Managing your friends list is an important part of keeping your Pokémon GO gameplay organized, private, and enjoyable. Whether you want to remove inactive players, clean up your gift list, stop sharing your location with someone, or simply manage clutter, knowing how to unfriend someone in Pokémon GO can make your experience more streamlined.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn exactly how to remove a friend, what happens after you unfriend them, and additional tips to optimize your friends list in Pokémon GO.
Why You Might Want to Unfriend Someone in Pokémon GO
There are several good reasons players choose to remove someone:
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The person is inactive
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They no longer send gifts or participate in raids
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You added strangers and want to tidy your list
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You prefer more privacy
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You want to reset friendship XP (for re-adding later)
Whatever the reason, the unfriend process is quick and reversible.
How to Unfriend Someone in Pokémon GO
Unfriending someone in Pokémon GO takes less than a minute. Just follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Open Pokémon GO and Tap Your Trainer Profile
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Launch the Pokémon GO app.
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Tap your character icon located in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
This will take you to your Trainer profile page.
Step 2: Go to the “Friends” Tab
At the top of the profile page, you’ll see multiple tabs. Tap on:
➡ Friends
Here you’ll find your entire friends list along with their current activity, gifts, friendship level, and avatars.
Step 3: Select the Friend You Want to Remove
Scroll through your list and tap on the friend’s name you want to unfriend.
This will open their full profile screen where you can see their:
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Trainer level
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Buddy Pokémon
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Friendship XP status
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Recent activity and raid invites
Step 4: Tap the Three-Dot Menu (⋮)
In the top-right corner of their profile, tap the menu icon with three small dots.
This opens a small options window.
Step 5: Choose “Remove Friend”
From the menu, select:
➡ Remove Friend
A confirmation message will appear asking if you’re sure.
Step 6: Confirm the Action
Tap Yes or Remove to finalize.
The person will be immediately removed from your friends list.
Done!
What Happens When You Unfriend Someone in Pokémon GO?
Before removing a friend, it helps to know the consequences:
✔ They will NOT receive a notification
Pokémon GO does not notify players when someone removes them.
✔ You lose your friendship level
All friendship XP and bonuses between you and that player reset to zero.
✔ You can re-add them anytime
If you add them again later, you will start from Good Friends (Level 1) as new.
✔ You stop seeing each other’s activity
This includes online status, location, and gameplay notifications.
✔ You can no longer send or receive gifts
Gift exchanges and raid invites stop automatically.
Can Someone Tell If I Unfriended Them?
Not directly. Pokémon GO keeps this action private.
However, they may notice if:
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Your name disappears from their list
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They can no longer send you gifts or invites
But the app itself never tells them explicitly.
Pro Tips for Managing Your Friends List in Pokémon GO
Here are some helpful tips for a smoother friendship experience:
1. Sort Friends by Activity
Use the sorting options to view:
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Recently active players
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Online players
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Players who sent gifts
This makes it easier to identify whom to keep or remove.
2. Remove Friends Before Lucky Egg XP Boosts
If you’re planning to re-add a friend to power-level XP:
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Remove them
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Re-add them
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Build up friendship again to Ultra or Best Friends
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Use a Lucky Egg before leveling up for double XP
This method is popular with hardcore XP grinders.
3. Keep a Balanced Friends List
Too many friends can make managing gifts stressful.
Keep only players you actually interact with.
4. Turn Off Niantic Social Notifications
If someone is too active or spams raid invites, muting notifications may be easier than unfriending.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. If I remove someone, do my gifts disappear?
Yes. Any unclaimed gifts exchanged between you will disappear.
2. Can I block someone permanently?
While you cannot “block” inside Pokémon GO directly, you can prevent them from re-adding you by ignoring their Trainer Code request.
3. Does removing a friend reduce my storage?
No. Friends are not counted as inventory storage.
4. Can a removed friend still see my Trainer Profile?
Only if you share your Trainer Code publicly or re-add each other.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to unfriend someone in Pokémon GO is a useful skill for keeping your gameplay experience clean, organized, and enjoyable. Whether you want to remove inactive friends, reset XP, or regain privacy, the process is quick and completely private.
Clean up your list, keep your best partners, and enjoy smoother progress in the Pokémon GO universe!
