3 Ways to Fix Friend Request Not Working in Discord

Quick Tips

• Server-related issues can cause Discord to misbehave, including problems with friend requests.
• If you can’t send a friend request to a specific person on Discord, they may have blocked you or disabled friend requests from strangers.
• Try using Discord on another device to check if the issue persists across platforms.

Try Basic Fixes

• Double-check the username: This may seem obvious, but if you have made a typo while entering the username, Discord may display the “Friend Request Failed” error on your computer or mobile. Hence, the first thing to do is to check the entered Discord username.
• Close and reopen the Discord app: Temporary glitches with the Discord app can sometimes cause it to misbehave on your phone or computer. Often, you can resolve such issues by closing and reopening the Discord app on your device.
• Check if Discord is down: Discord, like any other platform, is prone to occasional server outages. When this happens, friend requests may not show up or work in Discord. Visit Discord’s server status page to ensure there is no widespread issue.

Fix 1: Review Privacy Settings

Discord gives users the option to block friend requests from strangers. When enabled, Discord prevents others from sending friend requests unless they are on the same server as you or have any mutual friends. While this helps prevent spam, it can make it seem like friend requests are not working on Discord.

In that case, ask the other person to modify their privacy settings and allow friend requests from everyone. Here are the steps for the same.

Step 1: Open the Discord app and click the gear-shaped icon at the bottom to open the settings menu.

Step 2: Select the Friend Requests tab from the left pane and enable the toggle next to Everyone.

After the other person changes the privacy settings, send them a friend request.

Fix 2: The User May Have Blocked You

Another reason you may not be able to send a friend request to someone is if they have blocked you. In this case, you will see the “Friend Request Failed” error on Discord, even if you enter the correct username. So, if the problem with friend requests is limited to a specific user, there may be nothing wrong with the app.

You can tell when someone has blocked you on Discord if you cannot react to their messages on a server or see any information or links on their profile.

Fix 3: Try Using the Discord App on Another Platform

Finally, if none of the above solutions work, use a different device. For instance, if you are using Discord on your desktop, switch to your phone, and vice versa. This will help determine if the problem is with the Discord app on your device. If this solves your problem, update or reinstall the Discord app on the previous device.