<p>In this article, we examine the&#xa0;current understanding of how material properties influence dry sliding friction at the nanoscale in the absence of wear and discuss how these effects can be harnessed to control frictional losses. While the details of the contact interface determine which excitations are generated during sliding, material properties govern how these excitations are dissipated, thus playing a crucial role in friction. Focusing on atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies, we review and analyze how subsurface properties—particularly electronic structure—affect energy dissipation between a nanoscale tip and a sample. We argue that mechanical excitations induced by the sliding tip decay via coupling to the material’s electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom. Together with electrostatic interactions and dissipation linked to triboelectric charging, this framework offers a unified understanding of how subsurface properties influence friction. We conclude by identifying promising strategies for friction control via subsurface engineering and outline key directions for future research in this emerging field.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>