Adding friends on LINE

Share

LINE X Facebook

Copied

There are several ways you can add friends with the LINE app. This article explains how to add friends based on the situation.

Topics covered

- Adding people you're with in person as friends

- Adding people who aren't nearby as friends

- Adding people who aren't or may not be using LINE as friends



Adding people you're with in person as friends:
If the other person is right in front of you, adding them as a friend with a QR code is convenient. Please note that since anyone who is a LINE user can add you as a friend using your QR code, do not share it with people you don't know.

To add friends with a QR code:
1. Tap scan icon on the right side of the search bar to start the QR code reader, then tap My QR code if you want to display your QR code.
2. Add your friend with either of the following methods.

Scan the QR code (for the person who started the QR code reader)
1. Scan the QR code that appears on your friend's device.
2. On the screen that appears, tap Add.

After scanning your friend's QR code and adding them as a friend, we recommend sending a sticker or message so they can easily add you from their chat with you that appears on LINE.

Have your friend scan your QR code (for the person showing their QR code)
1. Have your friend scan your QR code.
2. After they scan your QR code, tap the Home tab > Add friends icon > and add them from under Friend recommendations.


Adding people who aren't nearby as friends:
There are multiple ways to add someone as a friend if they aren't nearby. The other person will be notified if they are added as a friend via one of the following methods.

Adding friends by searching for their phone numbers (only for LINE accounts created with LINE versions earlier than 13.11.0 if you're not using LINE in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, or Thailand) You can only use this feature on your main device (typically your smartphone).

You can add friends by searching for their phone numbers by following the steps below. Try doing so after reading the following important points.

Important:
- In Japan, you can only use the phone number search feature if you are 18 or older and have verified your age.
- The other person needs to turn on Allow others to add me.

To search for someone by phone number, see the following steps.
1. Open LINE on the main device your account is registered to.
2. Tap the Home tab > add friends icon.
3. Tap Search.
4. Choose Phone number.
5. Select a country and enter your friend's phone number, then tap search icon.
information icon  Useful info
If you can't add friends by searching for their phone numbers, see A friend can't be added using ID/phone number search.

Adding friends using LINE ID search 1. Tap the Home tab > add friends icon.
2. Tap Search.
3. Choose ID.
4. Enter your friend's ID and tap search icon.

If you're unable to search for their ID, see the following Help content.

A friend can't be added using ID/phone number search

Adding friends via links You can add friends by having them access your link or by accessing theirs.

To add someone by sending them a link:
1. Tap the Home tab > add friends icon > QR code > My QR code.
2. Tap Copy link.
3. Send the link to the person you want to have add you as a friend.

Important: If your link is leaked, anyone using LINE will be able to add you as a friend. Take care not to share your link with people you don't know. If you want to prevent people you don't know from being able to add you as a friend, you can deactivate your current link by tapping Regenerate on the My QR code screen.

To add a friend using their link:
1. Tap the link you received.
2. Tap Add.

Adding people saved to your smartphone's contacts as friends You can only use this feature on your main device (typically your smartphone).

The steps to automatically add people saved to your smartphone's contacts as friends or to turn the feature off are as follows.
Important: The contents of this section only apply to LINE accounts created with LINE versions earlier than 13.11.0 if you're not using LINE in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, or Thailand.
warning icon  Be advised
If you're using iOS, go to your device's Settings > Privacy & Security > Contacts and turn on LINE.

To turn on Auto-add friends:
1. Open LINE on the main device your account is registered to.
2. Tap the Home tab > Settings > Friends.
3. Turn ON Auto-add friends.
Note: If Auto-add friends is already turned on, tap the refresh icon next to the last auto-add date to manually sync your contacts.

If you're unable to use Auto-add friends, please try adding them using QR codes, links to add friends, or through group members.

To turn off Auto-add friends:
1. Open LINE on the main device your account is registered to.
2. Tap the Home tab > Settings > Friends.
3. Turn OFF Auto-add friends.
information icon  Useful info
To prevent certain people from being automatically added as friends on LINE, add a hashtag (#) before their names saved in your device's contacts (e.g. "#John Doe"). However, adding a hashtag before the name of someone you've already added on LINE will not delete them from your friend list.

If you don't know the LINE ID or contact information of the person you want to add but share a mutual acquaintance, you can add them as a friend with the following methods.

Adding friends in groups 1. Open a group chat.
2. Tap the icon of the member you want to add.
3. Tap Add.

Adding friends via Contact (having other friends introduce you to their friends on LINE) To add a friend via Contact using their LINE account information, you need to have a separate friend send the contact information for the person you want to add via a chat message.

The following steps involve three people: you, the person you want to add as a friend, and the person who will introduce them to you.

Have the person who will introduce them perform the steps below.

1. Open their chat with you.
2. Tap plus icon > Contact > LINE friend.
3. Select the person you want to add as a friend and tap Share at the top right of the screen.
4. The display name, profile icon, and status message of the person you want to add will appear in the chat.

Then, on your end:
1. Open your chat with the friend who performed the steps above.
2. Tap the profile icon of the person you want to add that appeared in the chat.
3. Tap Add.

If you're unable to add a friend via Contact, please try adding them using a QR code, a link to add a friend, or through a group member .

To add someone as a friend who has already added you on their end, you can do so from your Friend recommendations with the method below.

Adding friend recommendations as friends Tap the Home tab > add friends icon at the top of the screen > add friend icon next to their display name under Friend recommendations.


Adding people who aren't or may not be using LINE as friends:
information icon  Useful info
The text of an invitation email will display your name as it is set in LINE.
1. Tap the Home tab > add friends icon > Invite.
2. Tap Text message or Email.
3. Choose someone and tap Invite.

The invitation will be sent using the text message or email features on your device. If an issue such as the invitee not receiving your text message occurs, contact your mobile service provider.
Note: Text message invitations only apply to users in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

See also:
I can't add friends
Differences between deleting/hiding/blocking LINE accounts and doing/undoing these actions
Blocking accounts that appear in your friend recommendations