The fastest way to add someone on Snapchat

Open Snapchat and tap the plus icon or "Add Friends" button at the bottom of the screen. Type the person's username or phone number, then tap their name when it appears in the results. Hit "Add" and they'll get a notification that you've sent them a friend request. If they accept, you can start messaging or sharing snaps with them right away.

The whole process takes about 10 seconds if you already know their username. If you don't, you have several other ways to find them — through your contacts, by scanning their Snapcode, or by letting them add you instead.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add someone by typing their exact username or phone number into the search box at the bottom of the Snapchat home screen.
  • If you have their phone number saved in your device contacts, Snapchat can show you their account automatically through the "Find Friends" feature.
  • Scanning someone's Snapcode (a unique square code they can share) is the fastest way to add them if you're in person or they've sent you the image.
  • When you send a friend request, the other person sees a notification and can accept, decline, or ignore it — they are not automatically your friend until they respond.

Adding someone by username or phone number

This is the most direct method. On the Snapchat home screen, look for the plus icon or the "Add Friends" button — its location depends on which version of the app you have, but it's always near the bottom. Tap it and you'll see a search box.

Type the person's Snapchat username exactly as they have it set up. Usernames are case-sensitive in some contexts, so if the first search doesn't work, try variations like capitalizing the first letter. If you know their phone number instead, you can type that directly into the same search box. Snapchat will show you matching accounts, and you tap the person's name to open their profile.

Once their profile opens, tap "Add" or the plus icon next to their name. They'll get a notification that you've sent them a friend request. You won't be able to message them or see their stories until they accept, but they can see that you've requested them.

Using your phone contacts to find people

If you have someone's phone number saved in your device contacts, Snapchat can match it to their account automatically. Go to the "Add Friends" screen and look for an option called "Find Friends" or "Contacts" — the exact wording varies by phone type and app version.

Tap it and allow Snapchat to access your contacts when prompted. The app will scan your saved numbers and show you which contacts have Snapchat accounts. You can then add any of them with a single tap. This method is useful if you have a lot of people in your contacts and want to see who's already on Snapchat without typing each name individually.

Keep in mind that Snapchat stores information about which of your contacts have accounts on their servers. If you're concerned about this, you can revoke Snapchat's contact access in your phone's settings after you've finished adding people.

Scanning a Snapcode to add someone instantly

A Snapcode is a unique square image that represents a Snapchat account — similar to a QR code. If someone shares their Snapcode with you (either by showing you their phone screen, sending you a screenshot, or posting it online), you can scan it to add them without typing anything.

Open Snapchat and point your camera at the Snapcode. Hold it steady for a moment and the app will recognize it automatically. A profile card will pop up, and you can tap "Add" to send a friend request. Snapcodes are the fastest way to add someone if you're together in person or if they've shared the image with you directly.

You can also find your own Snapcode by tapping your profile icon at the top left of the home screen, then tapping your name or avatar. Your Snapcode appears on your profile — you can screenshot it and share it with others so they can add you the same way.

What happens after you send a friend request

When you add someone, they receive a notification showing your username and asking if they want to accept. They have three options: accept (you become friends), decline (the request goes away), or ignore it (the request stays in their pending list). You can see the status of your outgoing requests by going to "Add Friends" and looking for a "Pending" or "Requests Sent" section.

Until they accept, you cannot message them or see their private stories. However, they can see that you've requested them, and they can view your public profile and any stories you've marked as public. If you want to message them before they accept, some versions of Snapchat allow you to send a message with your request, which they'll see in their notifications.

Letting someone add you instead

If you don't want to search for people, you can share your username or Snapcode and let them add you. Your username appears at the top of your profile — you can copy it and paste it into a text message, email, or any other app. The other person can then search for your exact username and add you.

Alternatively, go to your profile, tap your Snapcode, and take a screenshot. Send that image to anyone you want to add you. They can open Snapchat, tap the search icon, and select "Scan" to point their camera at the screenshot. This works even if they're looking at the image on a different device.

Removing or blocking someone after adding them

If you add someone by mistake or change your mind, you can remove them as a friend. Open your friends list, find their name, press and hold it, and select "Remove Friend" or "Delete." They won't get a notification that you've removed them, but if they check your profile, they'll see that you're no longer friends.

If someone is bothering you or you want to prevent them from contacting you, you can block them instead. Press and hold their name in your friends list and select "Block." A blocked person cannot add you, message you, or see your stories. You can unblock them later from the same menu if you change your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone add me without me knowing?

Yes. When someone sends you a friend request, you get a notification, but you don't have to respond immediately. If you ignore the notification, the request stays in your pending list. You can check your pending requests anytime by going to "Add Friends" and looking for a "Requests" or "Pending" section.

What if I type someone's username and they don't show up?

Make sure you're spelling their username exactly right — Snapchat usernames are case-sensitive and cannot contain spaces. If you're still not finding them, they may have changed their username, deactivated their account, or set their profile to private. Try asking them directly for their correct username or Snapcode.

Do they know I added them if they don't accept?

Yes, they get a notification showing your username and asking if they want to accept your request. They can see your profile and public stories even before they accept, but you cannot message them or see their private content until they do.

Can I add someone if they have a private account?

Yes, you can still send them a friend request. A private account just means their stories and messages are only visible to people they've accepted as friends. The request process is the same — they'll see your request and can choose to accept or decline.

What's the difference between adding someone and being added by them?

There's no difference in the end result — either way, you become friends once both of you have accepted. The only difference is who initiated the request. If you add them first, they see a notification asking them to accept. If they add you first, you see the same notification from their end.