Deleting a person on Snapchat removes them from your friends list and stops them from seeing your Stories and Snaps

When you delete someone on Snapchat, they can no longer see your Stories, Snaps, or your username in their chat list. They won't receive a notification that you deleted them, but if they try to message you or view your profile, they'll see that you're no longer friends. You can delete someone in about three taps, and you can add them back later if you change your mind.

Deleting is different from blocking. A deleted person can still search for you and send you a friend request again. A blocked person cannot see your profile or send you messages at all. Most people delete rather than block when they simply want to stop seeing someone's content or reduce contact.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleted friends cannot see your Stories or Snaps, but they won't be notified that you removed them.
  • The person can still search for you and send a new friend request after you delete them.
  • You delete someone from your friends list, not from a separate "blocked" list — the two actions work differently.
  • You can undo a deletion by adding the person back as a friend through their profile or by accepting a new request from them.

How to delete someone from your friends list

Open Snapchat and tap the Friends icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like a person with a plus sign). Find the person you want to delete by scrolling through your friends list or using the search bar at the top. Once you find them, press and hold their name until a menu appears.

Tap "Remove Friend" from the menu that pops up. Snapchat will ask you to confirm — tap "Remove" again. The person is now deleted from your friends list. This entire process takes about five seconds once you find the person's name.

What happens after you delete someone

The deleted person will no longer appear in your friends list, and they won't see your Stories or Snaps unless you send them directly. If they try to view your profile, they'll see a message saying you're not friends. They can still see any public content you've posted to Snapchat's Discover or public Stories, depending on your privacy settings.

The person can send you a new friend request at any time, and you can accept or ignore it. If they message you before you delete them, those old messages stay in your chat history, but they won't be able to send you new messages unless you're friends again.

The difference between deleting and blocking

Deleting someone removes them from your friends list but leaves the door open for them to contact you again. Blocking is more permanent — a blocked person cannot see your profile, search for you, or send you messages. Snapchat does not notify blocked users that they've been blocked, but they may figure it out if they try to message you and see an error.

Use delete when you want to stop seeing someone's content or reduce contact but don't need to prevent them from reaching out. Use block when someone is harassing you, spamming you, or you want a complete separation. You can block someone by pressing and holding their name and selecting "Block" instead of "Remove Friend."

How to add someone back after deleting them

If you delete someone by mistake or change your mind, you can add them back. Search for their username using the search bar at the top of the Friends screen, tap their profile, and select "Add Friend." They'll receive a friend request notification, and once they accept, you'll be friends again.

Alternatively, if the person sends you a new friend request after you delete them, you can accept it from your requests list. Either way, the process is the same as adding any new friend — there's no special "re-add" option.

Why you might delete someone instead of blocking

Deleting is useful when you want to clean up your friends list without creating conflict. If you delete someone, they might not realize it happened, especially if you don't interact much. Blocking sends a clearer message that you don't want contact, which can feel harsh if the person is someone you know casually or used to be close to.

Some people delete friends they've drifted apart from, people they met once and don't talk to anymore, or accounts they don't recognize. It's a low-key way to manage who sees your content without the finality of a block.

Managing your privacy after deleting someone

Deleting someone doesn't change your overall privacy settings. If your Stories are set to "Everyone," a deleted person can still see them if they search for you or view your profile as a non-friend. To prevent deleted (or any) people from seeing your Stories, go to Settings, tap "Who Can..." and change your Story privacy to "Friends Only" or "Custom."

You can also set individual privacy rules for Snaps and messages. If you delete someone and want to make sure they can't see anything you post, review your privacy settings to confirm they match what you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I deleted them?

Snapchat does not send a notification when you delete someone. However, they may notice if they try to message you or view your profile and see that you're no longer friends. There's no way for them to know for certain unless they check.

Can I delete someone without them seeing it?

Yes. Snapchat does not notify users when they're deleted. The person won't know unless they actively try to contact you or check your profile and realize you're no longer friends.

What's the difference between deleting and unfriending?

On Snapchat, deleting and unfriending mean the same thing — you're removing someone from your friends list. The app uses the term "Remove Friend" in the menu, but the result is identical to unfriending on other platforms.

Can I see old messages after I delete someone?

Yes. Your chat history with the person stays in your chat list even after you delete them. You can still read old messages, but you won't be able to send new ones unless you add them back as a friend.

If I delete someone, can they still add me back?

Yes. A deleted person can search for your username and send you a new friend request at any time. You can accept or ignore the request. Deleting does not prevent them from contacting you — blocking does.