The quickest way to see mutual friends on Snapchat
To see mutual friends with someone on Snapchat, open their profile, tap the friends icon (it looks like a person with a plus sign), and select "Mutual Friends." Snapchat will show you a list of people you both follow. This works whether the person is already your friend or someone you're considering adding.
The mutual friends list appears only if you have at least one friend in common. If the list is empty, you and that person don't share any Snapchat friends yet. The feature works the same way on both iPhone and Android.
Key Takeaways
- Open any user's profile, tap the friends icon, and select "Mutual Friends" to see who you both follow on Snapchat.
- Mutual friends only appear if you have at least one person in common; an empty list means you share no friends.
- You can check mutual friends with people who aren't your friends yet, which is useful before deciding to add someone.
- The mutual friends list shows only people you both follow — it does not include people who follow one of you but not the other.
Step-by-step: Finding mutual friends with someone
Start by opening Snapchat and navigating to the person's profile. You can do this by tapping their name in your chat list, searching for them using the search icon, or opening a conversation with them. Once their profile is open, look for the friends icon near the top of the screen — it's a small icon showing a person with a plus symbol.
Tap that friends icon and you'll see a menu with options. Select "Mutual Friends" from the list. Snapchat will then display everyone you both follow. Each person's name appears with their Snapchat username, and you can tap any name to visit their profile from there.
What the mutual friends list actually shows
The mutual friends list includes only people who are friends with both of you — meaning you both follow each other on Snapchat. It does not include people who follow one of you but not the other, and it does not show followers who are not your friends. This is different from some other social platforms, where "followers" and "friends" are separate categories.
The list updates in real time as you and your contacts add or remove friends. If someone you both knew removes you as a friend, they'll disappear from the mutual friends list immediately. The same applies if either of you unfollows the other person.
Checking mutual friends before adding someone new
You can view mutual friends with someone even if they're not your friend yet. This is useful when you're deciding whether to add someone you've found through search or through a friend's recommendation. Seeing mutual friends gives you context about who this person knows and whether you have a genuine connection through your existing network.
If you see several mutual friends with someone, it's a signal that they're likely someone you actually know or have a legitimate reason to connect with. If the mutual friends list is empty and you don't recognize the person, that's a sign to be cautious about adding them.
Why mutual friends matter for your privacy
Knowing who you have in common with someone helps you make informed decisions about who you interact with on Snapchat. If a stranger requests to add you and you share no mutual friends, you have no way to verify who they actually are. Checking mutual friends first is a simple step that takes seconds and can help you avoid adding accounts that don't belong to people you know.
Keep in mind that mutual friends are visible to the other person too. If you check someone's mutual friends list, they won't be notified. However, if you visit their profile repeatedly, Snapchat may show them that you've viewed their profile (depending on your privacy settings), though this feature can be turned off in your settings.
Adjusting your privacy settings for mutual friends visibility
By default, anyone can see your mutual friends with them if they visit your profile. If you want to limit who can see this information, open Snapchat settings, go to "Privacy," and look for options related to profile visibility. You can restrict who sees your friends list or adjust who can view your profile altogether.
Some users choose to make their friends list private so that only close friends can see who they follow. This is a personal choice — some people prefer the transparency, while others want more control over what information is visible. Whatever you choose, remember that your mutual friends with someone are based on who you both actually follow, not on any setting you adjust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell if I checked their mutual friends?
No. Viewing someone's mutual friends list does not send them a notification. However, if you visit their profile multiple times, Snapchat may show them that you've viewed their profile (if they have that setting enabled), but checking the mutual friends list itself is private.
What if someone deleted me as a friend — will they still show in my mutual friends list?
No. Once someone removes you as a friend, they stop appearing in your mutual friends lists with other people. The mutual friends list updates immediately when a friendship ends, so you'll only see people who are currently friends with both of you.
Does the mutual friends list include people I blocked?
No. If you've blocked someone, they won't appear in any of your mutual friends lists, and you won't appear in theirs. Blocking removes the friendship connection entirely from Snapchat's perspective.
Can I see mutual friends on Snapchat if I don't have them added yet?
Yes. You can search for someone and view their profile without being friends with them. If you tap their friends icon and select "Mutual Friends," you'll see who you both follow, even if they haven't added you back yet.
Why does someone's mutual friends list look different from mine?
The mutual friends list is the same for both of you — it shows the exact same people. If it looks different, one of you may have recently added or removed a friend, and the list hasn't refreshed yet. Try closing and reopening the app to see the updated list.