How to Resend Deadlock Invite: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Why Resending a Deadlock Invite Is So Common

Deadlock is Valve’s invite-only hero shooter, a mix of third-person shooting and MOBA strategy. It is still in a closed playtest, and the only way in is an invite from a friend who already plays. You can read more on the Deadlock Wikipedia page.

Invites go through Steam and do not always arrive right away. Sometimes your friend misses the notification or closes it by mistake. That is why learning how to resend a Deadlock invite matters.

The good news is that resending is easy. There is no special resend button. You just send the invite again the same way you sent it the first time. If you are new, check out our Deadlock beginner guide, then follow the steps below.

How to Resend a Deadlock Invite: Step-by-Step

1. Make sure you have access. Only players already in the Deadlock playtest can send invites.
2. Add the person as a Steam friend. Send them a friend request in Steam and make sure both of you accept. A pending request is not enough.
3. Check their account is not limited. Steam blocks invites to limited accounts (under $5 spent in the Steam store). Your resend will fail if your friend has not hit that mark.
4. Launch Deadlock and stay on the main menu. You do not need to be in a match.
5. Click “Invite your Friends.” It is typically in the bottom-right corner of the main menu, though Valve moves menu items around, so check the whole start screen.
6. Find your friend in the list. The panel usually splits people into groups: friends you can invite, friends already invited, and friends who already have the game.
7. Click Invite again. There is no separate resend button. Just pick your friend and hit Invite (or Submit in some builds). That is the resend.
8. Tell your friend to accept it in Steam. Ask them to watch their Steam notifications and the playtest invites page. The invite can take a few hours, so do not panic if it is not instant.

Tips to Make Sure Your Deadlock Invite Lands

• Give it time. Invites can take minutes to a couple of days, and resending five minutes later does not speed things up.
• Tell your friend not to decline it. Some players report trouble getting a new invite after declining, so they should accept even if they cannot play yet.
• Double-check the friendship. If your friend does not show up in the panel, confirm in Steam that you are both on each other’s friends lists.
• Restart Deadlock if the list looks stale. A fresh launch typically refreshes the friends list.
• Never pay for an invite. Deadlock invites are free, and anyone selling them or sending “claim your access” links is running a scam.

Common Mistakes and Quick Fixes

Mistake 1: You are not actually Steam friends yet

This is the top reason invites fail: one of you never accepted the friend request. Fix: Check pending requests in Steam, make sure both sides accepted, then try again.

Mistake 2: Your friend’s account is limited

Valve will not send invites to limited accounts. Fix: Ask your friend to add $5 or more to their Steam Wallet or buy a game worth that much. Retail keys and free games do not count.

Mistake 3: Your friend already has an invite waiting

If the panel shows your friend as “already invited,” more sends will not help. Fix: Tell them to check Steam notifications and the playtest invites page, then accept the invite that is already there.

Mistake 4: Resending again and again in a panic

Spamming Invite does not speed anything up since the queue is on Steam’s side. Fix: Send it once, then wait a few hours or up to a day or two before worrying.

Mistake 5: Trusting invite sellers or fake links

Some players pay strangers or click links promising instant access. Fix: Invites are free and only come through Steam. If someone asks for money or your login, block and report them.

FAQs About Resending Deadlock Invites

Can I resend a Deadlock invite if my friend ignored the first one?

Yes. Open the “Invite your Friends” panel and click Invite on their name again. Ask them to accept through their Steam notifications so they do not miss it twice.

How long does a Deadlock invite take to arrive?

Some arrive within minutes, others take hours or even a couple of days. That is normal. After two days, try resending and ask your friend to check the Steam playtest invites page.

Is there a dedicated resend button in Deadlock?

No. You resend by sending a fresh invite the normal way. The panel also shows who you already invited, so you can confirm the first one went out first.

Why doesn’t my friend show up in my invite list?

Usually you are not mutual Steam friends yet, their account is limited, or the list needs a refresh. Check the friendship in Steam, check the $5 rule, and restart the game.

Do I have to pay to resend a Deadlock invite?

No, it is completely free. Anyone asking for payment is scamming you. A real invite arrives only through Steam.

What if my friend lost or deleted the invite?

Ask them to check Steam notifications and the playtest invites page first; the invite may still be there. If it is truly gone, resend it from the in-game panel. Once accepted, Deadlock appears in their library. See the official listing on Deadlock on Steam.

Conclusion

Resending a Deadlock invite is simple: be Steam friends, open the game, hit “Invite your Friends,” pick your friend, and click Invite again. Most problems come down to a pending friend request, a limited account, or an invite still on its way. Send it once and ask your friend to watch Steam.

Once your friend is in, you are ready to queue up together. Want to know what each hero does first? Read our Deadlock hero overview and our guide to the best free Steam games while you wait for the invite to land.