How to Add Friends in Venmo

Venmo allows you to quickly send or request money from friends. However, before getting to that part, you first need to add them. Fortunately, this isn’t complicated and there are multiple ways to do it.

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

How to Add Friends From Contacts on Venmo

There are multiple ways to add friends on Venmo, easiest 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 easy and quick. Here’s how:

1. Open the Venmo app.
2. Go to the main menu and tap “Settings.”
   
3. Under “Preferences,” tap “Friends & Social.”
   
4. Switch the toggle button next to “Phone Contacts.”
   

Now, all your contacts that are using Venmo and have this feature enabled will be added. Moreover, every new contact added will automatically appear as your friends in Venmo. Note that you’ll also be added to their friends lists.

In the same settings, you can also do the same for “Facebook Contacts.” This will automatically add all your Facebook friends, assuming they’re using Venmo.

Android

Syncing your phone contacts with Venmo will automatically add to your friends list and you to theirs. Except those that didn’t enable 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 press “Friends & Social.”
   
4. Switch the toggle button for “Phone Contacts.”
   

Venmo also allows you to add your Facebook friends. To enable this, go to the same settings and turn on the toggle next to “Facebook Contacts.”

How to Add Friends That Are Not Contacts in Venmo

There are two ways to do it: by looking up their profile or scanning a QR code. We’ll explain both in detail.

iPhone

There are two methods to choose from, depending on whether the person is nearby.

If the person isn’t around, follow these steps:

1. Open Venmo.
2. Tap the three lines 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 photos that come up. If the person is already on your friends list, you’ll see their name under “Friends.”
   
5. Select the contact and tap “Add Friend.”
   

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

For somebody 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. Press “Search People.”
   
4. Press “Scan Code.” Venmo will ask for camera access.
   
5. Point your camera towards 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 “My Code.”

Android

As with the iPhone app, there are two methods.

If you want to add a friend that’s not currently next to you, follow these steps:

1. Open Venmo.
2. Access the main menu by tapping the three lines at the top corner.
   
3. Press “Search People.”
   
4. Use your friend’s name or username. If they’re already on your friends list, their name will show up under “Friends.” If several profiles have the same name, you can go with the profile picture to avoid adding the wrong person.
   
5. Once you’ve found the right contact, select it and tap “Add Friend.”
   

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

If you’re to add the wrong person, you can always cancel the request by tapping “Requested” and then “Cancel Request.”

Venmo has a faster method that 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 tap “Search People.”
   
3. Press “Scan Code.” Venmo will ask for access to your camera.
   
4. Use your camera to scan your friend’s QR code. Position the code is within 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, press “My Code.”

Additional FAQs

How Can I Remove Friends in Venmo?

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

1. Open Venmo.

2. Go to the friend’s profile.

3. Select “Friends.”

4. Press “Unfriend.”

Customize Your Friends List on Venmo

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

Do you have a lot of friends on Venmo? Which method do you favor? Tell us in the comments section below.