The fastest way to add a friend in Snapchat

Open Snapchat and tap the plus icon in the bottom left corner, then tap "Add Friends". From there, you can search by username, phone number, or display name. Type what you know about the person and tap their name when it appears. Then tap "Add" next to their profile. They'll see a pending request, and once they accept, you're connected.

If you already have their contact saved in your phone, Snapchat can find them automatically. Go to Add Friends, tap "Contacts", and Snapchat will show you which of your phone contacts already have Snapchat accounts. Tap "Add" next to their name to send a request.

You can also add someone by scanning their Snapcode — a unique square code that looks like Snapchat's ghost logo mixed with a QR code. Ask them to show you their Snapcode on their phone or in a photo, open Snapchat's camera, point it at the code, and hold down on the screen. Their profile will pop up, and you can tap "Add Friend".

Key Takeaways

  • Search by username, phone number, or display name using the plus icon and "Add Friends" option in the bottom left of the main screen.
  • Let Snapchat scan your phone contacts to find people you know who already use Snapchat, then send them requests in bulk.
  • Scan someone's Snapcode with your camera to add them instantly without typing anything.
  • Friend requests are pending until the other person accepts, so they'll see your request before you're officially connected.

Adding friends by username or phone number

The most direct method is searching by username. Tap the plus icon at the bottom left of your main Snapchat screen, then select "Add Friends". Type the person's exact Snapchat username in the search box. Usernames are case-sensitive and don't include spaces, so if you're not sure of the exact spelling, ask them first. When their profile appears, tap "Add" to send the request.

If you have their phone number saved, you can search that way instead. Tap the plus icon, go to "Add Friends", and tap the phone icon next to the search box. Enter their number and Snapchat will show you if that number is linked to an account. This works best if they've added their real phone number to their Snapchat profile, which not everyone does.

Using your phone contacts to find friends

Snapchat can scan your phone's contact list and show you which people already have Snapchat accounts. Tap the plus icon, select "Add Friends", then tap "Contacts". Snapchat will ask permission to access your phone contacts — you have to allow this for it to work. Once you do, you'll see a list of contacts who use Snapchat.

Tap "Add" next to anyone you want to send a request to. You can add multiple people at once this way, which is faster than searching for each person individually. Keep in mind that Snapchat stores this contact information on its servers, so review Snapchat's privacy settings if you're concerned about how your contacts are handled.

Adding friends with Snapcodes

A Snapcode is Snapchat's version of a QR code. Every Snapchat account has one, and it's the fastest way to add someone if you're in the same place. Ask the person to open their profile (tap their avatar in the top left), then tap their username to show their Snapcode. You can also ask them to screenshot their Snapcode and send it to you.

To scan a Snapcode, open Snapchat's camera and point it at the code on their phone or in a photo. Hold down on the screen for a moment — the code will scan automatically. Their profile will appear, and you can tap "Add Friend" to send a request. This method works even if you don't know their username.

What happens after you send a friend request

Once you tap "Add", the other person will see a pending friend request in their "Added Me" section. They can accept it, delete it, or ignore it. Until they accept, you won't be able to see their stories or send them snaps. You also won't see them in your friends list.

If someone doesn't accept your request after a while, you can send it again, but there's no way to see whether they've seen it or just haven't responded. If you want to remove a pending request you sent, go to your friends list, find the person's name, swipe left on it, and tap "Remove".

Adding friends who have privacy settings turned on

Some people set their Snapchat account so that only contacts in their phone can add them, or so that nobody can add them at all. If you try to add someone and see a message saying they don't accept friend requests, that's why. You'll need to ask them to change their privacy settings or have them add you instead.

To check your own privacy settings, tap your avatar in the top left, tap the settings gear icon, scroll down to "Who Can..." and look at "Contact Me". You can choose "Everyone", "Friends", or "My Contacts" (people in your phone). Changing this to "Everyone" makes it easier for people to find and add you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone see that I sent them a friend request?

Yes. When you send a request, they'll see your name in their "Added Me" section with a button to accept or delete. They can see your username and profile picture, but they won't get a notification unless they have notifications turned on for friend requests.

What's the difference between a friend request and being added?

A friend request is pending until the other person accepts it. Once they accept, you're officially friends and can see each other's stories and send snaps back and forth. If they delete your request, you'll have to send it again.

Can I add someone if I don't know their username?

Yes, if you have their phone number saved or if they're in your phone contacts. You can also ask them to show you their Snapcode and scan it with your camera. These methods work without needing to know their exact username.

What if I accidentally added someone I didn't mean to?

If you sent the request and they haven't accepted yet, swipe left on their name in your friends list and tap "Remove" to cancel it. If they already accepted, you can unfriend them by swiping left on their name and tapping "Remove Friend".

Do I have to add someone back if they add me?

No. You can accept their request, delete it, or leave it pending. If you delete it, they'll stay in your "Added Me" section but won't be your friend. You can always add them later if you change your mind.