Last updated: 3 November 2026
Playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons is even more fun when you can visit your friends’ islands, share items, and explore together. If you’re wondering how to add friends in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the process is simple once you know where to look.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to add friends in Animal Crossing, visit other players’ islands, and play together online. We’ll also explain how to use Friend Codes and invite friends to your island.
What can you do with friends in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH)?
Adding friends in Animal Crossing: New Horizons lets you:
- Visit and explore each other’s islands.
- Meet and talk to each other’s villagers.
- Shop at Nook’s Cranny and Able Sisters.
- Pick fruit and flowers.
- Catch fish and bugs.
- Collect items, shells, and weeds.
- Trade items and send gifts.
- Message friends through the Best Friends List.
- Check when Best Friends are online.
- Let Best Friends use tools like axes and shovels on your island.
How to Add Friends on Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
To add friends in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you first need to add them through your Nintendo Switch friend list. After that, you can visit each other’s islands and unlock the Best Friends List in the game. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Add on Nintendo Switch
- Open your Nintendo Switch home screen and select your profile icon.
- Select Add Friend, followed by Search with Friend Code.
- Enter your friend’s 12-digit Friend Code (SW-XXXX-XXXX-XX).
- Send the friend request and wait for them to accept it.
Step 2: Open Island Gates
- In ACNH, visit the airport and talk to Orville.
- Select I Want Visitors, followed by Online Play.
- Choose All My Friends or use a Dodo Code to let other players visit.
Step 3: Play Together Once
- Your friend needs to visit the airport on their island and select I Wanna Fly.
- They can search for a friend or enter the Dodo Code you shared.
- Once they visit your island, you can explore, chat, and trade items together. Playing together also unlocks the Best Friends List app on your NookPhone.
Step 4: Become Best Friends
- Press ZL to open your NookPhone and select the Best Friends List app.
- Find your friend’s name in the list.
- Select Ask to Be Best Friends and wait for them to accept.
How To Invite Friends To Your Island?
If you want to invite friends to your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can do so by visiting the airport and speaking to Orville. You can invite nearby players or friends online using the following methods:
Invite Friends Easily
- Talk to Orville at the airport and select I Want Visitors.
- Choose local play for nearby players or online play for friends over the internet.
- Select whether you want all your friends or only your Best Friends to visit.
- Orville will open your island gates so other players can join.
- When you’re done playing, talk to Orville again to close the gates.
Use Dodo Code Option
- Select the Dodo Code option when inviting visitors.
- Orville will give you a random five-character code.
- Share the code with anyone you want to invite, even if they aren’t on your Nintendo Switch friend list.
- Other players can enter the code at their airport to visit your island.
- The Dodo Code stops working once you close your island gates.
How to Add Friends on Animal Crossing Once They’ve Visited You?
Once someone visits your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, add them as a Nintendo Switch friend first (using steps from before). Then make them a Best Friend for full island access, like cutting trees or taking items.
- Press ZL in the game to open your NookPhone.
- Select the Best Friends List app.
- Find your friend’s name in the list of recent visitors.
- Select Ask to Be Best Friends.
- Wait for them to accept your request.
- Once they accept, you can message each other and use additional tools on each other’s islands.
How to Add Friends on Animal Crossing Through the Nintendo Switch?
You can also add friends on your Nintendo Switch before opening Animal Crossing: New Horizons. All you need is their Friend Code or another available friend search option. Here’s how to add someone through your Nintendo Switch:
- Open your Switch home screen and select your profile icon.
- Select Add Friend from the menu.
- Choose Search with Friend Code.
- Enter your friend’s 12-digit code (SW-XXXX-XXXX-XX).
- You can also select Friend Suggestions to find people through supported linked accounts.
- Send the friend request and wait for them to accept it.
- Once they’ve accepted, you can invite them to your island through the airport in Animal Crossing.
How many friends do you have on Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Let us know in the comments below. And for more gaming news, guides, tips, tricks, codes, and more, don’t forget to check out Driffle Blog.
