This article examines sources of social capital of Syrian refugees in informal tented settlements (ITSs) in Lebanon, using the division of social capital into bonding, bridging and linking social capital. It argues that refugees in ITSs possess all three forms of social capital, with important relationships existing between the three. Based on 45 interviews with refugees, the article shows that Syrians in ITSs sometimes convert bridging social capital into bonding social capital and vice versa, often with the help of smartphones. Over time respondents have built relationships to access linking social capital and with it new opportunities for livelihoods