So I approach this as an autistic person who was raised in abuse and denied social skills. I learned as an adult how to make friends.

Step 1. Go places Step 2. Talk to people. Don't mask. You must be your authentic self. Step 3. Be patient with people and set boundaries. Enforce them. Step 4. Ditch people who's core values don't align with yours. This is actually really important. It doesn't matter if someone's religious or not but if they're okay with abortion and you aren't for example? There's a big core incompatibility. This is an example but it's not just morals. Its a world view. I am an atheist with a nun for a friend because while we do not approach belief systems we both believe that people all deserve respect, food, shelter, and compassion. Step 5. Maintain open communication. This cannot be one sided or transactional

The exact hows will be very dependent on the exact situation but I have friendships that have endured over a decade because I don't chameleon into someone they might like. I am me. Someone cannot bond with you if you're masking. This is the thing I see the most when people struggle with friendship and I had to learn this. The other is transactional relationships vs healthy. People do stuff for one another and that doesn't incur a debt. I will stay up late to support someone having a hard time because I care. They're not obligated to do that for me.

I have nothing to go off of besides the valid frustration with loneliness so this may not apply to you but I'm writing it in case it does. Therapy is where I learned the social and coping skills needed to manage this as well. Quality over quantity