What you need to know before you start

Snapchat filters are custom overlays that appear on top of camera footage — they can add text, graphics, frames, or effects to snaps. You can create one using Snapchat's built-in Lens Studio software, which is free to download. The process takes between 30 minutes and a few hours depending on how detailed you want your filter to be, and you do not need design experience to make a basic one.

Snapchat divides filters into two types: community filters, which anyone can submit and which appear in a specific geographic area, and sponsored filters, which brands pay for. This guide covers community filters, since those are what most people create. Once you finish your filter, you submit it to Snapchat for review, and if it meets their guidelines, it goes live in your area within a few days.

Key Takeaways

  • You need Lens Studio (free software from Snapchat) and a computer running Windows or Mac to build a filter.
  • Community filters appear only in the geographic area you choose when you submit them, usually a city or neighborhood.
  • Your filter must follow Snapchat's content rules: no hate speech, no impersonation of real people or brands, no sexual content, and no misleading claims.
  • Snapchat reviews submissions within a few days, and rejected filters can be edited and resubmitted.
  • You can test your filter on your phone before submitting it to make sure it works the way you intended.

Download Lens Studio and create a new project

Go to snapchat.com/en-US/download/lensStudio on your computer and download Lens Studio for either Windows or Mac. Install it the way you would any other program. When you open Lens Studio for the first time, you will see a blank project screen with a preview window on the left side showing your camera feed.

Click File in the top menu, then New Project. You will see a list of templates — for a simple filter, choose Face Effects or World Effects depending on whether you want your filter to track the user's face or appear in the environment around them. Face Effects are easier for beginners. Once you select a template, Lens Studio opens a new project with some basic elements already in place that you can edit or delete.

Add text, shapes, or images to your filter

The left panel in Lens Studio shows all the objects in your filter. To add text, right-click in that panel and select Add Object, then choose Text. A text box appears in the preview window. Click on it to edit the words, and use the right panel to change the font, size, and color. You can drag the text around the preview to position it where you want it on the snap.

To add shapes like circles, rectangles, or stars, right-click in the objects panel again and select Add Object, then 2D Object, then the shape you want. Shapes work the same way as text — you can move them, resize them, and change their color in the right panel. If you want to add an image you designed in another program, right-click and select Add Object, then Image, and choose the file from your computer. Most image formats work, including PNG and JPG.

As you add elements, test how they look by looking at the preview window on the left. If something is too big, too small, or in the wrong spot, adjust it until it looks right. Remember that people will be viewing this on a phone screen, so keep text large enough to read and avoid cluttering the center of the frame where the user's face or main subject will be.

Test your filter on your phone before submitting

Before you submit your filter to Snapchat, you should test it on an actual phone to see how it looks in real use. In Lens Studio, click the Preview button at the top of the screen. A QR code appears. On your phone, open Snapchat, tap your profile icon in the top left, tap the gear icon to open settings, and scroll down to Lenses. Tap Scan Code and point your phone's camera at the QR code on your computer screen. Your filter loads onto your phone, and you can test it by taking snaps and seeing how it behaves.

While testing, check that text is readable, that graphics do not cover the user's face in a way that looks bad, and that colors look good in different lighting. If you notice something that needs to change, go back to Lens Studio, make the edit, and generate a new QR code to test again. You can test as many times as you need before you are happy with the result.

Submit your filter for review

Once your filter is finished and tested, you are ready to submit it. In Lens Studio, click Publish in the top menu. A window opens asking you to choose the geographic area where your filter will appear — this is usually a city or neighborhood. Snapchat shows you a map; click on the area you want. You can also set an expiration date if you want the filter to disappear after a certain number of days.

Next, Snapchat asks you to confirm that your filter follows their content guidelines. Read through the list: your filter cannot include hate speech, cannot impersonate real people or brands, cannot contain sexual content, and cannot make false claims about products or services. Check the box confirming you have read and agree to these rules, then click Submit. Snapchat sends your filter to their review team.

You will receive an email within a few days telling you whether your filter was approved or rejected. If it is approved, it goes live in your chosen area and people in that location can use it. If it is rejected, the email explains why, and you can edit your filter in Lens Studio and resubmit it.

Understand why your filter might be rejected

The most common reason filters get rejected is that they violate Snapchat's content rules. This includes filters that make fun of a specific person or group, filters that look like they are made by a real brand when they are not, and filters with text or images that could mislead someone. Snapchat also rejects filters that are too similar to ones already in the system, or filters that are so cluttered or hard to see that they do not work well on a phone.

If your filter is rejected, read the rejection reason carefully. It usually tells you exactly what needs to change. For example, if Snapchat says your text is too small, make it bigger. If they say your filter looks like it is from a real brand, change the wording or design so it is clearly not. Make the edit in Lens Studio, test it again on your phone, and resubmit. There is no limit to how many times you can resubmit, so do not give up after one rejection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a filter that only my friends can use?

No. Community filters are public and appear for anyone in the geographic area you choose. If you want a private filter for just your friends, you can create it in Lens Studio and share the QR code directly with them, but you cannot submit it as a community filter that way.

How long does Snapchat take to review my filter?

Most filters are reviewed within two to five business days. During busy periods it may take longer. You will get an email notification when a decision is made, so check your inbox and spam folder.

What if I want to change my filter after it goes live?

You can edit your filter in Lens Studio and resubmit it. Snapchat treats it as a new submission and reviews it again. While it is under review, the old version stays live. Once the new version is approved, it replaces the old one.

Do I need to know how to code to make a filter?

No. Lens Studio is designed for people without coding experience. You can create filters using only the visual tools and templates. If you want to add advanced features later, Lens Studio does support code, but it is not required to get your free guide.

Can I make money from my filter?

Community filters are free to create and submit, and you do not earn money from them. Snapchat pays creators for sponsored filters, but those are created through a separate process and require approval from Snapchat's business team.