Pokémon GO gives you three separate ways to send a friend request. They all end at the same place — a pending request the other trainer has 7 days to accept — but they fit very different situations.
1. Trainer code (12 digits, works from anywhere)
Open the Friends tab, tap Add Friend, and type in the other trainer's 12-digit Trainer Code. This is the only method that works when you and the other trainer aren't in the same room — which is why every code-sharing community, including this site, is built around it. Find your own code the same way: Friends tab → Add Friend → your code is shown at the top, with a copy/share button next to it.
2. QR code (same room, no typing)
If you're standing next to another trainer, the QR Code tab on the Add Friend screen opens your camera. Scan their code (or have them scan yours) and the request sends immediately — no digits to mistype. Handy at a Community Day or raid hour, useless for adding anyone remote.
3. Nearby players (same room, no code needed at all)
Also on the Add Friend screen: a list of trainers currently nearby, based on location. Tap Add Friend next to a name and the request goes out — you don't even need to see their code. Same limitation as QR: it only surfaces people physically near you right now.
Which one for which situation
- Building an active list from scratch, or hunting specific countries for Vivillon patterns → trainer codes, since QR and Nearby can't reach anyone outside your immediate area. Grab a fresh one or browse codes by country.
- At an in-person event (Community Day, a raid hour, a local meetup) → QR or Nearby are faster than reading digits aloud.
- Rebuilding after a prune → trainer codes again, for the same reason: your existing local friends are already added, so the room has nothing new to offer.
FAQ
Do all three methods create the same kind of friend? Yes — once accepted, a friend added by QR, Nearby, or trainer code behaves identically: same gifts, same friendship levels, same trading rules.
How long does a request stay pending? 7 days. If it isn't accepted in that window, it expires and you'd need to send a new one.
Can I add someone with a trainer code if we're standing right next to each other? Yes — the methods aren't exclusive. Trainer code always works; QR and Nearby are just shortcuts for when you're co-located.
I don't have anyone to add — where do I get codes? The front page gives you a fresh, unused trainer code with one tap, deduplicated so you never get the same one twice.