How to fix the 'Friends not showing up' error in Overwatch 2
If you're running into issues finding and adding friends in Overwatch 2, we've listed all possible solutions to fix the problem.
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Out of all the multiplayer games around, Overwatch 2 is perhaps the one that requires the most communication with other players. Whilst working together with random people online is a perfectly fine way of playing, games like this are built around the idea of jumping in with your friends.
Unfortunately, sometimes that’s easier said than done, and it’s not always as simple as sending an invite. With crossplay, cross-progression, and the Battle.net account to contend with, it can become overly cumbersome. If you’re struggling to find your friends on Overwatch 2, we’ve outlined every way you can ensure they’re on your list below:
Fixes for 'Friends not showing up' in Overwatch 2
Player Not Found Error Fix
One of the biggest hurdles players are facing is being hit with the “player not found” when attempting to invite friends into their lobby. Even though you’re all on the correct version of the game and can clearly see them online, it’s still plaguing some owners.
There is no clear reason as to why this happens, but fortunately, there are a few workarounds. Try any of the following options to rectify the “player not found” error message in Overwatch 2:
- Ask another player to invite them.
- Use the chat function to invite them through there.
- Have all players restart the game.
- Leave the group and create a new one.
Again, it seems to just be a bug, which will hopefully be resolved in the coming days. In the meantime, one of these methods should temporarily fix the issue for you.
- If you're struggling to make the transition from the original game, here's everything you need to know about account merging not working in Overwatch 2.
Add Friends In Overwatch 2
A reason you may not see friends in-game may be due to not having them within your friends list yet. Much like Fortnite and other live service games that implement crossplay, Overwatch 2 has its own internal friend system, which you’ll need to use to invite your friends.
Unless you’re playing on the same console, inviting friends across multiple platforms requires a few extra steps. Due to Overwatch 2 being tied to a Battle.net account, you’re going to need your friend’s email or Battletag to be able to add them. With that in hand, follow these easy steps to add a friend:
- Click the Friends symbol in the top right.
- Select the Add Friend option.
- Input the email address tied to their Battle.net account or their Battletag.
- A request will be sent.
Once done, you should be able to invite a friend to your game. If not, try any of the solutions in the “player not found” bug remedies we’ve listed.
- Hit with another problem? Here’s how to fix the “player is in a different version” issue in Overwatch 2.
About The Author
Daniel Hollis
Daniel is a former Guides Writer for GGRecon. Having originally focused on film journalism, he eventually made the jump to writing about games in 2020, writing for sites such as NME. Eurogamer, GamesRadar, Tech Radar, and more. After a short stint in PR, he is back in the world of games media writing about his favourite games, including Bioshock, Fable, or everything Fortnite and Xbox Game Pass related.
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