Connecting with friends and family on Facebook is one of the most popular uses of the platform. An easy way to find people you know is by using your phone contacts. Facebook allows you to upload your contacts and will match them with existing profiles, making it simple to send friend requests.
Should I Upload My Contacts to Facebook?
Uploading contacts can help you quickly connect with people you know on Facebook. However, there are some things to consider:
- Privacy – Your contacts will not be visible to anyone else, but Facebook will store a copy of them.
- Matching – Facebook’s matching isn’t perfect. You may need to manually send requests.
- Notifications – Your contacts will get a notification when you upload their info.
Overall, uploading contacts is a helpful timesaver if you want to find Facebook friends. Just be aware it gives Facebook your data and may notify your contacts.
How to Upload Contacts on Mobile
Uploading phone contacts to Facebook via mobile is easy:
- Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android.
- Tap the “More” menu (three horizontal lines).
- Go to “Find Friends” > “Sync Contacts.”
- Tap “Continue” to allow access to your contacts.
- Check the contacts you want to upload and tap “Done.”
Facebook will begin matching your uploaded contacts right away. You’ll get notifications when it finds matches.
Sending Friend Requests
After uploading contacts, you will see an “Invitations” section under the Friends tab. Here you can manage contacts Facebook has matched:
- Matched contacts will have the option to “Add Friend.” Tap to send a request.
- You can also tap “Invite” to invite the person to Facebook if there was no match.
- For wrong matches, select “Wrong Person?” to remove the match.
Keep an eye on the Invitations section to approve good matches and remove bad ones. Facebook will continue looking for matches over time.
Manually Searching for Friends
If you prefer not to upload your contacts, you can search for friends manually.
On mobile:
- Go to the Friends tab and tap “Find Friends” at the top.
- Enter a name, email address, phone number, or other info.
- Select matching profiles to send requests or invite to Facebook.
You can also tap “Import Contacts” here to upload specific contacts without sharing your full address book.
On desktop:
- Click Friends in the left menu bar.
- Click “Find Friends” at the top.
- Search for people by name, school, work, etc.
- Click “Add Friend” on matching profiles.
While manual searching takes longer, it gives you more control over who you request.
Finding Friends in Your Contacts List
Once connected on Facebook, your friends will appear in your mobile contacts list:
- iPhone: Open Contacts app. Friends on Facebook show under “Facebook.”
- Android: Open Contacts app. Tap your profile, then “Contacts on Facebook.”
You can call, text, or email friends directly from this list.
Importing Facebook Friends to Contacts
To save Facebook friends to your main contacts list:
On iPhone
- Open the Contacts app and tap “Groups” at the top.
- Tap “Facebook” to view friends.
- Tap the info (i) icon next to each friend.
- Tap “Create New Contact” or “Add to Existing Contact.”
On Android
- Open the Contacts app and tap your profile.
- Tap “Contacts on Facebook.”
- Tap the menu icon next to each friend.
- Tap “Add to contacts.”
Now your Facebook friends will be saved in your main contacts alongside your phone numbers.
Linking Contacts to Facebook Profiles
If you already have a friend’s phone number or email saved, you can link it to their Facebook:
On Mobile
- Go to your contact’s Facebook profile.
- Tap the “More” menu in the top-right corner.
- Select “Add to Existing Contact.”
- Choose the corresponding contact.
On Desktop
- Click the contact’s profile name to open the About section.
- Click “Edit public details” below their public info.
- Click “Add Information” like email or phone number.
- Select “Connect to an existing contact.”
Now their Facebook profile will show up right in your contacts for quick access.
Troubleshooting Problems
Here are some tips if you have issues finding friends:
- Make sure your contacts have added their phone numbers or email addresses to their Facebook profiles.
- Check that your friends’ privacy settings allow non-friends to send requests.
- If contacts aren’t matching, try searching manually for their profiles.
- For duplicate contacts, you can merge them in your address book.
Conclusion
Uploading your phone contacts to Facebook is the fastest way to find friends already on the network. Make sure to review matched contacts and send requests to valid connections. Manually searching for profiles gives you more personalized control.
Once connected, your Facebook friends will be accessible right from your phone’s contacts app. You can also link existing contacts to associate their numbers and emails with Facebook profiles.
Linking your contacts provides seamless connectivity between Facebook and your address book. So go ahead and start finding friends to enrich your social experience.