Snapchat's location feature lets you share where you are with friends, but the setting is off by default
Snapchat has a built-in location feature called Snap Map that shows your real-time location to people you choose. It is not turned on automatically — you have to enable it yourself. Once you do, you can decide which friends see your location, and you can turn it off anytime. The trade-off is that Snapchat collects and stores location data even when you are not actively sharing it, which means the company knows where you are.
Location sharing on Snapchat works differently than on other apps. You are not broadcasting your location to everyone — you pick specific friends. But Snapchat itself always knows where you are if you have location services turned on in your phone's settings, regardless of whether Snap Map is active. That is the privacy cost of using the app at all.
Key Takeaways
- Snap Map is off by default, so you will not share your location unless you turn it on in Settings and choose which friends can see it.
- Snapchat collects your location data whenever the app has permission to access your phone's location services, even if you never use Snap Map.
- You can set your location to visible to all friends, a custom list, or no one — and you can change it anytime without notifying anyone.
- Location data shared through Snap Map updates in real time, so friends can see exactly where you are if you have not turned off the feature.
- Turning off location services in your phone's settings stops Snapchat from collecting location data entirely, but the app may not work as designed.
How to turn on Snap Map and choose who sees your location
Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top left corner. Tap Settings (the gear icon). Scroll down and tap Map. You will see an option that says "See Me" — this controls who can see your location on Snap Map. Tap it and choose from three options: My Friends (everyone on your friends list), Select Friends (a custom list you create), or Only Me (no one sees your location).
If you choose Select Friends, Snapchat will ask you to pick which friends can see you. You can add or remove people from this list anytime by going back to Settings > Map > See Me and tapping the names. If you set it to Only Me, Snap Map is effectively off for sharing purposes — your friends cannot see your location, but Snapchat still collects it.
What happens when you share your location
When Snap Map is on and set to show your location, your friends can open the Map feature (swipe left from the camera screen) and see a Bitmoji avatar of you on a map showing your approximate location. The location updates in real time as you move. Your friends can tap your avatar to see how long ago the location was updated and send you a message.
Snapchat does not show your exact address — it shows a general area, usually accurate to within a few blocks in a city or a wider radius in rural areas. But "approximate" still means someone can figure out where you live, work, or spend time if they watch the map over hours or days. That is why the privacy choice matters: only turn on Snap Map if you trust the people who can see it.
The difference between Snap Map and Snapchat's location data collection
Snap Map is the feature you control — you turn it on or off, and you pick who sees it. But Snapchat collects location data separately, whether or not you use Snap Map. This happens because Snapchat requests permission to access your phone's location services when you install the app. If you grant that permission, Snapchat logs your location in the background.
Snapchat says it uses this location data to power features like location-based filters (the ones that show your city or neighborhood) and to improve its service. But the company also sells or shares location data with third parties in some cases, depending on your privacy settings and Snapchat's business agreements. You cannot see exactly who has access to your location data or what they do with it — that information is not public.
To stop Snapchat from collecting location data at all, you have to turn off location services for Snapchat in your phone's settings. On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, find Snapchat, and change it to Never. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Permissions > Location and toggle it off. This will prevent Snap Map from working and may break some location-based features, but Snapchat will no longer track your location.
How to turn off Snap Map without deleting your account
If you want to stop sharing your location but keep using Snapchat, set your Snap Map visibility to Only Me. Go to Settings > Map > See Me and select Only Me. This hides your location from all friends on Snap Map, but Snapchat still collects location data in the background. Your friends will not see you on the map, and you will not see them either.
You can also turn off location services for Snapchat in your phone's settings, which stops all location collection. The downside is that location-based filters will not work, and some features may behave unexpectedly. Most people find it easier to just set Snap Map to Only Me and leave location services on.
What to know about location privacy with other people
Snap Map shows your location to friends, but it does not show it to Snapchat's servers or to third parties in the same way. However, Snapchat does log which friends can see your location and when they view it. This data is stored on Snapchat's servers and could be requested by law enforcement with a warrant. If you are in a situation where your location needs to stay private — escaping a dangerous relationship, for example — Snap Map is a real risk even if you only share with trusted friends.
Also remember that your friends can take screenshots of Snap Map showing your location, or they can tell other people where you are. Snapchat notifies you when someone takes a screenshot of a snap, but not when someone screenshots the map. Sharing your location with anyone means trusting them not to share it further.
How location data affects the ads you see on Snapchat
Snapchat uses your location data to show you ads targeted to your area. If you are near a restaurant, you might see ads from that restaurant. If you spend time in a particular neighborhood, you might see ads for businesses there. This is why turning off location services can actually reduce the number of targeted ads you see — Snapchat has less information about you.
You can limit location-based ads by going to Settings > Privacy > Ads Preferences and toggling off "Location." This tells Snapchat not to use your location for ad targeting, but Snapchat still collects the location data. The company just promises not to use it for that specific purpose. Whether Snapchat follows that promise is not something you can verify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my friends' locations if they do not want me to?
No. Friends can only see your location if you have set Snap Map to show it to them. If someone has set their visibility to Only Me or Select Friends and you are not on that list, you cannot see them on the map. Snapchat does not let you override someone else's privacy choice.
Does turning off Snap Map stop Snapchat from tracking me?
No. Turning off Snap Map only hides your location from friends. Snapchat still collects your location data in the background if location services are on. To stop location collection entirely, you have to turn off location services for Snapchat in your phone's settings.
What if I turn off my phone's location services — will Snapchat still work?
Snapchat will still work, but some features will not. Location-based filters will not load, and Snap Map will not show your location or your friends' locations. Most of Snapchat's core features — messaging, stories, camera — work fine without location services.
Can Snapchat see my location if I use a VPN?
A VPN hides your location from websites and internet providers, but not from Snapchat. Snapchat gets your location from your phone's GPS and location services, not from your internet connection. A VPN does not block that data. To hide your location from Snapchat, you have to turn off location services in your phone's settings.
If I delete Snapchat, does the company stop storing my location data?
Deleting the app stops Snapchat from collecting new location data, but the company keeps the location data it already collected. You can request that Snapchat delete your data by going to Settings > Account > Delete Account, but Snapchat may keep some data for legal or business reasons. Check Snapchat's privacy policy for details on data retention.