The fastest way to add someone on Snapchat

You can add a friend on Snapchat in three ways: by username, by scanning their Snapcode (a unique QR code), or by letting Snapchat search your phone contacts. The method you choose depends on whether you already know their username and whether they are nearby.

If you know their exact username, open Snapchat, tap the profile icon in the top left, then tap "Add Friends." Type their username and tap the result. If they have a public account, you will see their profile and a button to add them. They will see the request appear in their inbox, and they can accept or decline it.

If you do not know their username but you are in the same room, ask them to show you their Snapcode. Open Snapchat, point your camera at their Snapcode, and hold down on the screen. Snapchat will recognize the code and show you their profile so you can add them directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Adding someone by username requires you to know their exact Snapchat name, which is not always the same as their display name.
  • Snapcodes are QR codes unique to each account that let you add someone when ready without typing anything.
  • Snapchat can search your phone contacts and suggest friends, but only if you give the app permission to access your contacts.
  • When you send a friend request, the other person sees it in their inbox and can accept, decline, or ignore it.
  • Blocked users cannot add you, and you cannot add someone who has blocked you.

Adding friends through your phone contacts

Snapchat can look through your phone's contact list and tell you which of your contacts already have Snapchat accounts. To use this feature, open Snapchat, go to your profile, tap "Add Friends," and then tap "Find Friends." Snapchat will ask permission to access your contacts. If you allow it, the app will show you a list of people in your phone who use Snapchat.

Tap the plus icon next to any contact to send them a friend request. They will receive the request in their inbox. This method is useful if you have many contacts and want to reconnect with people you already know, but it does require you to let Snapchat read your contact list. You can revoke this permission at any time in your phone's settings.

What happens when you send a friend request

When you add someone, they receive a notification that you sent them a friend request. They can see your username, display name, and profile picture. They have three choices: accept the request, decline it, or leave it sitting in their inbox without responding.

If they accept, you both become friends and can send each other messages and view each other's stories (depending on their privacy settings). If they decline, the request disappears and you cannot send another request for 24 hours. If they ignore it, the request stays in their inbox until they take action or until it expires after a set period.

You can see the status of your outgoing requests by going to your profile, tapping "Add Friends," and looking at the "Added You" or "Pending" sections. You can also cancel a pending request by tapping the X next to their name.

Using Snapcodes to add friends quickly

A Snapcode is a square QR code that represents a Snapchat account. Every Snapchat user has one, and it appears in their profile. Snapcodes are the fastest way to add someone if you are together in person or if they share their code with you online.

To find your own Snapcode, open Snapchat, tap your profile icon, and look at the large square code displayed on your profile. You can take a screenshot of it and send it to friends, or you can let them point their camera at your screen. To add someone using their Snapcode, open Snapchat, tap the camera icon, point your phone at their Snapcode, and hold down on the screen. Snapchat will recognize the code and show you their profile so you can add them.

What to do if you cannot find someone

If you search for someone by username and they do not appear in the results, they may have a private account, they may have changed their username, or they may not exist on Snapchat. Snapchat usernames are case-sensitive and cannot contain spaces, so make sure you have the spelling exactly right.

If you are sure of the username but still cannot find them, ask them to send you their Snapcode instead. You can also ask them to add you first, which will send you a friend request that you can accept. If someone has blocked you, you will not be able to find them or add them at all.

Privacy settings that affect who can add you

Snapchat lets you control who can send you friend requests. Open Snapchat, go to your profile, tap the settings icon (gear), and scroll to "Who Can..." section. You can choose to allow friend requests from everyone, from friends only, or from nobody.

If you set it to "Friends Only," only people who are already your friends can send you requests. If you set it to "No One," nobody can send you requests at all, though people can still see your profile if they search for you. These settings do not affect whether you can add other people — they only control who can add you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a username and a display name on Snapchat?

Your username is the unique name you chose when you created your account, and it cannot be changed. Your display name is what appears to other users and can be changed anytime. When you search for someone, you need their username, not their display name.

Can I add someone if they have not added me back yet?

Yes. You can add someone and they will see a friend request in their inbox. They do not have to add you back for you to send them messages or view their public stories, though they can control who sees their private stories through their privacy settings.

What does it mean if someone appears in my "Added You" section?

It means they sent you a friend request but you have not responded yet. You can accept the request, decline it, or ignore it. If you ignore it long enough, it will eventually disappear from your inbox.

Can I add the same person twice if they decline my request?

No. If someone declines your request, you have to wait 24 hours before you can send them another request. If they block you, you will not be able to send them any requests at all.

Does the other person know my phone number or real name when I add them?

No. They only see your Snapchat username, display name, and profile picture. Snapchat does not share your phone number or real name with other users unless you choose to tell them.