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Your Pokémon GO Trainer Code is the 12-digit number that other players type in to add you as a friend, and it has a matching QR code you can show instead. You find both from your Trainer Profile, and you can replace the code at any time, though the reset is permanent. Most players call this the “friend code,” and that is the term people search for, but Niantic’s official name is Trainer Code.
How to find your Trainer Code
Niantic’s official help page for adding friends lists the route below. The steps assume the current Pokémon GO app on iOS or Android; menu labels can shift slightly between app versions.
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- On the Map View, tap your Trainer Profile.
- Tap Friends, then tap Add Friend.
- Your 12-digit Trainer Code and its corresponding QR code appear in this Add Friend flow.
Niantic describes the 12-digit code and the QR code as two versions of the same identifier: every Trainer has one of each. For the full official wording on adding friends, see Niantic’s Adding Friends help page.
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There are two official ways to connect, and the right one depends on whether you can send a text-based code or the other player can scan your screen.
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Send the 12-digit code
Copy the 12-digit Trainer Code from the Add Friend screen and send it by any message app. The other player enters it in their own Add Friend flow. This works for someone who is not in the same room and cannot scan your screen.
Let the other player scan your QR code
Show your QR code on screen. The other player opens the QR Code tab in their own Add Friend flow and scans it with their camera. This is the faster option when you are together, and it avoids mistyping a 12-digit number.
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How to change or reset your Trainer Code
To get a new code, use the refresh icon on the Add Friend screen. Niantic’s help text states that tapping the refresh icon permanently resets the Trainer Code. The reset cannot be undone, so do not tap it casually if you have already shared your current code with friends who may still need it.
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If you do reset, send the replacement code to anyone who needs to add you. Niantic’s help text does not say whether an old code stops working or how any previously saved copies are handled, so do not assume that existing shares will update on their own.
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Friend requests, limits, and common problems
Niantic’s help page sets out several rules that explain most friend-list problems:
- Requests expire. A friend request that has not been answered expires after 7 days. If a player says they never received the friendship, ask them to send a fresh request from your current code.
- There is a cap. The Niantic Friend List can hold up to 550 friends. That total counts friends across Niantic apps, not just Pokémon GO.
- Wrong code type. If a scan fails or a code is rejected, confirm you are using the Trainer Code and its QR code from the Add Friend screen, not a Battle Code or a referral code (see below).
Niantic’s Friend List & Friendship Levels page covers profile visibility and what happens to friends who are removed in other Niantic apps.
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Trainer Codes are not Battle Codes or referral codes
Pokémon GO uses several different codes, and mixing them up is the most common source of confusion. Niantic’s Battle help page states that Battle Codes are different than the QR codes used to add Friends. Use the table below to tell them apart.
| Code | Where you find it | What it does | Reset or renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainer Code (friend code) | Trainer Profile → Friends → Add Friend | Adds a friend. Shared as a 12-digit number or a QR code. | Refresh icon permanently resets it. |
| Battle Code | Battle help page describes it as the code used to start Trainer Battles | Starts a Trainer Battle with another player. It is not used to add friends. | A new Battle Code is generated each time a player signs in. |
| Referral code | Invite flow, with a share or copy option | Refers eligible new or returning players under Niantic’s referral program. | Not stated in the referral help page as a reset option. |
For how referral codes work, including eligibility and bonuses, see Niantic’s Referring Friends and Referral Bonuses page. For Battle Codes, see Battling Other Trainers.
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Optional: add friends through your contacts
Pokémon GO can also access your device contacts. When you grant contact permission, the game can suggest a friend request to an account whose email address matches one in your contacts. This route is optional; you can skip it and use the Trainer Code or QR code instead. You can revoke contact access at any time in your phone’s settings, which stops the matching.
Quick Recap
The Bottom Line
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