Many users have reported that they can’t add friends on Origin by searching the Public ID, real name or email address. If you’re one of them, don’t worry. You can use the following methods to fix the error.
You can try the following seven methods one by one until you find the one that can fix the error.
Method 1: Check if the friend search function is temporarily disabled
Method 2: Go offline then go back online
Method 3: Update Origin to the beta version
Method 4: Change the privacy settings
Method 5: Ensure you and your friend use the same language
Method 6: Use EA app to add friends
Method 7: Clear the Origin cache
Method 1: Check if the friend search function is temporarily disabled
EA can temporarily disable the friend search function for some unknown reason. If that’s the case, you’re not the only one encountering this issue. Other Origin users will be in the same situation.
You can check with EA support and see if the friend search function is temporarily disabled. If yes, you can’t do anything but wait for them to restore the function.
Method 2: Go offline then go back online
Some users have reported that going offline then going back online helped them fix the error. You can give this method a try as well. Here’s how to do it:
1) Launch Origin.
2) Click Origin -> Go Offline.
3) Exit Origin.
4) Open Task Manager by right-clicking on the Start menu button and selecting Task Manager.
5) Go to the Processes tab and end any Origin-related tasks.
6) Restart Origin and sign in again, then Origin will go back online automatically.
7) Check to see if you can add friends. If you still cannot add friends, continue to try Method 3.
Method 3: Update Origin to the beta version
Updating Origin to the beta version has worked for some Origin users. You can try it and see if it works for you. Follow these steps.
1) Open Origin.
2) Click Origin -> Application Settings.
3) At the Application tab, scroll down to the Client Update section, and then turn on Participate in Origin technical previews.
Method 4: Change the privacy settings
The error may be due to the privacy settings of the Origin profile. You can try changing the privacy settings to everyone and also checking all the boxes in “Allow users to search for me by”. To do so:
1) Open Origin.
2) Click Origin -> EA Account and Billing…
3) At the pop-up page, click on Privacy Settings.
4) Select Everyone from the drop-down menu of Who can see my profile details and may be included in friend recommendations.
5) Ensure all boxes in “Allow users to search for me by” are checked.
6) Click Update to save the changes.
7) Ensure your friend has also changed the privacy settings.
8) Check to see if the error still occurs. If the error still occurs, continue to try Method 5.
Method 5: Ensure you and your friend use the same language
If you and your friend aren’t using the same language to sign in to Origin, you may not be able to add your friend on Origin. In that case, changing the language to the same can fix the error. Here’s how to change language on Origin:
1) Open Origin.
2) Click Origin -> Application Settings.
3) At the Application tab, in the section of Application Settings, you can change the Language to the one that’s the same as your friend’s. Once change is applied, Origin will restart automatically and you can sign in with the new language.
Method 6: Use EA app to add friends
Though the EA app is still in beta, you can use it to replace Origin to add friends. After you send the invitation to your friends on the EA app, your friends can accept your invitation from Origin.
If you haven’t installed the EA app yet, you can download it from EA’s official website.
Method 7: Clear the Origin cache
Clearing Origin cache can fix many Origin’s errors including the friend lists errors. You can try clearing the cache and see if it helps fix the error you’re experiencing. To clear cache, just delete the Origin saved folders. Follow these steps:
1) Ensure Origin is exit.
2) Open Task Manager again and end any Origin-related tasks.
3) On your keyboard, press Win+R (the Windows logo key and the R key) at the same time to invoke the Run box.
4) Type “%ProgramData%/Origin” into the Run box and click OK. This will open the Origin folder.
5) Delete all the files and folders inside the Origin folder except for the folder named LocalContent.
6) Press Win+R to invoke the Run box again.
7) Type “%AppData%” into the Run box and click OK.
8) Locate and then delete the Origin folder.
9) Click on AppData in the address bar.
10) Open the Local folder.
11) Inside the Local folder, locate and then delete the Origin folder.
12) Restart your PC and check to see if you can add friends successfully.
Hopefully you find the article helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. I’ll get back to you ASAP.