To add someone on Steam, open Friends & Chat, select the add-friend control, then search for their profile, use a Friend Code, or share an invite link. You can also manage requests in a browser at steamcommunity.com/friends/add. If Steam will not let you send a request, your account may be limited.
Before you add someone
You and the other player need Steam accounts and an internet connection. Ask for one of these identifiers:
- Their public Steam display name or profile name
- Their Steam profile URL
- Their Steam Friend Code
- A Steam friend-invite link
A display name is public and can be changed; multiple people can use the same name. It is not the same as the private account login name, which you should not need to request or share. A profile URL, Friend Code, or invite link is generally safer when several people have similar names.
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How to add a friend using the Steam desktop app
- Open the Steam client and sign in.
- Click Friends & Chat in the lower-right corner.
- Click the person-with-plus icon to open the friend-management or add-friend screen.
- Choose a method: search for the player, enter a Friend Code if that option appears, create an invite link, or open the person’s profile directly.
- Verify the profile, then select Add Friend or Send Friend Request.
- Ask the recipient to open their pending invitations and choose Accept.
Steam’s layout and labels can vary slightly by language and client version. If you do not see the exact wording above, look for the Friends control and the person-with-plus icon. Steam documents the Friends & Chat entry point and pending-request controls in its Friends & Chat support guide.
How to find someone by Steam name
- Open the add-friend page.
- Search for the person’s public Steam name.
- Compare the results using their avatar, profile level, country or language where visible, games, mutual friends, and custom profile URL.
- Open the matching profile and select Add Friend.
Do not send a request based on a display name alone. If the search produces several plausible profiles, ask the person to send their profile URL or Friend Code and compare the returned profile before sending the request.
How to add someone from their Steam profile
If you already have the correct profile open, look on the right side for Add Friend or its localized equivalent. Select it and wait for the other person to accept. Steam lists direct profile access as one of its supported ways to add friends.
How to use a Steam Friend Code
- Open Steam’s add-friend or friend-management screen.
- Choose the Friend Code option or locate the Friend Code field if it is shown.
- Enter the other player’s code.
- Check that the returned profile is the right person.
- Send the friend request.
Steam’s exact Friend Code labels and placement can differ between desktop, web, and mobile interfaces. A Friend Code is not a login name, password, display name, or profile URL. Never share account credentials or Steam Guard codes while exchanging friend details.
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How to add friends with an invite link
Invite links are useful when a name search returns too many results or when the two players are using different devices.
- Open Steam’s friend-management page.
- Choose the option to create an invitation link.
- Copy the generated link.
- Send it privately by text, email, or another trusted channel.
- The recipient opens it while signed in to Steam and completes the invitation flow.
Treat an invite link as an account-action link, not as public social-media content. Send it only to the intended person. If it is shared too widely or appears compromised, manage the invitation in Steam and generate a new link where available.
How to add friends on the Steam mobile app
Steam’s documented mobile path for creating an invitation link is:
- Open the Steam mobile app.
- Tap the menu button in the top-left.
- Tap Add a Friend.
- Tap Invite Link.
- Generate the link and send it to the other player.
Mobile layouts can change, and not every release presents search and Friend Code controls identically. If the app does not show the option you need, sign in through a browser and use Steam’s friend-management page. Steam’s mobile instructions are available in its official mobile support documentation.
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How to accept a Steam friend request
- Open Friends & Chat in the Steam client, or open the friend-management page in a browser.
- Open the pending-invitation indicator or pending requests section.
- Check the sender’s profile.
- Select Accept.
You can also ignore or block a request from the same friend interface. Once accepted, the player should appear in your friends list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why can’t I add someone on Steam?
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Add Friend is unavailable | Your account is limited, or the profile already has a related friendship or request state | Have a non-limited user send the request, or unlock the account’s restricted features |
| Search returns many people | The display name is shared | Request a profile URL or Friend Code and verify the profile |
| The request never arrives | Wrong profile, an existing pending request, an ignored request, or a block | Confirm the profile, inspect pending requests, and try an invite link |
| No new requests can be sent | Your friends list or the recipient’s list is full | Remove unwanted friends and cancel stale outgoing requests |
| The invite link does not work | The recipient is not signed in or the interface is in a different state | Open it while signed in, or use the browser friend-management page |
| The person is unavailable inside a game | The game uses its own friends, account, region, or cross-play requirements | Check that game’s multiplayer and account rules separately |
Your account is limited
A limited Steam account cannot send normal friend requests, although it can receive and accept a request from another user and may use quick-invite links. Steam says restricted features are generally unlocked after the account has spent at least US$5 or the local-currency equivalent on qualifying Steam activity and the purchase has successfully processed. Creating an account, downloading a free game, or accumulating playtime does not by itself meet that threshold. Steam also notes that refunded amounts credited to the Steam Wallet do not count toward unlocking these features.
For the official conditions, see Steam’s Limited User Accounts support page.
The request is pending or blocked
A failed attempt does not prove that the other person blocked you. Steam lists several possible causes, including an existing pending invitation, an ignored request, a full friends list, or a block. Steam Support will not bypass another user’s block or disclose whether a particular person blocked you.
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If you blocked someone accidentally, open your Steam profile, select Friends, open Blocked, choose Manage blocked list, select the user, and choose Unblock. Labels may vary by language and client version.
The friends list is full
Steam documents an initial friends-list limit of 250. Each Steam profile level adds five more places. Pending outgoing invitations count toward the limit, so cancel old requests that are no longer wanted. Either user’s list being full can prevent a new connection.
Safety tips when adding Steam friends
- Verify a profile before accepting or sending a request.
- Never share your password, Steam Guard code, recovery code, or payment details.
- Be cautious with trade, giveaway, and “free game” links sent by new contacts.
- Do not install files a new contact sends you.
- Use Steam’s block and report tools if someone is abusive or suspicious.
Adding someone as a Steam friend does not automatically make them a friend in every game. Individual games may use separate accounts, matchmaking systems, ownership requirements, privacy settings, regions, or cross-play rules.
For Steam’s complete guidance on adding friends, request problems, limits, and blocked users, see the official Steam Friends List support page.
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