The question of how to track the history of friendship on a social network worries many users of the mobile version. VKontakte. This is especially true for owners of smartphones based on Androidwho are accustomed to solving all problems directly from the screen of their device. Often a situation arises when you need to remember who exactly initiated the friendship, or check whether you were added to the “black list” after sending an application.
Unfortunately, the standard interface of the mobile application VKontakte does not provide a direct “Application History” button explicitly, as was the case in older versions of the site. However, there are several proven ways to get around this limitation. Some methods require using the full version of the site through a browser, others rely on analyzing notifications.
It is important to understand that the privacy policy of the social network is constantly becoming stricter. What worked five years ago may not be possible today without third-party tools. In this article, we will look at extremely secure methods that do not require sharing your password with suspicious services.
Using the full version of the site through a browser
The most reliable and legal way to access advanced friend management features is to switch to the full (desktop) version of the site directly in your mobile browser. The standard application VK for Android is greatly reduced in functionality for the sake of speed and simplicity of the interface.
To begin, open any browser on your device, be it Chrome, Firefox or the built-in browser Samsung Internet. Enter the address vk.com and log in using your username and password. After logging into your account, you need to force a request for the full version of the page.
In most mobile browsers, this is done through the settings menu (usually an icon with three dots). Find "PC Version" or "Full Version" and activate it. The site interface will be rebuilt, and you will see the familiar left menu column, which is missing in the application.
⚠️ Attention: The full version of the site may not be displayed correctly on a small smartphone screen. You will have to constantly zoom in and out with your fingers to comfortably read the text and press small menu buttons.
Now that you are in the full interface, go to the “Friends” section. The functionality here is much wider. On the left side of the screen (or under the “hamburger” menu in the mobile version of the full version) find the “Friend Requests” item. This is where the entire history of incoming and outgoing requests is stored.
If the font in the full version is too small, use the “Text Scale” function in your Android browser settings to increase the font size without losing the structure of the page.
Analysis of the “Friend Requests” section
The “Friend Requests” section is a key tool for responding to the question of who added whom. It is divided into two logical tabs: “Incoming” and “Outgoing”. Understanding the difference between them is critical to correctly interpreting data.
The Inbox tab displays users who have sent you a friend request, but you have not yet accepted it. If a person is here, it means that the initiative came from him. This is a direct answer to the question “who added me.”
The “Outbox” tab shows those to whom you sent an application, but they have not yet confirmed their friendship. If you're looking for information about who you sent your request to first, this is where you need to look. The status of the application can change dynamically.
- 📩 Inbox: a list of people who want to add you to their social circle.
- 📤 Outbox: a list of people to whom you sent a request, but they are silent.
- ✅ Confirmed: users with whom friendship has already been mutually established.
There is a nuance: if you accept the application, the person disappears from the “Inbox” list and goes to the general list of friends. In this case, it becomes more difficult to find out who was the initiator through the standard interface, but it is still possible through the notification history.
Viewing the notification history in the application
If you don't want to bother with the full version of the site, you can try to find traces of the initiative in the notification history of the application itself VKontakte for Android. This method only works if you have not cleared the notification bell inside the application.
Go into the application and click on the bell icon in the bottom navigation bar ("Notifications" section). Scroll down the feed until you find messages like “User X has sent you a friend request” or “Your request to User Y has been accepted.”
This method has a significant drawback: the notification history is limited. The application only stores a certain number of recent events. If the application was sent a month ago, it is unlikely that you will be able to find it this way.
In addition, the notification system can group events. Instead of a list of ten separate requests, you might see one entry: “10 new friend requests.” By clicking on it, you will be taken to the list, but the temporary link may be lost.
⚠️ Attention: Do not trust third-party applications from Google Play that promise to show your “friends’ secret history” after entering your username and password. This is a direct path to account theft.
Hidden opportunities through ID and links
For advanced users, there is a method that allows you to get a direct link to the application management page, bypassing unnecessary clicks on the menu. This is especially convenient if you want to save the link to your browser bookmarks on your phone for quick access.
The address of the application page has a universal format. Regardless of whether you are using an application or a browser, clicking on a special link https://vk.com/friends?section=requests should redirect you to the desired section.
In a mobile browser, this link will open either an adapted mobile version of the applications section, or, if the full version of the site is enabled, will immediately show a list of incoming and outgoing requests. This saves time on navigation.
https://vk.com/friends?section=requestsYou can also try using the old parameter act=friendsalthough in new versions of the engine VKontakte it often redirects to the standard friends page. A direct link with a parameter section is the most stable solution at the moment.
What to do if the link does not open in the application?
If when you click on the link, you just see a friend’s profile or home page, copy the link, open the browser (Chrome/Safari) and paste it there. Be sure to enable the “Full version of the site” mode in your browser settings.
Table: Comparison of history viewing methods
To make it easier for you to choose the appropriate method, we have systematized information about the available methods in the form of a table. Pay attention to the pros and cons of each approach when using a device based on Android.
| Method | Convenience on Android | Access to history | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile application | High | Only current applications | Maximum |
| Full version in the browser | Medium (small text) | Full access to sections | Maximum |
| Third-party clients | High | Depends on the client | Low (risk of ban) |
| Official website (m.vk.com) | High | Limited functionality | Maximum |
As can be seen from the table, the golden mean is to use the full version of the site through a browser. Yes, the interface is not adapted for the finger, but this is the only way to be guaranteed to see all the details without risking the security of your account.
Using third-party clients (unofficial applications) carries risks. The administration VKontakte is actively fighting them, and your account may be temporarily blocked for suspicious activity or the use of unverified software.
Frequent mistakes and myths about adding friends
There are many myths circulating on the Internet about how you can “break through” hidden information about friendship. Users often look for ways to find out who unfriended them or who added a person to the blacklist, using dubious services.
Remember: if a person unfriends you, he will simply disappear in your contacts list or move to the “Subscribers” category. There is no special magazine “Who deleted whom” in VKontakte there is and never has existed.
It is also impossible to find out who added you to the blacklist through standard means. The only indirect sign is that you stop seeing the user’s avatar and wall, and instead of the “Write a message” button, you see only the option to “Send a message” (which will go to requests).
- ❌ Myth: There are apps that show who visited your page and added you.
- ✅ Fact: VKontakte hides this information for the sake of user privacy.
- ⚠️ Risk: Installing such apps on Android often leads to infection of the device with stealth viruses.
⚠️ Attention: The social network interface is regularly updated. The layout of buttons and the names of sections may change in the next major update to the application or site. If you do not find the described item, look for a similar one.
☑️ Checking account security
Optimizing work with friends on a smartphone
Managing the list of friends on a small screen Android-smartphone can be tedious. To simplify this process and quickly find the information you need, it is recommended to use the search function inside the friends section.
At the top of the friends list (both in the application and in the full version) there is a search bar. By entering a person's name there, you can quickly find them and check the status of your friendship. This is faster than scrolling through a long list of contacts.
It is also useful to use sorting. In the full version of the site, you can sort friends by date added (although this function is sometimes hidden or unstable), by name, or by city. Sorting helps you find those you met recently.
For those who want to always be aware of new applications, it is recommended to enable push notifications in the application settings. Go to Settings → Notifications and make sure that the switch next to the “Friend Requests” item is active.
The safest and most complete way to manage requests on Android is to log into the vk.com website through a browser with the “Full version” mode enabled.
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to find out who added me as a friend if I have already accepted the request?
There is no direct way to see this in the friends list. However, if you haven't cleared your notifications, you may find the old message in the bell. Also, if you added a person to bookmarks before accepting the application, the history could be saved there.
Why is there no “Outgoing Applications” tab in the Android application?
In the mobile versions of the application, the interface is simplified. The Outbox tab is often hidden or combined with a general waiting list. To access it, you must use the full version of the site through a browser.
Is it safe to use services like “My Guests and Friends”?
No, it is not safe. Such services require you to enter your personal data or install suspicious extensions. There is a high probability of losing access to the page or sending spam on your behalf.
How to delete all outgoing applications at once?
Bulk deletion of applications is only available in the full version of the site. In the application, you will have to cancel each application manually by clicking the “Cancel application” button in the user’s profile or in the outgoing list.
What does the “Application Sent” status mean for the user?
This means that you clicked the “Add as a friend” button, but the user has not yet clicked the “Confirm” button in his account. Until this moment, you are only a subscriber for it.