Removing a friend takes one tap on Snapchat

To delete a friend from Snapchat, open the app, find the person's name in your Friends list, press and hold their name, then tap "Remove Friend" from the menu that appears. The person will no longer see your stories or messages, and you won't see theirs. Snapchat does not notify them that you removed them — they'll only know if they notice you're no longer in their friends list or if they try to message you.

The process is the same whether you're on iPhone or Android. You can remove someone even if they've already removed you. Once you remove a friend, you can add them back later if you change your mind, but they'll have to accept your friend request again.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold a friend's name in your Friends list, then select "Remove Friend" — the person is not notified.
  • Removing someone is different from blocking them; a removed friend can still find and message you, but a blocked friend cannot.
  • You can remove a friend even if they removed you first, and you can add them back anytime.
  • Your Snapchat score and streaks with that person will disappear once you remove them.

Where to find your Friends list

Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top left corner. From there, tap "My Friends" to see everyone you're connected with. You can also swipe left from the camera screen to reach the Friends list directly. Search for the person's name using the search bar at the top if you have a long list and want to find them quickly.

Once you locate the friend you want to remove, press and hold their name until a menu pops up with options. "Remove Friend" will be one of the choices available.

The difference between removing and blocking

Removing a friend and blocking a friend are not the same thing. When you remove someone, they stay in your contacts and can still find your profile, send you messages, and view your public stories. They just won't be able to see your private stories or streaks with you anymore.

Blocking is stricter. A blocked person cannot find your profile, message you, or see any of your content. If you want to completely cut off contact with someone, blocking is the stronger option. You can block someone by pressing and holding their name and selecting "Block" instead of "Remove Friend."

What happens to your Snapchat streak

When you remove a friend, your Snapchat streak with that person ends immediately. A streak is the number of consecutive days you and a friend have sent each other snaps. Once you remove them, that counter resets to zero and cannot be recovered, even if you add the person back later.

Your Snapchat score — the total number of snaps you've sent and received across all friends — is not affected by removing someone. That score stays the same regardless of who you remove.

Adding someone back after you remove them

If you change your mind about removing someone, you can add them back. Go to your Friends list, tap the search icon, type their name, and tap their profile. Then tap "Add Friend" to send them a new friend request. They'll see the request and can choose to accept or decline, just like the first time you added them.

Keep in mind that when you add them back, you'll start a new streak from zero. Any previous streak history is gone. The person will also not receive a notification that you removed them in the first place — they'll only see your new friend request.

Removing multiple friends at once

Snapchat does not have a feature to remove multiple friends in one action. You have to remove each person individually by pressing and holding their name and selecting "Remove Friend." If you need to remove many people, you'll need to repeat this process for each one.

There is no bulk delete option or settings menu that lets you manage removals in batch. The one-at-a-time approach is the only way to do it within the app.

What the other person sees

The person you remove will not get a notification from Snapchat telling them you removed them. However, they may notice on their own if they check their Friends list and see that you're no longer there. They might also realize it if they try to view your story and can't, or if they notice your streak is gone.

If they search for your name, they'll still find your profile and can send you a message or add you again. You'll see their request like any other friend request and can choose whether to accept it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person know I removed them?

Snapchat does not send a notification when you remove someone. They'll only know if they notice you're missing from their Friends list or if they try to view your story and can't. You can remove someone without them being alerted by the app.

Can I remove someone if they already removed me?

Yes. You can remove someone even if they removed you first. Removing them will clear them from your Friends list and end any streak you had with them. The process is the same as removing anyone else.

Will my Snapchat score go down if I remove friends?

No. Your Snapchat score is based on the total number of snaps you've sent and received across your entire account history. Removing friends does not change your score. Only your streak with that specific person will disappear.

What if I want to stop seeing someone's stories but stay friends?

Instead of removing them, you can mute their stories. Press and hold their name in your Friends list and tap "Mute Story." You'll stay friends and keep your streak, but you won't see their stories in your feed. You can unmute them anytime the same way.

Can I undo a removal?

You cannot undo a removal directly, but you can add the person back by searching for their name and sending a new friend request. They'll have to accept it again, and you'll start a new streak from zero. Any previous streak history cannot be recovered.