How to Add Friends in Venmo

Venmo lets you quickly send or request money from your friends. However, before getting to this part, you must first add them. Fortunately, it's not complicated and there are several ways to do it.

In this article, we'll dive into Venmo and teach you how to add friends on iPhone and Android.

How to Add Friends from Contacts on Venmo

There are several ways to add friends on Venmo, most easily if you already have them in your contacts. Venmo will automatically add friends if you sync your contact list.

iPhone

Adding friends from Contacts on Venmo is quick and easy. Here's how:

1. Open the Venmo app.
2. Access the main menu and press "Settings".
   
3. Under 'Preferences', tap on 'Friends & social networks'.
   
4. Toggle the button next to "Phone Contacts".
   

Now all of your contacts who use Venmo and have this feature enabled will be added. Additionally, each new contact added will automatically appear as your friends in Venmo. Note that you will also be added to their friend lists.

In the same settings, you can also do the same for "Facebook Contacts". This will automatically add all of your Facebook friends, assuming they use Venmo.

Android

Syncing your phone contacts with Venmo will automatically add it to your friends list and you to theirs. Except those that didn't allow syncing with Venmo.

Follow these steps to add friends from contacts:

1. Open Venmo.
2. Select "Settings" from the main menu.
   
3. Go to “Preferences” and tap on “Friends & Social Networks”.
   
4. Toggle the toggle button for "Phone Contacts".
   

Venmo also lets you add your Facebook friends. To enable it, go to the same settings and turn on the toggle next to "Facebook Contacts".

How to add friends who aren't contacts in Venmo

There are two ways to do this: by searching their profile or by scanning a QR code. We will explain both to you in detail.

iPhone

There are two methods to choose from, depending on whether the person is nearby or not.

If the person is not there, do the following:

1. Open Venmo.
2. Press the three-line button to open the main menu.
   
3. Tap "Search People".
   
4. Type a name or username. If it's a common name, you can inspect the profile pictures that appear. If the person is already on your friends list, you will see their name under "Friends".
   
5. Select the contact and press "Add friend".
   

As soon as the person accepts your request, they will be added to your friends list.

For someone nearby, you don't have to search e. Here's what you can do:

1. Open the Venmo app.
2. Tap the three lines icon to access the main menu.
   
3. Tap "Search People".
   
4. Press “Scan Code”. Venmo will request access to the camera.
   
5. Point your camera at the QR code on your friend's phone. The app will automatically scan it and the person will be added to your friends list.
   

If you want to access your QR code and let your friend scan it, tap on "My code".

Android

As with the iPhone app, there are two methods.

If you want to add a friend who is not currently near you, follow these steps:

1. Open Venmo.
2. Access the main menu by tapping on the three lines in the upper corner.
   
3. Tap "Search People".
   
4. Use your friend's name or username. If they are already on your friends list, their name will appear under "Friends". If more than one profile has the same name, you can use the profile picture to avoid adding the wrong person.
   
5. Once you find the right contact, select it and press "Add friend".
   

Unlike syncing your contacts, where they're automatically added to your friends list, this method requires the person to accept your request.

If you add the wrong person, you can always cancel the request by tapping "Requested" and then "Cancel Request".

Venmo has a faster method which involves scanning a QR code if the person is physically near you. Follow the steps below:

1. Open the Venmo app.
2. Go to the main menu and press "Search people".
   
3. Press “Scan Code”. Venmo will ask you for access to your camera.
   
4. Use your camera to scan your friend's QR code. Place the code in the white square and the camera will automatically scan it.
   

Once scanned, the person will be added to your friends list. If you want someone else to scan your code, tap "My Code".

Additional FAQs

How do I delete friends in Venmo?

It is possible to remove someone from your friends list. Follow these steps:

1. Open Venmo.

2. Access the friend's profile.

3. Select "Friends".

4. Tap "Unfriend".

Customize your friends list on Venmo

By adding people to your friends list, you can save time when sending or requesting money and ensure your money goes to the right destination. If you want to add multiple people at once, sync your Facebook contacts or friends with Venmo and they'll be added automatically. To add someone who is not your contact, you can search their profile and send a friend request or scan their QR code.

Do you have many friends on Venmo? Which method do you prefer? Tell us in the comments section below.