The fastest way to add someone on Snapchat

Open Snapchat and tap the plus icon or "Add Friends" button at the bottom of the screen. You'll see four ways to find people: by username, by phone number, by scanning their Snapcode (a unique square code they can show you), or by letting Snapchat search your phone contacts. The method you choose depends on whether you already know the person's Snapchat username or have their phone number saved.

If you know their username, tap "Add by Username," type their name, and tap the username when it appears. If you have their phone number, tap "Add by Phone Number" and enter it. Both methods send a friend request that the other person must accept before you can message them. Scanning a Snapcode is when ready — the person appears in your friends list right away without a request step.

The contact sync method is the easiest if you're adding multiple people at once. Tap "Add Friends" and then "Contacts," and Snapchat will show you everyone in your phone's contact list who already has a Snapchat account. You can add several people in seconds by tapping the plus icon next to each name.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add friends by username, phone number, Snapcode scan, or by syncing your phone contacts.
  • Adding by username or phone number sends a friend request that the other person must accept.
  • Scanning a Snapcode adds someone when ready without a request step.
  • Contact sync shows you which people in your phone already use Snapchat and lets you add multiple friends at once.

Adding friends by username

This is the most common way to add someone if you've exchanged usernames in person or online. Open Snapchat, tap the plus icon at the bottom, and select "Add by Username." Type the person's username exactly as they gave it to you — usernames are case-sensitive and spaces matter.

When the username appears in the search results, tap it to open their profile. You'll see their display name, a preview of their story if they have one, and a button to send them a friend request. Tap "Add Friend" and the request goes out. They'll see it in their notifications and can accept or decline. Until they accept, you won't be able to message them or see their stories.

If the username doesn't appear, double-check the spelling. Common mistakes are forgetting numbers, mixing up similar letters, or adding spaces where there shouldn't be any. Ask the person to confirm their username if you're not sure.

Adding friends by phone number

If you have someone's phone number saved in your contacts, you can add them directly without needing their username. Open Snapchat, tap the plus icon, and select "Add by Phone Number." Enter the phone number in the same format it's saved in your contacts — Snapchat will search for an account linked to that number.

This method works best when you're adding someone you already know well, like a family member or close friend. The person doesn't need to do anything on their end — if they have a Snapchat account linked to that phone number, they'll appear in your search results. Tap their name to send a friend request.

Phone number searches sometimes fail if the account was created with a different number or if the person changed their linked number recently. If you can't find someone this way, ask them for their username instead.

Scanning a Snapcode to add when ready

A Snapcode is a square code unique to each Snapchat account — it looks like a QR code with the Snapchat ghost in the center. When you scan someone's Snapcode, they're added to your friends list when ready without a request step. This is the fastest way to add someone in person.

To scan a Snapcode, open Snapchat and point your camera at the code. Hold your finger on the screen for a moment — Snapchat will recognize the code and show you the person's profile. Tap "Add Friend" and they're added right away. You can now message them and see their stories.

You can find someone's Snapcode by opening their profile in the app, or they can show you the code on their phone or on a printed sticker. Many people include their Snapcode in their Instagram bio or other social media so friends can add them easily.

Using contact sync to add multiple friends at once

Contact sync is the quickest way to add several people if you have their phone numbers saved. Open Snapchat, tap the plus icon, and select "Add Friends." Then tap "Contacts" and allow Snapchat to access your phone's contact list if you haven't already. Snapchat will scan your contacts and show you a list of people who have Snapchat accounts.

You'll see a plus icon next to each person's name. Tap the plus icon to send them a friend request — you can add multiple people by tapping each one. This method is much faster than adding people one at a time by username or phone number, especially if you're setting up a new account and want to reconnect with people you already know.

Keep in mind that Snapchat stores your contact list on its servers to power this feature. If you're concerned about privacy, you can skip contact sync and add people manually instead. You can also remove Snapchat's access to your contacts anytime in your phone's settings.

What happens after you send a friend request

When you add someone by username or phone number, they receive a notification that you've sent them a friend request. They can accept it, decline it, or ignore it. Until they accept, you won't be able to message them or see their stories — you'll only see their public profile information if they have one set up.

If someone declines your request, you can send another one later, but there's no notification that you've been declined. You'll just notice they're not in your friends list. If you think you've been declined, you can try adding them again after a few weeks.

Once someone accepts your request, you're both friends. You can now message each other, see each other's stories, and call each other through Snapchat. Either of you can remove the other from your friends list anytime, and the other person won't be notified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone see that I sent them a friend request?

Yes. When you send a friend request by username or phone number, they get a notification showing your name and asking if they want to accept. They'll know you tried to add them. If you scan their Snapcode, they're added when ready and you both see each other as friends right away.

What if I accidentally added someone or want to remove a friend?

Open your friends list, press and hold the person's name, and tap "Remove Friend." They won't be notified that you removed them, but they'll notice you're no longer in their friends list if they look. You can add them again later if you change your mind.

Why can't I find someone by their phone number?

The phone number search only works if the person has linked that exact number to their Snapchat account. If they created their account with a different number or changed it recently, the search won't find them. Ask for their username instead, or have them scan their Snapcode for you.

Do I need to accept friend requests, or does adding someone work both ways?

Friend requests only go one way. When you add someone by username or phone number, they have to accept your request before you're officially friends. Snapcode scans add you both when ready. Once you're friends either way, either person can message the other or remove them anytime.

Can I add someone if they have their account set to private?

Yes. A private account just means their stories and profile are only visible to people they've accepted as friends. You can still send them a friend request by username, phone number, or Snapcode. They'll see the request and can accept or decline it like anyone else.