You can remove a best friend on Snapchat in two taps, and they won't get a notification
Open Snapchat and hold your finger on the person's name in your chat list or friends list until a menu appears. Tap Remove Friend or Unfriend depending on your phone's operating system. The person stays in your contacts but no longer appears in your best friends list, and you won't see their stories or snaps unless you search for them by name.
The removal is silent — Snapchat doesn't tell them you've removed them. They might notice over time if they check your best friends list or if your snaps stop appearing in their feed, but there's no notification that triggers the moment you remove them.
Key Takeaways
- Hold down a person's name in your chat or friends list, then select Remove Friend to delete them from your best friends.
- Removing someone is different from blocking them — a removed friend can still message you and see your public stories unless you block them separately.
- Your best friends list updates based on who you message most, so removed friends may reappear if you start messaging them again regularly.
- If you want to hide your activity from someone permanently, blocking is more effective than removing them from best friends.
The difference between removing and blocking
Removing someone from your best friends list does not prevent them from contacting you. They can still send you messages, and you'll still receive them. They can also still see your public stories and any snaps you send directly to them if they're not blocked.
Blocking is stronger. When you block someone, they cannot message you, see your stories, or find your account through search. If you want to cut off contact entirely, block them instead of just removing them from best friends. You can block someone by holding their name and selecting Block from the menu.
Why your best friends list changes automatically
Snapchat's best friends list is not static. It updates based on who you message most frequently. If you remove someone but then start messaging them regularly again, they'll automatically move back into your best friends list within a few days. This happens without you doing anything — it's based purely on message volume.
This means removing someone is useful for temporary situations — like when you're taking a break from someone or want to clean up your list — but it's not a permanent change. If you want a lasting separation, blocking is the right choice.
How to remove someone from best friends on iPhone
On iPhone, open Snapchat and go to your chat list. Find the person you want to remove and hold your finger on their name until a gray menu appears. Tap Remove Friend. The menu will close and the person will no longer appear in your best friends list.
If you're in your friends list instead of your chat list, the process is the same — hold the name and select Remove Friend from the menu that appears.
How to remove someone from best friends on Android
On Android, the process is nearly identical. Open Snapchat, find the person in your chat list or friends list, and hold your finger on their name. A menu will appear with options including Unfriend. Tap that option and the person will be removed from your best friends.
Some Android versions may show slightly different wording or menu layouts, but the hold-and-select method works across all recent versions of the app.
What happens after you remove someone
Once you remove someone, they disappear from your best friends list when ready on your phone. You won't see their stories in your main feed unless you search for them by name and visit their profile directly. If they send you a snap or message, it will still arrive in your chat list as normal.
The person can still see your public stories and any snaps you send to them directly, unless you've blocked them. If you want to prevent them from seeing your content, you'll need to block them or change your story privacy settings to exclude them.
Managing your best friends list for privacy
Your best friends list is visible to other people on Snapchat. Anyone who views your profile can see who your best friends are. If you want to keep your close contacts private, regularly removing people from your best friends list helps control what others see about your social connections.
You can also change your story privacy settings so only certain people see your snaps. Go to Settings, tap Who Can..., and select who can view your story. This is more effective than managing your best friends list if your goal is to control who sees your content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the person know I removed them from my best friends?
No. Snapchat sends no notification when you remove someone from your best friends list. They might figure it out if they notice your snaps aren't in their feed or if they check your best friends list, but the app doesn't alert them.
Can I remove someone without blocking them?
Yes. Removing from best friends and blocking are separate actions. You can remove someone from best friends and they'll still be able to message you and see your public stories. If you want to block them too, you have to do that separately.
What if I remove someone and then want to add them back?
You don't need to do anything. If you start messaging them regularly again, they'll automatically reappear in your best friends list within a few days based on message frequency. You can also search for their name and add them back manually.
Does removing someone delete our chat history?
No. Removing someone from your best friends list does not delete your conversation history with them. Your old messages stay in your chat list, and you can still see and message them.
Can I hide my best friends list from certain people?
Snapchat doesn't offer a way to hide your best friends list from specific people. Your best friends are visible to anyone who views your profile. If you want to keep your close contacts private, you'll need to manage who can view your profile overall through your privacy settings.