The quickest way to add a friend on PS5

To add a friend on PS5, go to your profile, select Friends, then choose Add Friend. Type their username or search by their online ID, select their profile from the results, and send the request. They'll see it in their notifications and can accept or decline. The whole process takes about a minute.

You can also add someone directly from their profile if you find them through search, a party, or a game session. When you're viewing their profile, look for the Add Friend button and select it. This skips a step and sends the request immediately.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add friends by searching their username from your Friends menu or by visiting their profile directly.
  • Friend requests go to the recipient's notifications, and they can accept, decline, or ignore them.
  • You can add friends from your recent players list if you've played with them in a game or party.
  • PS5 lets you organize friends into custom lists and control who can see your online status or send you messages.

Adding a friend by searching their username

Start from your profile by pressing the PS button on your controller and selecting your profile icon. Scroll down and select Friends. Choose Add Friend at the top of the list. A search box will appear where you can type the person's username or online ID.

Type their name and wait for the results to load. Select their profile from the list. On their profile page, select Add Friend again to send the request. You'll see a confirmation that the request was sent. They'll receive a notification on their PS5 the next time they log in.

Adding friends from your recent players list

If you've played a game with someone or been in a party together, they'll show up in your Recent Players list. Go to your profile, select Friends, then scroll to Recent Players. Find the person you want to add and select their name.

Their profile will open. Select Add Friend to send them a request. This is useful when you've met someone in a multiplayer game and want to stay connected without having to remember their exact username.

Managing friend requests you receive

When someone sends you a friend request, you'll see a notification on your PS5. You can respond to it right away or check it later by going to your profile, selecting Friends, and looking for Requests. You'll see a list of pending requests from other players.

Select a request to view that person's profile. You can then choose to Accept, Decline, or Ignore the request. Accepting adds them to your friends list. Declining removes the request. Ignoring leaves it in your requests list so you can decide later.

Organizing your friends into custom lists

PS5 lets you create custom friend lists to keep your friends organized. Go to your profile, select Friends, then select Create List. Give the list a name like "Gaming Squad" or "Work Friends" and select which friends to add to it.

You can create multiple lists and add the same friend to more than one. This helps you quickly find the people you want to play with or message. You can also edit or delete lists anytime by going back to your Friends menu and selecting the list you want to change.

Controlling who can contact you and see your status

PS5 has privacy settings that let you control who can message you, see when you're online, and view your profile. Go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, then Privacy. You'll see options for Messages, Online Status, and Profile Viewing.

You can set each one to Friends Only, Everyone, or No One. For example, you might let everyone see your profile but only let friends message you. These settings apply to all your friends at once — you can't set different rules for individual people, but you can remove someone from your friends list if you want to change what they can see.

Removing or blocking a friend

If you want to stop being friends with someone, go to your profile, select Friends, find the person, and select their name. Choose Remove Friend. They won't be notified that you removed them, but they'll notice you're no longer on their friends list.

If someone is bothering you, you can block them instead. Go to their profile and select Block Player. A blocked player can't message you, see your online status, or join your parties. You can unblock them anytime by going to Settings, Users and Accounts, Privacy, then Block List.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone as a friend if I don't know their exact username?

You need their exact username or online ID to search for them. If you've played with them recently, check your Recent Players list instead — you can add them from there without typing their name. If you don't have their exact username and they're not in your recent list, ask them to send you a friend request instead.

What happens if someone declines my friend request?

If they decline, the request disappears from their notifications and you won't see it in your sent requests. You can send another request later, but there's no notification that tells you they declined. You can try searching for them again and sending a new request whenever you want.

Can I see who's online among my friends?

Yes. Go to your profile, select Friends, and you'll see a list of your friends with a green dot next to anyone who's currently online. You can select an online friend to see what game they're playing and join them if the game supports it.

Do I need PlayStation Plus to add friends?

No. You can add friends and use the friends list for free. You only need PlayStation Plus if you want to play online multiplayer games, but adding friends and messaging them doesn't require a subscription.

Can I add a friend on my phone and have them show up on my PS5?

Yes. The PlayStation app on your phone lets you search for players and send friend requests. Those requests will appear on your PS5 when you log in, and any friends you add through the app will show up in your PS5 friends list automatically.