The fastest way to add a friend on Duolingo

To add a friend on Duolingo, open the app or website, tap or click the profile icon in the bottom right corner, then select "Friends." From there, tap "Add friends" and either search for their username or share your friend code with them. Your friend code is a unique link that lets anyone add you without needing to know your exact username — you'll find it in the same Friends section under "Invite friends."

The search method works if you already know someone's Duolingo username. Type their name into the search box, find their profile, and tap "Add" next to their name. They'll receive a friend request notification and can accept or decline it. Once they accept, you'll both see each other's streaks, progress, and can compete in weekly leagues together.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add friends by searching their username or by sharing your unique friend code, which appears in your Friends section under "Invite friends."
  • Friend requests must be accepted by the other person before you can see their progress or compete together.
  • Your friend code is a shareable link that works across devices and doesn't require the other person to know your exact username.
  • Once connected, you can see each other's daily streaks and compete in weekly leagues, which reset every Monday.

Finding someone's username to search for them

Duolingo usernames are different from display names. Your display name is what appears on your profile and can include spaces or special characters, but your username is a single string with no spaces — it's what you use to log in. If someone tells you their display name but you're not sure of their username, ask them directly or look at their profile if they've shared it with you.

When you search in the Friends section, Duolingo searches by username, not display name. If the search doesn't find them, double-check the spelling or ask them to share their friend code instead, which is often faster and more reliable than guessing at a username.

Using your friend code to invite others

Your friend code is the easiest way to let people add you without any back-and-forth. Go to your profile, tap Friends, then tap "Invite friends." You'll see a link that looks like duolingo.com/profile/[your-code] or a QR code. You can copy the link and send it via text, email, or any messaging app, or show someone the QR code to scan with their phone camera.

Anyone who clicks your friend code link will land on your profile with an "Add friend" button ready to tap. They don't need to search for you or know your username. This method also works across devices — if you're on the web version and send the link to someone on mobile, it will open in their app automatically.

What happens after you add a friend

Once someone accepts your friend request, you'll both appear in each other's Friends list. You can see their current streak (how many days in a row they've practiced), their total XP (experience points), and which language they're learning. You'll also be placed in the same weekly league, which is a competition that runs Monday through Sunday where you earn points by completing lessons.

You can't message friends directly through Duolingo, but you can see their activity and compare your progress. If you want to stop seeing someone's activity or remove them from your friends list, you can unfriend them from their profile — they won't be notified, and you'll both disappear from each other's Friends lists.

Competing in leagues with friends

Leagues are weekly competitions where you and your friends (plus other learners at your level) earn points by completing lessons, achieving streaks, and reaching milestones. You start in Bronze League and can advance to higher tiers — Silver, Gold, Sapphire, and Diamond — based on your weekly ranking. The top performers in each league move up, and the bottom performers move down.

Leagues reset every Monday at midnight in your local time zone. You can see your friends' positions on the leaderboard and how many points they've earned that week. Competing with friends you know can make practice feel more social, though you're also competing against strangers at the same level.

Troubleshooting friend requests and connections

If you send a friend request and they don't see it, ask them to check their notifications or refresh their app. Friend requests can take a few seconds to appear. If someone declines your request, you can send another one later, but Duolingo doesn't notify you when a request is declined — you'll just see that they're not in your Friends list.

If your friend code isn't working, make sure you're sharing the full link or QR code. If someone says they clicked it but nothing happened, they may need to update their Duolingo app or try opening the link in a web browser instead. If you've changed your username, your old friend code will no longer work — you'll need to share the new one from your updated profile.

Privacy and visibility settings for your profile

By default, your profile is visible to anyone who searches for you or has your friend code. You can't make your profile completely private, but you can control some visibility settings. In your account settings (usually under "Settings" or "Account"), you may find options to limit who can see your activity or add you as a friend, depending on your device and app version.

If you don't want to be found by username search, you can ask friends to use your friend code instead. Duolingo doesn't have a "private account" mode like social media platforms, so if privacy is a concern, stick to sharing your friend code only with people you know rather than posting it publicly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone if they haven't added me back yet?

Yes. When you send a friend request, it goes to their notifications. They can accept it whenever they want, and you'll both be friends once they do. You can't see their full profile or compete in leagues together until they accept, but the request will be pending on their end.

What's the difference between a friend code and a username?

A username is the account name you use to log in — it's unique and has no spaces. A friend code is a shareable link that points to your profile. The friend code is easier to share because it's a single link, while a username requires someone to search for you by typing it in.

Do my friends see when I'm practicing?

Your friends can see your current streak and total XP, and they can see your position in the weekly league. They can't see real-time notifications of when you're practicing, but they can check your profile anytime to see your latest stats.

Can I remove a friend without them knowing?

Yes. When you unfriend someone, Duolingo doesn't send them a notification. They'll just notice you're no longer in their Friends list if they check. You'll also disappear from their leaderboard.

What if I want to compete in leagues but not with specific friends?

You can't choose which friends appear in your league — everyone at your tier competes together. If you want to avoid competing with someone, you'd need to unfriend them, though that also removes them from your Friends list entirely.