Xbox lets you make friends now — as the new friends and followers update rolls out to everyone

What you need to know

  • You can now send, accept, or delete friend requests on Xbox as well as the standard follower functions.
  • The function was only available to certain Insider tranches previously but has now rolled out to all users.

As a researcher who spends countless hours immersed in the digital world, I must admit that the recent update to Xbox’s Friends and Followers feature has been a game-changer for me. It’s like stepping into a time machine and being transported back to the days of Myspace and Friendster!


Thanks to the latest update on my Xbox console, I can now forge friendships! This isn’t just about making new connections; it’s about establishing a mutual bond through the sending and accepting of friend requests. Those already in my Xbox friends list will continue to be there with this update, and following someone is similar to following them on Twitter or other platforms – you’ll simply keep abreast of any content they decide to post. Here’s how it all goes:

Update your Xbox app, everywhere.

When you launch the Xbox app on Windows, it may ask you to update, and you should do so first before you can access the new ‘friend request’ feature. Interestingly, I encountered friend requests on my mobile device yesterday, but they didn’t work. Upon investigation, I discovered that my Samsung’s Xbox app also required an update for the Friends function to work properly. So, make sure to update your Xbox app across all devices to ensure you can utilize the Friends feature effectively.

Manage your friend request settings

To regulate who can send friend requests or follow your account on Xbox, navigate to the following options:

You’ll now see ‘friend requests’ on your Xbox and in the Xbox app

Go forth and make friends! Xbox have also said that existing mutual friends will update automatically with this change. You’ll stay friends with people who had also added you as a friend previously and continue following anyone who hadn’t. Friends can be accepted, and deleted from the People tab on your Xbox guide.

The rollout to everyone, and not just those on the Insider program, happened on the same day as a shadow drop for Death Stranding landing on Xbox consoles so it’s been a good week for stealth updates so far.

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2024-11-08 18:08