Introduction
Got access to Deadlock, Valve’s hero shooter, and want your friends in the playtest too? Good news — Valve built an invite system right into the game. The bad news is it has a few rules that trip people up, like the fact that you must be Steam friends first or the invite won’t go through.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to invite people to Deadlock, how long invites take, and what to do when things go wrong.
Direct Answer: How Do You Invite People to Deadlock?
Open Deadlock and click Invite Your Friends in the bottom-right of the main menu. Pick a friend from your Steam friends list and click Invite (or Submit). You must already be mutual Steam friends — a pending friend request isn’t enough. The invite is delivered through Steam and can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1–2 days.
What You Need First
- Deadlock playtest access yourself — only playtesters can send invites.
- Mutual Steam friendship with the person you want to invite. Add each other and accept the request first.
- A working Steam account for your friend (they may need a Limited User Account with at least US$5 in spend for friend features to work properly).
Step-by-Step: How to Invite People to Deadlock
Step 1: Become Steam Friends
This is the step most people skip. Open Steam, go to Friends → Add a Friend, and either search their username or share your Friend Code. Both sides must accept. As players on Deadlock’s Steam hub put it: “Add me on Steam first. This is mandatory, as Deadlock does not allow invites unless we are friends.”
Step 2: Launch Deadlock and Stay on the Main Menu
Open Deadlock and stay on the start screen. Don’t go into hero select or the Hideout — the invite panel lives on the main menu.
Step 3: Click “Invite Your Friends”
Look for the “Invite Your Friends” button in the bottom-right corner of the main menu. Valve sometimes moves menu items between builds, so search the screen for that exact phrase rather than trusting the corner position.
Step 4: Select Your Friend and Submit
The panel opens showing “Select a Friend from Steam” — your Steam friends list. Click the person you want to invite, then hit Submit (or the per-friend Invite button, depending on the build). There may also be an optional Email field — it’s just the best address to reach your friend if they don’t check their Steam email; it doesn’t create a second invite.
Step 5: Wait for Steam to Deliver
You get a status line, not a receipt — there’s no progress bar, and you can’t track it because delivery is handled Steam-side. Times vary wildly: some players report 15 minutes, most see 1–2 days, and a few wait up to five days.
Step 6: Your Friend Accepts Through Steam
Your friend gets a Steam notification and/or email. They should accept it via Steam’s playtest invites page, then install the game (about 30GB) from their Steam library. Warn them: if they’ve declined a Deadlock invite before, they may not be able to receive a new one — so they should accept, not dismiss, the notification.
Tips
- Accept pending friend requests first. A friend request sitting in Pending is not enough — you must be mutual friends.
- Don’t spam invites. Sending repeated invites doesn’t speed anything up; delivery is processed by Steam on its own schedule.
- Use the friend code shortcut. If your friend can’t find you, share your Steam Friend Code (Friends → Add a Friend in the Steam client) so they can add you directly.
- Check the playtest invites page. If your friend says nothing arrived, have them check Steam’s playtest invites page rather than just notifications.
Common Mistakes
- Trying to invite non-friends. The game will show a “Must select a friend from list” error. Add each other on Steam first.
- Paying for invites. Deadlock access is free. Anyone selling invites or sending “claim your access” links is running a scam — real invites arrive only through Steam.
- Trusting third-party invite sites. There is no universal invite code and no legitimate website that can bypass Steam. Never enter your Steam credentials or session cookies anywhere but Steam itself.
FAQs
How long does a Deadlock invite take?
Usually 1–2 days, but reports range from 15 minutes to five days. Delivery is handled by Steam and can’t be rushed.
Do I need to be Steam friends to invite someone?
Yes — mutual Steam friendship is mandatory. Pending requests don’t count.
Can I invite someone who declined a Deadlock invite before?
Probably not — players who declined in the past may be unable to receive a new one. Accept, don’t dismiss, the notification.
Is there a Deadlock invite code?
No. There is no universal code, no paid access key, and no legitimate third-party route. Invites come only through Steam from existing playtesters.
Where does my friend accept the invite?
Through a Steam notification or email, or directly on Steam’s playtest invites page. Then Deadlock appears in their Steam library for install.
Can I invite friends while in a match?
No — the Invite Your Friends panel is on the main menu, not inside matches or hero select.
Conclusion
Inviting people to Deadlock is simple once you know the rules: be Steam friends first, click Invite Your Friends on the main menu, select your friend, and wait for Steam to deliver. Just remember it’s free, it can take a couple of days, and anyone asking for money or login details is a scammer. For more multiplayer tips, check out our guide to building a gaming group and our Steam safety basics.