Adding a location to your Snap takes three taps

Open Snapchat and take a photo or video. Before you send it, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Tap the location icon (it looks like a pin on a map). Snapchat will show you nearby locations it recognizes — tap the one you want, or type a custom location name. The location tag appears on your Snap, and anyone you send it to will see where you were when you took it.

You can add a location to a Snap you're about to send, or to a Story before you post it. The steps are the same either way. If Snapchat doesn't recognize the exact place you're looking for, you can type any location name and it will appear on your Snap as you typed it.

Location tags stay visible to whoever receives your Snap or views your Story. They don't change after you send — if you want to remove a location tag, you have to delete the Snap and take a new one without the tag.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen after taking a photo or video, then tap the location icon to add a location tag.
  • Snapchat shows you nearby recognized locations, or you can type a custom location name that will appear exactly as you type it.
  • Location tags are visible to anyone who receives your Snap or views your Story, and they cannot be edited or removed after sending.
  • Your location tag does not update in real time — it shows only where you were when you took the Snap.

What happens when you add a location to your Story

When you add a location to a Snap in your Story, the tag appears on the Snap itself and is visible to anyone who views your Story. If your Story is set to "Everyone," anyone on Snapchat can see your location tag. If your Story is set to "Friends," only your friends can see it. Private Stories (shared with a specific group you choose) show the location only to people in that group.

Location tags on Stories work the same way as location tags on direct Snaps — they show where you were at the moment you took the photo or video, not your current location. The tag stays the same even if you move to a different place before posting the Story.

Snapchat's location recognition and custom locations

When you tap the location icon, Snapchat uses your phone's GPS to find nearby places it has in its database. Common locations include restaurants, shops, landmarks, parks, and neighborhoods. If you're at a well-known place, Snapchat will likely recognize it and show it in the list.

If the exact location you want isn't in Snapchat's database, you can type any location name you choose. This is useful for adding custom locations like "Mom's House," "The Beach," or a friend's address. Snapchat will not verify that the location is real — it will display whatever you type. This means you can add a location that doesn't exist, or use a location name that's different from the official name of the place.

Snapchat updates its location database regularly, so new businesses and landmarks may appear over time. If a location you used to see is no longer in the list, it may have closed or Snapchat may have removed it from the database.

Privacy and who can see your location tags

Location tags are visible to the same people who can see your Snap or Story. If you send a Snap directly to a friend, only that friend sees the location tag. If you post to your Story, the location tag is visible to whoever can view your Story (Everyone, Friends, or a custom group).

Location tags are different from Snap Map, which shows your live location to friends if you turn that feature on separately. A location tag is just text on a Snap — it doesn't reveal your real-time location or track your movement. It only shows where you were when you took the photo or video.

If you don't want people to know where you were, don't add a location tag. You can take Snaps without any location information, and no one will know where you were unless you tell them.

Removing or changing a location tag

Once you send a Snap with a location tag, you cannot edit or remove the tag. The only way to remove a location tag is to delete the Snap and take a new one without adding a location.

If you posted a Snap to your Story with a location tag and want to remove it, you have to delete the Snap from your Story. Open your Story, find the Snap with the location tag, tap and hold it, and select "Delete." Then you can take a new Snap without a location tag and post it instead.

Location tags on Snaps others send you

When someone sends you a Snap with a location tag, you'll see the tag displayed on the Snap. You cannot remove the tag or change it — it's part of the Snap they sent. If you take a screenshot of a Snap that has a location tag, the location tag will appear in the screenshot.

If you want to share a Snap someone sent you (by saving it or screenshotting it), keep in mind that the location tag will be visible to anyone who sees the image. This is one reason to think before adding location tags to Snaps you send — the people you send them to can share them with others, and the location information goes with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a location to a Snap after I've already sent it?

No. You can only add a location before you send a Snap or post it to your Story. Once it's sent, the location tag cannot be added, edited, or removed. You would have to delete the Snap and send a new one with a location tag.

Does the location tag show my exact address or just a general area?

Location tags show only what you type or what you select from Snapchat's list. If you select "Downtown Coffee Shop," that's what appears — not your exact coordinates or street address. Custom locations like "My House" show only the text you entered, not a precise location.

Can I see where my friends are using location tags?

Location tags only show where someone was when they took a Snap, not where they are now. If you want to see your friends' live locations, that's a separate feature called Snap Map, which you turn on in your settings. Location tags and Snap Map are different things.

What if I add a fake location to my Snap?

Snapchat allows you to add any location name you type, real or fake. If you type "The Moon" or "Atlantis," that's what will appear on your Snap. Snapchat doesn't verify locations, so you can add whatever you want — but people who see your Snap will see exactly what you typed.

Do location tags work the same way on Android and iPhone?

Yes. The steps to add a location are the same on both Android and iPhone. Swipe up from the bottom, tap the location icon, and select or type a location. The location tag will appear the same way on both phones.