# Nostr: How do I find people on Nostr?

Ask for a person's `npub`, a profile link, or a NIP-05 identifier they publish through a trusted channel.

2026-08-11
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Switchboard Tech Services


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## Short answer

Ask for a person's `npub`, a profile link, or a NIP-05 identifier they publish through a trusted channel. Search and recommendation tools can help, but names and pictures are easy to copy. Check the public key when identity matters and make sure your client can reach relays carrying that person's profile and posts. A missing search result does not prove an account does not exist.

## Sources

[NIP-19: Human-readable encodings](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/19.md), [NIP-05: Internet identifiers](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/05.md), [NIP-65: Relay lists](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/65.md).

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Canonical URL: https://switchboardtechservices.com/guides/nostr-how-do-i-find-people-on-nostr/

Language: en-us

Content type: guide

Author: Switchboard Tech Services

Published: 2026-08-11T05:04:04+00:00

Description: A practical answer to How do I find people on Nostr?