By James Wright
i John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Facebook is a great way for friends to connect and reunite, but creating this connection can be slightly problematic if you don't remember your friend's name. However, a name is not the only way you can find someone on Facebook. If you have any mutual friends, a phone number, email address or if you remember where they went to school or work, you can quickly narrow down your search. There are plenty of ways to find someone you used to know, but your success will often depend on how much information your friend has filled out in their profile.
If you can't find someone by name, you can still narrow your search down if you can remember where they work or where they went to school. Search for the business name or school they went to. If they've filled out this information in their profile, their name should show up on the company or school's page. However, this is not always the best way to find someone since some users simply don't fill out this information or link it with the official business or school page.
If the person you're looking for is friends with people you know, go to their profiles and look at their friends lists. If your friends haven't changed the default privacy settings on their friends list, you should be able to scroll through the entire list. You may need to check a few different lists, especially if you aren't completely sure if your friends have actually added the person you're looking for.
A somewhat quicker though possibly less consistent method is to look at Facebook's suggested friends. If you are friends with a number of people who know the person you're looking for, they may show up as a suggested friend. Click the Friend Requests icon from Facebook's main page, then scroll through the "People You May Know" list. This is based off mutual friends and similar businesses, schools, interests, etc.
If you don't know a person's name but remember a nickname they may use, a phone number, email address or any other personal information, you can use this information to search for people. Click the Friend Requests icon, then click "Find Friends." Select any of the default services, or click "Other Tools" to expand a list of other methods you can use. You can find any friends from any of the locations you have filled out in your profile or use their phone number or email. Again, note that this method only works if they have filled out this information in this profile.
{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T14:17:46+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-08-10T13:17:36+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:52+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Social Media","_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33611"},"slug":"social-media","categoryId":33611},{"name":"Facebook","_links":{"self":"//dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33612"},"slug":"facebook","categoryId":33612}],"title":"How to Search on Facebook for a Specific Person","strippedTitle":"how to search on facebook for a specific person","slug":"how-to-search-for-a-specific-person-on-facebook","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn how to find a specific person in Facebook by using its search function and two different methods for searching.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The search box at the top of Facebook's site allows you to search for a specific person by name. You can use it to <a href=\"//www.dummies.com/article/technology/social-media/facebook/how-to-find-people-you-know-on-facebook-218751/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">find people</a> you're already friends with and you just want to go to their timelines, or to find people you aren’t friends with yet.\r\n\r\nBut basic search can be a little confusing because Facebook auto-completes the names that you type and assumes you’re trying to get to your friends’ timelines. If you’re the type of person who is used to pressing the Enter key to begin a search, this can send you to friends’ timelines when you meant to search for someone <i>else</i> named James, for example.\r\n\r\nRead on to learn better strategies for finding people on Facebook.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">You can also use the search box at the top of the site to find posts, pages, groups, events, and even things your friends have liked.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Two basic ways to use Search in Facebook</h2>\r\nYou’ll wind up using search two basic ways. The first way is if the name of the person you’re looking for (or at least someone with the same name) appears in the auto-complete menu. You can accomplish that sort of search following these steps:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Begin typing the name you're looking for in the search box.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Pay attention to the people who appear in the autocomplete menu. Facebook displays first your friends and then friends of friends. There’s a good chance that you may find the person you’re looking for in this menu.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you see the name in the autocomplete menu, use your mouse or arrow keys to highlight the person you're looking for.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Click the name or press Enter.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">This brings you to the person's timeline, where you can verify that you know the person and add them as a friend.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<strong>Use \"See More\" for a further search</strong>\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Type the person's full name in the search box.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Click See More at the bottom of the search menu.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The search menu expands to reveal new options for search. So, if you type Jane Smith and then click See More, you can now either search People Named Jane Smith, Pages Named Jane Smith, or Places Named Jane Smith.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Click the People Named <i><friend’s name></i> option.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">A blue friend icon is next to this option. A search results page appears with larger previews of people’s profile pictures and timeline info. The right side of the page also has options for narrowing your search using fields such as Gender, Employer, Current City, and so on.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use the fields on the right side of the page to zero in on your actual friend.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">This might be information like where your friend works or where they're from.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">When you find the person you’re looking for, add them as a friend.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>","description":"The search box at the top of Facebook's site allows you to search for a specific person by name. You can use it to <a href=\"//www.dummies.com/article/technology/social-media/facebook/how-to-find-people-you-know-on-facebook-218751/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">find people</a> you're already friends with and you just want to go to their timelines, or to find people you aren’t friends with yet.\r\n\r\nBut basic search can be a little confusing because Facebook auto-completes the names that you type and assumes you’re trying to get to your friends’ timelines. If you’re the type of person who is used to pressing the Enter key to begin a search, this can send you to friends’ timelines when you meant to search for someone <i>else</i> named James, for example.\r\n\r\nRead on to learn better strategies for finding people on Facebook.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">You can also use the search box at the top of the site to find posts, pages, groups, events, and even things your friends have liked.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Two basic ways to use Search in Facebook</h2>\r\nYou’ll wind up using search two basic ways. The first way is if the name of the person you’re looking for (or at least someone with the same name) appears in the auto-complete menu. You can accomplish that sort of search following these steps:\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Begin typing the name you're looking for in the search box.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Pay attention to the people who appear in the autocomplete menu. Facebook displays first your friends and then friends of friends. There’s a good chance that you may find the person you’re looking for in this menu.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you see the name in the autocomplete menu, use your mouse or arrow keys to highlight the person you're looking for.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Click the name or press Enter.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">This brings you to the person's timeline, where you can verify that you know the person and add them as a friend.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<strong>Use \"See More\" for a further search</strong>\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Type the person's full name in the search box.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Click See More at the bottom of the search menu.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">The search menu expands to reveal new options for search. So, if you type Jane Smith and then click See More, you can now either search People Named Jane Smith, Pages Named Jane Smith, or Places Named Jane Smith.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Click the People Named <i><friend’s name></i> option.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">A blue friend icon is next to this option. A search results page appears with larger previews of people’s profile pictures and timeline info. 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But basic search can be a little confusing because Facebook auto-completes the names that you type and assumes you’re trying to get to your friends’ timelines. If you’re the type of person who is used to pressing the Enter key to begin a search, this can send you to friends’ timelines when you meant to search for someone else named James, for example. Read on to learn better strategies for finding people on Facebook.
You can also use the search box at the top of the site to find posts, pages, groups, events, and even things your friends have liked. Begin typing the name you're looking for in the search box. Pay attention to the people who appear in the autocomplete menu. Facebook displays first your friends and then friends of friends. There’s a good chance that you may find the person you’re looking for in this menu. If you see the name in the autocomplete menu, use your mouse or arrow keys to highlight the person you're looking for. Click the name or press Enter. This brings you to the person's timeline, where you can verify that you know the person and add them as a friend. Type the person's full name in the search box. Click See More at the bottom of the search menu. The search menu expands to reveal new options for search. So, if you type Jane Smith and then click See More, you can now either search People Named Jane Smith, Pages Named Jane Smith, or Places Named Jane Smith. Click the People Named option. A blue friend icon is next to this option. A search results page appears with larger previews of people’s profile pictures and timeline info. The right side of the page also has options for narrowing your search using fields such as Gender, Employer, Current City, and so on. Use the fields on the right side of the page to zero in on your actual friend.Two basic ways to use Search in Facebook
You’ll wind up using search two basic ways. The first way is if the name of the person you’re looking for (or at least someone with the same name) appears in the auto-complete menu. You can accomplish that sort of search following these steps:
Use "See More" for a further search
This might be information like where your friend works or where they're from.
When you find the person you’re looking for, add them as a friend.