Where Snapchat notifications live and what they do

Snapchat sends notifications for messages, friend requests, stories, and app activity — and by default, most of them are turned on. You control each type separately through the app's settings, not through your phone's general notification panel. This matters because turning off notifications in your phone's settings only silences the sound and badge; Snapchat still logs in and tracks activity in the background.

The notifications that interrupt you most are usually direct messages (Snaps and chats), story updates from friends, and reminders to post your own story. Snapchat also sends notifications about friend suggestions, memories, and app features. You can turn off all of them, some of them, or none — the choice is yours and takes about two minutes to set up.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Snapchat, tap your profile icon, then tap the gear icon to reach Settings where all notification controls live.
  • Go to Notifications in Settings and toggle off the specific types you don't want — Messages, Stories, Friend Activity, or Reminders.
  • You can turn off notifications entirely or keep some on while silencing others, depending on what matters to you.
  • Turning off notifications in Snapchat's settings is different from your phone's notification settings and gives you more control.
  • Changes take effect when ready; you do not need to restart the app or your phone.

How to access Snapchat notification settings on iPhone

Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top-left corner. This opens your profile page. Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Settings. Scroll down until you see "Notifications" and tap it.

You are now in the Notifications menu. Here you will see toggles for Messages, Stories, Friends, Reminders, and other notification types. Each toggle is either on (blue) or off (gray). Tap any toggle to switch it. The change happens when ready — you do not need to confirm or restart the app.

How to access Snapchat notification settings on Android

Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top-left corner. Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Settings. Scroll down to find "Notifications" and tap it.

The Notifications menu on Android works the same way as iPhone. You will see toggles for Messages, Stories, Friends, Reminders, and other notification types. Tap any toggle to turn it on or off. The change takes effect right away.

Turning off specific notification types instead of all of them

You do not have to choose between all notifications or none. In the Notifications menu, you can turn off Messages but keep Stories on, or turn off Reminders but keep Friend Activity on. This is useful if you want to stay in the loop about what friends are doing but do not want to be interrupted by every single message.

Common choices: turn off Messages if you check Snapchat on your own schedule and do not want interruptions; turn off Stories if you do not care about friend updates; turn off Reminders if you do not post your own story and do not need prompts to do so. Experiment with different combinations until you find what works for your routine.

The difference between Snapchat notification settings and phone notification settings

Your phone has its own notification settings for each app, separate from Snapchat's internal settings. If you turn off notifications in your phone's settings (usually under Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Notifications), you silence the sound and badge, but Snapchat still sends the notifications and logs them in the app.

Turning off notifications in Snapchat's own settings (the method described above) stops Snapchat from sending those notifications in the first place. This is more thorough and gives you finer control — you can silence Messages but keep Stories, for example. For the cleanest experience, use Snapchat's settings first, and use your phone's settings as a backup if you want to mute the app entirely.

What happens after you turn off notifications

When you turn off a notification type, you will no longer see a badge (the red number on the Snapchat icon), hear a sound, or get a pop-up for that type of activity. However, you can still see the activity inside the app when you open it — messages will still arrive, stories will still post, and friends will still be active. You are only stopping the interruption, not the activity itself.

If you turn off Messages but a friend sends you a Snap, that Snap will sit in your inbox waiting for you to open the app and check it. You will not be notified, but the message is there. This is useful if you want to stay connected without constant interruptions.

Turning notifications back on if you change your mind

Go back to Settings > Notifications and tap the toggle for any notification type you want to turn back on. The toggle will turn blue, and notifications will resume when ready. You can change your notification settings as many times as you want with no penalty or waiting period.

Some people turn off notifications during work or school and turn them back on in the evening. Others turn off certain types permanently and adjust others based on the season or what is happening in their life. There is no right answer — adjust your settings to match what actually works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my friends know I turned off notifications?

No. Turning off notifications only affects what you see on your phone. Your friends cannot tell whether you have notifications on or off, and it does not change how messages are delivered or read receipts work.

If I turn off Messages, will I still get Snaps?

Yes. Turning off Messages stops notifications for direct messages and chats, but Snaps still arrive in your inbox. You just will not be notified when they come in. You can open the app and see them whenever you want.

Can I turn off notifications for one friend but keep them on for others?

Snapchat's built-in settings do not allow per-friend notification control. However, you can mute individual conversations by opening a chat, tapping the person's name at the top, and toggling off notifications for that conversation. This silences that specific chat without affecting others.

Do I need to restart Snapchat after changing notification settings?

No. Changes take effect when ready. You do not need to close the app, restart your phone, or do anything else — just toggle the setting and you are done.

What if I turn off all notifications and then want to turn some back on?

Go back to Settings > Notifications and toggle on whichever types you want. You can change your settings as many times as you want, and there is no limit to how often you adjust them.