- The current friend limit, in Facebook's words
- What to do when you hit the cap
- Other reasons a friend request won't go through
- How to make room without upsetting anyone
- Friends, followers and why the difference matters
- Should you use pro mode instead?
- Mistakes I see people make at the limit
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
Facebook's help centre now says you can have up to 6,000 friends on Facebook, not the 5,000 most articles still quote. Once you or the other person hits the cap, friend requests stop working, and Facebook's options are to turn on pro mode, unfriend someone to make room or follow people instead.
For years the answer to this question was 5,000, and it's still the number you'll find almost everywhere. When I checked Facebook's own help page for this article, it said something different, which is a good reminder to read the source rather than the summary. Old numbers have a habit of living on long after a platform changes them.
Here's what the page says, what happens when you hit the limit, and the setting that lets you go past it.
The current friend limit, in Facebook's words
The relevant line sits on Facebook's help page about being unable to send or accept a friend request: "You can have up to 6,000 friends on Facebook." The same page adds a note that catches people out from the other direction: you won't be able to accept a friend request from someone who already has 6,000 friends.
So the cap works both ways. If you're at the limit you can't add anyone, and if they're at the limit you can't add them.
What to do when you hit the cap
Facebook gives three ways forward:
| Option | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Turn on pro mode | Lets you connect with more than 6,000 friends | Creators and public figures whose audience keeps growing |
| Unfriend someone | Frees a slot so you can send or accept a new request | Personal profiles that have drifted into old contacts |
| Follow them instead | You still see their public posts, if they have following turned on | People you want to keep up with but don't know well |
Following is the quiet hero here. If the other person has following turned on, you'll still see their public posts without using a friend slot. I've explained what follow means on Facebook if you're not sure how it differs from a friendship.
Other reasons a friend request won't go through
Hitting the limit isn't the only cause. The same Facebook page lists several others, and they're worth ruling out before you start unfriending people:
- They haven't accepted yet, or you're already friends.
- You've already sent them a request that's still pending.
- One of you only accepts friend requests from friends of friends. Ask them to send the request instead, or change your own privacy settings.
- The friend request was deleted, so you'll need to send a new one or ask them to.
- You've blocked them, and you'll need to unblock them first.
- You've been blocked from sending friend requests, which is a separate restriction with its own help page.
If you think a request is stuck, check the friend requests you've sent to see whether it's still pending.
How to make room without upsetting anyone
- Open your friends list and look for old accounts, duplicate profiles and people you no longer recognise.
- Unfriend those first, since they're using slots you could give to people you know.
- For people you like but rarely talk to, consider following rather than staying friends, if they allow followers.
- Send your new friend request once you're under the cap.
If your list is something you'd rather keep to yourself while you tidy it, you can also hide your friends list on Facebook.
Friends, followers and why the difference matters
A friendship on Facebook is two-way: both of you agree, and both of you use a slot. Following is one-way: you see their public posts, and it doesn't touch the friend count. That's why Facebook offers following as the answer when someone's full. If you're a business owner whose profile has filled up with customers and clients, letting them follow you rather than friend you keeps your personal list for people you know, and still lets everyone see what you post publicly.
If you want to see who's chosen that route, how to see who follows you on Facebook shows you where to look.
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Should you use pro mode instead?
If you're bumping into the limit because people want to follow your work rather than know you personally, pro mode is the route Facebook itself points to for going past 6,000. It's the professional setting for profiles, which suits creators and business owners who post publicly. If your profile is mainly family and friends, unfriending a few dormant accounts is the simpler fix.
Mistakes I see people make at the limit
- Unfriending people at random, when a quick look at old and duplicate accounts would free the space.
- Sending the same request again and again, when the real block is the other person's friends-of-friends setting.
- Assuming the other person has rejected them, when that person is the one at the cap.
- Turning their personal profile into a public one without thinking about who'll see family posts.
My verdict
Stop working to the old 5,000 figure: Facebook's own page now says 6,000. If you're near it, decide what your profile is for. Personal profiles should prune, public ones should switch to pro mode or let people follow. Either way, you don't need to hit the wall before you sort it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Facebook friend limit 5,000 or 6,000?
Facebook's help centre now says you can have up to 6,000 friends on Facebook.
What happens when you reach the Facebook friend limit?
You can't send or accept new friend requests. Facebook suggests turning on pro mode, unfriending someone or following people instead.
Can I add someone who has 6,000 friends?
No. Facebook says you won't be able to accept a friend request from someone who has 6,000 friends. You can follow them if they allow followers.
How do you get past 6,000 friends on Facebook?
Facebook's help page says you can turn on pro mode to connect with more than 6,000 friends.
Why can't I send a friend request on Facebook?
Common reasons include a request that's still pending, a friends-of-friends-only privacy setting, a block, either of you hitting the friend limit, or a temporary block on sending requests.
Does following someone use up a friend slot?
No. Following only shows you their public posts and doesn't make you friends, which is why Facebook suggests it when someone is at the limit.
Can I accept a friend request if I'm at the limit?
No. You'd need to unfriend someone first or turn on pro mode, which Facebook says lets you connect with more than 6,000 friends.
Is there a limit on Facebook followers?
Facebook's friend request page only sets a limit on friends. Following someone doesn't use one of your friend slots.
