Adding friends is an important part of the Venmo experience. While you don’t have to be friends with someone on Venmo to pay them, it helps ensure that your payments are going to the right place (and helps your friends find you)!
Phone contacts
When you sign up for Venmo (or right before you use a feature for the first time), you’ll be asked to grant Venmo permission to access the contacts on your phone. If you allow access, we’ll look for any friends that are already on Venmo and automatically add them to your friend list (and you’ll be added to theirs).
Another option for adding friends is to link Venmo to your Facebook account. If you connect your Facebook account to Venmo, we’ll access your friend list (along with your email address, profile picture and public profile) to automatically add friends as well.
You can also choose to add friends manually by searching for their username or name, opening up their profile and adding them as a friend.
Personal QR codes
If you're face to face with someone you want to add, open the Venmo code scanner in the app and point it at the "Venmo Me" QR code on their screen. Once their code is centered it will take you straight to their profile page- no need to click! If someone sends you a personal QR code just click on the link and it will bring you right into the Venmo app on their profile page.
Removing friends
To remove a friend on Venmo (from the app or web), all you need to do is navigate to your friend’s Venmo profile. On the web, click the three dots in the upper right-hand corner and select "Remove as Friend". In the app, simply tap the “Friends” checkmark > Unfriend and you’re all set!
Friends list
In the app, on a user’s profile screen, tapping on the “Friends” button will open up a list of that user’s Venmo friends. You have the option to hide your own friends list by adjusting the privacy of your account. If you’re on the old version of the Venmo app (with the ☰ icon in the top right), this can be done in the “Settings” menu by selecting “Privacy” and tapping on the “Friends List" button. If you’re on the new version of the Venmo app (without the ☰ icon), go to the “You” tab by selecting the single person icon 
and tap the Settings gear in the top right. Then tap “Privacy” and then “Friends List.” From there you can select your desired privacy option (who can see your friends list). Additionally, you can opt-out of being displayed on other users’ friends lists by toggling the “Appear in other users’ friends list” button at the bottom of the same menu. If toggled “off”, you won’t appear in your friends’ friends lists (no matter their settings).