What Snap Location does and why you might want it
Snap Location is Snapchat's built-in feature that lets you share your real-time location with friends inside the app. When you turn it on, your friends can see where you are on a map — but only the friends you choose to share with, and only while the app is running or you have it actively enabled.
You might turn this on to meet friends at a specific place, let someone know you're on your way, or coordinate group plans. The key thing to understand: this is different from letting Snapchat track your location in the background. You control exactly who sees it and when.
Key Takeaways
- Snap Location requires you to give Snapchat permission to access your phone's location, which you do through your phone's settings, not inside the app.
- Once permission is granted, you turn the feature on inside Snapchat by opening the map and toggling location sharing for specific friends.
- You can share your location with some friends and hide it from others — the setting is per-friend, not all-or-nothing.
- Your location only updates while Snapchat is open or actively running; it does not track you in the background once you close the app.
Granting Snapchat permission to access your location
Before Snap Location will work, your phone needs to give Snapchat permission to see where you are. This happens in your phone's settings, not inside Snapchat itself.
On iPhone: Open Settings, scroll down and tap Snapchat, then tap Location. Choose "While Using the App" — this means Snapchat can only see your location when you have the app open. Do not choose "Always" unless you specifically want Snapchat tracking you even when the app is closed.
On Android: Open Settings, go to Apps or process Manager, find and tap Snapchat, tap Permissions, then tap Location. Choose "Allow only while using the app." Again, avoid "Allow all the time" unless you have a specific reason.
After you grant permission, go back to Snapchat. The app may ask you to confirm one more time — tap Allow if it does.
Turning on location sharing with specific friends
Once Snapchat has permission to see your location, you can choose which friends see it. Open Snapchat and tap the map icon (usually in the bottom left corner of the camera screen). This opens Snap Map.
On Snap Map, you will see a list of your friends. Next to each friend's name, you will see a toggle or switch. Tap the toggle next to any friend's name to share your location with them. A filled-in toggle means that friend can see where you are; an empty toggle means they cannot.
You can turn location sharing on and off for different friends independently. You might share with your close group but not with acquaintances, for example. There is no single "turn on location" switch that applies to everyone.
Controlling who can see your location on the map
Snap Map has a second layer of control: you can choose whether your location appears on the map at all, separate from whether individual friends can see you. At the top of Snap Map, you will see your own name or avatar. Tap it to see your privacy settings for the map itself.
You have three main options: "Only Me" (nobody sees your location), "My Friends" (all friends who have location on can see you), or "Select Friends" (only specific friends you choose can see you). Most people use "Select Friends" so they can share with their close group but not broadcast to everyone.
These settings work together with the individual toggles. If you set the map to "Only Me," no one sees your location no matter what the individual toggles say. If you set it to "Select Friends" and toggle location on for someone, that person can see you.
What happens when you close Snapchat
Snap Location stops updating the moment you close Snapchat or switch to another app. Your last known location may stay visible on your friends' maps for a short time, but it will not update to show where you actually are. This is by design — the feature is meant for real-time coordination, not continuous background tracking.
If you want to stop sharing your location entirely, you do not have to dig into phone settings. Just open Snap Map and toggle location off for all your friends, or set the map privacy to "Only Me." Your friends will see that your location is no longer available.
Turning off location permission if you change your mind
If you decide you do not want Snapchat to have access to your location at all, you can revoke permission from your phone's settings. This is different from turning off Snap Location inside the app — it removes Snapchat's ability to see your location entirely.
On iPhone: Go to Settings, tap Snapchat, tap Location, and choose "Never." Snapchat will no longer be able to see your location, and Snap Location will not work.
On Android: Go to Settings, find Snapchat in your apps, tap Permissions, tap Location, and choose "Don't allow." The same result: Snapchat loses access to your location.
You can turn this permission back on anytime by following the same steps and choosing "While Using the App" again.
Troubleshooting when location is not showing
If your friends say they cannot see your location even though you toggled it on, check three things. First, make sure Snapchat has permission to access location in your phone settings — many people turn on Snap Location in the app but forget to grant permission at the phone level. Second, make sure you toggled location on for that specific friend in Snap Map, not just turned on the feature in general. Third, make sure Snapchat is actually open — location does not update in the background.
If you toggled location on but it is still not working, try closing Snapchat completely and opening it again. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to start sending location data. If that does not work, check that your phone's location services are turned on overall — go to Settings and make sure Location is enabled at the system level, not just for Snapchat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my location with someone without them knowing?
No. Your friends can see whether you have shared your location with them — it is not hidden. If you toggle location on for someone, they will know you are sharing.
Does Snapchat track me after I close the app?
Not through Snap Location. Once you close Snapchat, your location stops updating. However, if you granted Snapchat "Always" permission in your phone settings, the app could theoretically track you in the background. To prevent this, make sure your location permission is set to "While Using the App" only.
What if I share my location by accident?
You can turn it off when ready by opening Snap Map and toggling location off for that friend. Your location will stop updating for them right away. You can also set your map privacy to "Only Me" to hide your location from everyone at once.
Can I see my friends' locations if they share with me?
Yes. When a friend shares their location with you, you can see them on Snap Map. Their location appears as their avatar or name on the map. You can only see friends who have explicitly shared with you.
Does location sharing use a lot of battery?
Snap Location uses some battery because your phone is constantly checking your location while Snapchat is open. If battery life is a concern, you can turn off location sharing when you do not need it, or close Snapchat when you are not using it.