How to add friends on Animal Crossing

How to Add Friends on Animal Crossing: New Horizons

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of the most relaxing and social games available on the Nintendo Switch. From decorating islands and collecting items to fishing, farming, and celebrating seasonal events, the game becomes even more enjoyable when played with friends.

Many players love visiting each other’s islands, trading items, sharing decorations, or simply hanging out together inside the game. Because of this, one of the first things new players want to learn is how to add friends on Animal Crossing.

The process is actually quite simple once you understand how Nintendo’s online friend system works. You first need to add players through your Nintendo Switch account, and then you can interact with them directly inside Animal Crossing using the airport and multiplayer features.

This complete guide explains everything you need to know about adding friends on Animal Crossing: New Horizons, including friend codes, online play, airport access, Best Friends lists, and multiplayer tips.

Can You Add Friends on Animal Crossing?

Yes, you absolutely can add friends on Animal Crossing, and multiplayer is one of the game’s biggest features.

Playing with friends allows you to:

  • Visit other islands
  • Invite players to your island
  • Trade items and resources
  • Explore together
  • Attend events
  • Send gifts
  • Chat and interact in real time

The social aspect makes the game significantly more entertaining, especially for players who enjoy building communities and sharing creative island designs.

However, before you can play together, both players must first connect through the Nintendo Switch friend system.

How Nintendo Switch Friend System Works

Unlike some games that include their own internal friend system, Animal Crossing relies heavily on the Nintendo Switch online friend network.

Every Nintendo Switch account has a unique Friend Code that looks something like this:

SW-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

You use this code to add people to your Nintendo Switch friends list.

Once the request is accepted, Animal Crossing can recognize that player when using online multiplayer features.

This means:

  • You must add players on Nintendo Switch first
  • Then you can interact inside Animal Crossing
  • Online play requires internet access
  • Some features require Nintendo Switch Online membership

Understanding this system is important because many new players mistakenly search for friend options directly inside Animal Crossing before adding Switch friends first.

Steps to Add Friends on Animal Crossing

If you want to add friends and start visiting islands together, follow these simple steps carefully.

Step 1: Open Nintendo Switch Home Screen

Start by turning on your Nintendo Switch and going to the main home screen.

From there:

  1. Select your user profile icon in the top-left corner
  2. Open your profile menu

This is where all Nintendo Switch friend management settings are located.

Step 2: Go to “Add Friend”

Inside your profile settings:

  1. Select the Add Friend option
  2. Choose Search with Friend Code

You will now need your friend’s Nintendo Switch Friend Code.

Step 3: Enter Your Friend’s Code

Type your friend’s unique Friend Code carefully.

Because every code is different, double-check the numbers before confirming.

Once entered:

  • Send the friend request
  • Wait for the other person to accept it

After acceptance, the player becomes part of your Nintendo Switch friends list.

Now you are ready to connect in Animal Crossing.

Step 4: Launch Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Open Animal Crossing: New Horizons and load into your island.

To access multiplayer features, head to the airport on your island.

The airport becomes available after progressing through the early stages of the game.

Step 5: Talk to Orville at the Airport

Inside the airport, speak with Orville, the dodo bird working at the front desk.

Orville manages all online and local multiplayer travel features.

He will ask what you want to do.

You now have two main choices:

  • Invite visitors to your island
  • Travel to someone else’s island

How to Invite Friends to Your Island

If you want your friends to visit your island:

  1. Talk to Orville
  2. Choose I want visitors
  3. Select Online Play
  4. Open your gates to friends

Once your airport gates are open, your Nintendo Switch friends can find your island from their airport travel menu.

This allows invited players to fly directly to your island and explore together.

How to Visit a Friend’s Island

If you want to travel instead:

  1. Speak to Orville
  2. Select I wanna fly
  3. Choose Online Play
  4. Search for your friend’s island

If your friend has opened their airport gates, their island will appear in the list.

You can then travel there and begin multiplayer gameplay.

What Happens After Playing Together?

Once you and another player successfully visit each other’s islands, the game unlocks additional friendship features.

One of the most important features is the Best Friends List app on your in-game NookPhone.

What Is the Best Friends List?

The Best Friends List is an in-game app inside Animal Crossing that keeps track of players you recently interacted with online.

You can access it through your NookPhone after playing multiplayer at least once.

The app allows you to:

  • See recent players
  • Send Best Friend requests
  • Check who is online
  • Communicate more easily
  • Manage close multiplayer connections

This system makes ongoing multiplayer sessions much more convenient.

How to Add Someone as a Best Friend

After visiting an island together:

  1. Open your NookPhone
  2. Launch the Best Friends List app
  3. Find the player you recently played with
  4. Send them a Best Friend request

The other player must accept your request before the status becomes active.

Once accepted, you both become Best Friends inside Animal Crossing.

Why Best Friend Status Matters

Becoming Best Friends unlocks additional multiplayer permissions.

Most importantly, Best Friends can use advanced tools on each other’s islands.

These tools include:

  • Shovels
  • Axes

This means they can:

  • Dig up flowers
  • Chop trees
  • Modify parts of your island

Because of this, you should only grant Best Friend status to people you trust.

Otherwise, someone could accidentally — or intentionally — damage parts of your island.

Benefits of Playing Animal Crossing With Friends

Multiplayer adds a huge amount of fun and creativity to Animal Crossing.

Some major benefits include:

Trading Items

Friends can exchange:

  • Furniture
  • DIY recipes
  • Clothing
  • Fruits
  • Resources
  • Rare collectibles

Exploring New Islands

Every island is unique, making exploration exciting.

Seasonal Events

Holiday events and limited-time activities become more fun with groups.

Inspiration and Creativity

Players often visit islands to get design ideas and inspiration.

Faster Progression

Friends can help each other collect resources and complete projects more efficiently.

Sending Gifts Through the Airport

Another useful multiplayer feature is gift sharing.

Once you have visited someone’s island at least once, you can send gifts to them through the airport mail system.

This feature allows you to:

  • Mail presents
  • Share furniture
  • Send clothing
  • Surprise friends with rare items

It is an easy way to stay connected even when not actively playing together.

Do You Need Nintendo Switch Online?

Yes, for online multiplayer features, players generally need a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

This subscription enables:

  • Online island visits
  • Multiplayer gameplay
  • Internet-based interactions

However, local wireless play may still work without the subscription if players are physically nearby.

Local Play vs Online Play

Animal Crossing supports both local and online multiplayer.

Local Play

  • Works with nearby Nintendo Switch consoles
  • Does not always require internet
  • Best for playing in the same room

Online Play

  • Uses internet connection
  • Allows long-distance multiplayer
  • Requires Nintendo Switch Online

Most players use online play to connect with friends worldwide.

Tips for Safe Multiplayer

Because players can interact directly with your island, it is important to be cautious.

Only Add Trusted Best Friends

Remember that Best Friends can use destructive tools.

Avoid Sharing Dodo Codes Publicly

Temporary Dodo Codes can allow strangers to visit your island.

Protect Valuable Items

Store rare or important items safely before inviting large groups.

Why Animal Crossing Multiplayer Is So Popular

The multiplayer system is one of the biggest reasons Animal Crossing remains so popular years after release.

The game encourages:

  • Creativity
  • Relaxation
  • Social interaction
  • Cooperation
  • Community building

Many players spend hundreds of hours designing islands and sharing experiences with friends.

The social aspect turns the game into more than just a simulation — it becomes a shared digital world.

Conclusion

Adding friends on Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a simple process that greatly improves the overall gameplay experience. By connecting through Nintendo Switch Friend Codes and using the airport multiplayer system, players can visit islands, trade items, send gifts, and explore together online.

After playing together once, users can also add each other to the Best Friends List for easier communication and expanded multiplayer features.

However, because Best Friends can use tools like shovels and axes on your island, it is important to only give that status to trusted players.

Whether you want to build communities, trade rare items, or simply relax with friends, Animal Crossing multiplayer makes island life far more enjoyable and interactive.

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