be showing on your account because the Facebook application is not working as it should.
You can quickly verify this by trying to open your profile on another device.
Fix: Reinstall the App or Contact Facebook Support
Firstly, try to update Facebook on your mobile device.
If this doesn’t do the trick, then delete the application, and reinstall it.
The “Add Friend” button should appear now, and you should be able to add a friend on Facebook from now on.
If you have tried all the previously mentioned fixes on this list, but nothing seems to work, then send a message to Facebook Support and explain your case to them.
That’s all the information you need to know for now! For more insights about Facebook friend request and social media, check the other articles we have for you on our website.
No Add Friend Button On Facebook FAQ
Can I Manage Facebook Privacy Setting?
Yes. Your Facebook profile can be as public or as private as you want it to be.
You can block random people’s requests, show your content to the whole world, or Make Facebook Completely Private if you please.
Karen is a senior technical writer and copywriter at Hypegrowth. Her area of expertize are social media apps and new media.