We investigated the low load friction behavior of plasma post-oxidized, plasma- nitrided AISI 1045 plain steel, using unidirectional sliding tests. The hydrogen content in the post-oxidation plasma was varied between 0 and 25%. The nitrided or oxidized layer thicknesses ranged from approximately 340–380 μm or 0.7–1.1 μm, respectively. The outermost iron oxide layer decreases the friction, whereas the underneath iron nitride layer increases the mechanical strength. The incorporation of hydrogen in the oxidative plasma mixture allows to control the type of iron oxide phase. It is observed that the presence of a superficial magnetite layer leads to a decrease of the friction coefficient with respect to the non-oxidized nitrided steel. The results are interpreted on the lights of crystal chemistry and with a model to explain the in-depth effects of hydrogen in the oxidative plasma. ► Hydrogen improves the oxidation performance in terms of oxide layer thickness. ► Magnetite reduces both friction and roughness. ► The hydrogen effect takes place in-depth at the whole layer.