Share this article

Improve this guide

Error adding a friend on Steam [Fix it now]

6 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

Millions of gamers use Steam to play with their friends, but Windows 10 users reported one unusual problem. According to them, they are getting an error while adding a friend on Steam.

This problem will prevent you from adding any new friends, so it can be pretty annoying. Fortunately, there are always solutions that you can try to fix problems like this.

Before taking a look at some of the best solutions to fix this problem, let’s discover what are the most common reasons that explain why it can occur.

Why do I get an error while adding a friend on Steam?

Even though the exact reasons for encountering this issue on Steam will vary from user to user while scouring the web on this subject, we have found some common ground:

No matter if in your case the cause might be one, two, or all of the above-mentioned problems, our guide will cover them all and will ensure that this issue will not be bothering you in the future.

Can I add friends on Steam without paying?

What can I do if I got an error adding a friend on Steam?

1. Check if that user is blocked

After unblocking a user, you should be able to add him as a friend again.

Bear in mind that you can only add users that didn’t block you, so if you’re blocked by a certain user you won’t be able to add them unless they unblock you first.

2. Check if your account isn’t limited

Steam has implemented a security measure that prevents scammers from adding new friends. Every user that joins Steam has a Limited User Account.

This account has certain limitations, and one of those limitations is the inability to add friends.

The only way to get a Full Steam account with all features is to purchase a game from Steam.

You can purchase any game, and after the game is added to your account, you should be able to add friends without any problems.

If your account is new and it doesn’t have any paid games added to it, you won’t be able to add friends until you buy a game on Steam.

3. Verify your friend requests

Steam allows you to have a limited number of friends and friend requests, and if you can’t add a certain friend, it might be due to the number of friend invites.

One of the simplest ways to fix this problem is to accept or deny friend requests.

After accepting or denying a few friend requests you should be able to add new friends on Steam without any problems.

Some users suggest that you need to remove all pending friend requests, so you might want to try that as well.

4. Use Command Prompt

5. Block and unblock the friend that you’re trying to add

Sometimes there might be a bug with Steam that prevents you from adding friends, but you should be able to fix it simply by blocking and unblocking your friend.

To block your friend, simply visit his profile and click theMorebutton, and selectBlock all communication. A

After that, unblock him and try to add him again. For more information on how to unblock your friends on Steam, checkSolution 1for detailed instructions.

Few users also claim that you can fix this issue if you and your friend block and unblock each other.

We’re not sure if this solution works, but few users reported success while using this method, so you might want to try it.

6. Disable Family Sharing

Steam added a useful feature called Family Sharing that allows you to share your games with the members of your family or friends.

This feature is great because it lets your friends or family members play your Steam games on their computers without buying them.

Of course, this feature has its limitations, and you can’t use your account or play any games while your family members are playing them.

This feature can also cause issues while adding friends, so you might want to disable it permanently.

Alternatively, you can do this from your Steam profile by following these steps:

Some users are wondering if they can add friends on Steam without paying. Well, the answer is yes, and to easily do it, just follow the above steps.

Being able to play games with your friends on Steam is one of its best features, and if for some reason you’re getting an error while trying to add a friend on Steam, be sure to try all solutions from this article.

Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.

User forum

6 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Δ

Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.