This wikiHow teaches you how to use Snapchat on your iPhone or Android device. Snapchat is a popular photo and video messaging app that lets you share creative photos and videos with your friends.
Step
Part 1 of 10: Creating an Account
Step 1. Download Snapchat
If you already have this app installed on your iPhone or Android device, skip this step. To download Snapchat:
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iPhone - Open App Store
Iphoneappstoreicon tap Search (search), tap the search bar, type in snapchat, tap Search, tap GET (get) to the right of the Snapchat logo, and confirm with Touch ID or Apple ID.
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Android - Open Google Play Store
Androidgoogleplay tap the search bar, type snapchat, tap Snapchat under the search bar, tap INSTALL (install), and tap ACCEPT (accept) when prompted.
Step 2. Open Snapchat
When Snapchat is finished downloading, tap OPEN (open) in the mobile device app, or tap the yellow and white Snapchat app icon.
Step 3. Tap SIGN UP
This button is in the middle of the page. Once done, the account creation page will open.
If you already have a Snapchat account, tap SIGN IN (login) and enter the requested information, then skip to the next step.
Step 4. Enter the first and last name
Fill in the text box " FIRST NAME " with your first name, and " LAST NAME " with your last name.
You can change your first and last name at a later time
Step 5. Tap Sign Up & Accept
It's a purple button at the bottom of the screen.
Step 6. Select your birthday and tap Continue
Set the date using the dial at the bottom of the page.
You must be at least 13 years old to use Snapchat
Step 7. Enter the username and tap Continue
Type the name of the screen you want to use into the "USERNAME" text box.
- If the username is already in use by another user, you will not be able to continue until you find a username that is not already in use.
- You can't change the username later so think carefully.
Step 8. Enter the password and tap Continue
Type the desired account password into the " PASSWORD " (password) text box.
Step 9. Enter the phone number and tap Continue
Type a phone number into the text box in the middle of the page. Snapchat will send a verification code to the phone.
Step 10. Verify the phone number
Open the Messages app on your mobile device, open the message from Snapchat, read the six-digit code in the message, type the code into the text box in the center of the Snapchat screen, and tap Continue (continue).
Step 11. Tap Continue
It's at the bottom of the screen. You will be taken to the Snapchat main page.
Knock Continue can take you to a page where you can add friends. If so, tap Skip (pass) in the upper right corner of the screen.
Part 2 of 10: Adding Friends
Step 1. Open Snapchat
This app has a yellow icon with a white ghost and is on the home page or in the app drawer. Snapchat will open the camera screen automatically.
Step 2. Tap the profile icon
This icon is located in the upper-left corner of the screen, and will open your profile page.
Step 3. Tap Add Friends
This option is near the center of the page.
If someone invites you as a friend, their name will appear under the " Add Me " heading at the top of this page. Tap Accept next to the invitation to accept this request.
Step 4. Look for a specific contact
If you know the name of the Snapchat username you'd like to be friends with, search for it by entering it into the "Find Friends" bar at the top of the page.
Step 5. Tap + Add next to the username
If so, you add the user to your friends list and ask them to add you to their friends list. You can search for other friends by username, or by tapping X at the top right to return to the Add Friends page.
- You may be asked to allow Snapchat to access your contacts. If so, tap OK.
- Other people on Snapchat won't accept the Snaps you show, unless you're on their friends list.
Step 6. Tap All Contacts
This button is the gray link next to the "Quick Add" heading.
Step 7. Tap Continue to sync phone contacts with Snapchat
If you tap the button Continue blue at the bottom center of the screen, Snapchat will show you who the contacts are in Snapchat.
Step 8. Tap Add next to the user to add him as a friend
It's next to the user's name. When they do, the user will be added to their friends list and ask them to add you to their list.
You can repeat this process for each contact that has " Add " to the right of his name.
Part 3 of 10: Making a Photo or Video Snap
Step 1. Open Snapchat
This app has a yellow icon with a white ghost on the home screen or app drawer. Snapchat will automatically open the camera screen.
Step 2. Flip the camera if needed
If your phone has two cameras, you can change the camera you use by tapping the camera icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Choose a lens (optional)
Lens is a fun mask-like filter that turns your (or a friend's) face into something new and different. To try out the lens, aim the camera at the subject (it could be yourself), tap the smiley face icon, then swipe through the options at the bottom of the screen to see what's available.
- Tap all lenses to select them. If you decide not to use the selected lens, use a different one, or select the blank option to return to the standard lensless view.
- To find a new user-made lens, tap the smiley face icon with a star to the left of "Discover". On this screen, you can search for a specific lens or just browse.
Step 4. Tap or hold the “Capture” button
This button is a large circle at the bottom center. Tap this button once to take a still photo, and hold it down to record a video.
- For additional photo options, including a timer, gridline, and multiple-shot options, tap the downward-pointing arrow to the right of the camera screen.
- Tap the lightning icon to enable or disable the flash. It's near the top-right corner of the screen.
Step 5. Tap the X to discard the Snap (optional)
It's in the top-left corner of the screen. If you don't like the photo you took, tap this button to return to the camera screen.
Step 6. Choose a time limit for Snap photos
Tap the stopwatch-shaped icon on the right side of the screen, then select the number of seconds to limit Snap availability. You can also tap the infinity symbol to have the camera snap the photo until it's closed.
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If you record a video Snap, this option will not be available; instead, you will be able to tap the numbers
Step 1. or the infinity symbol on the right side of the screen to determine whether the video will be played once or over and over again.
Step 7. Save the Snap if you like it
If you want to save the Snap before editing, tap the down-pointing arrow in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Part 4 of 10: Editing a Photo or Video Snap
Step 1. Take a Snap
If you haven't taken a photo or video yet, do so now.
Step 2. Add filters
Swipe left or right on the Snap to browse available filter options. Some of these filters will show regional or seasonal information, while others will only change the color of the Snap.
- If this is your first time using a filter, tap Enable Filters (enable filter) when prompted.
- When you take a video Snap, you can choose a speed-altering filter in the same way.
Step 3. Tap T to add text
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. Choose a text style from the options, then type the text you want.
- You can also change and drag the vertical color bar up or down on the top right side of the Text screen.
- Once the text has been added, you can adjust its position by tapping and dragging it on the screen.
Step 4. Tap the pencil icon to draw
This icon is located on the right side of the screen. Tap the icon and swipe across the screen to start drawing. You can change the color of the image by tapping and dragging the vertical color bar up and down on the right side of the screen.
- To undo the drawing, tap the circular arrow to the left of the pencil icon.
- If you see an emoji under the color bar, you can tap on it to change the "color" of an emoji's image.
Step 5. Add stickers on Snap
Tap the square sticker icon on the right side of the page, then select a sticker to attach it to a photo or video. You can search for stickers by typing keywords into the Search bar at the top of the screen.
- You can adjust the position of the sticker by tapping and dragging the sticker on the screen.
- If you have a Bitmoji connected to Snapchat on your mobile device, you can add a Bitmoji to your Snap by tapping the outline of the face that has the plus sign in the center.
- For classic Snapchat stickers (e.g. date, time, current temperature, etc.), tap the star label.
- Tap the smiley face label to insert an emoji as a sticker.
Step 6. Tap the scissors to create a sticker from the Snap
The scissors are on the right side of the Snap. Browse to the section of the Snap that you want to save as a sticker.
You can access these homemade stickers by tapping the Stickers icon, then tapping the scissors icon at the bottom
Step 7. Tap the paperclip icon to link the site on the Snap
If you want viewers to visit a specific site, tap this icon on the right side of the screen, enter the site address, then tap Go or Enter to open it. Tap the part of the site you want to share, then tap Attach to Snap to add a link.
Part 5 of 10: Sending a Snap
Step 1. Open Snapchat
This app has a yellow icon with a white ghost on the home page or in the app drawer. Snapchat will automatically open the camera screen.
Step 2. Check your Snap again
Make sure your Snap has been edited to your satisfaction, and doesn't contain any damaging or private information that shouldn't be shared with people around the world.
Step 3. Tap the Send To button
This button has a blue and white paper airplane icon in the lower-right corner of the screen. This step will take you to a list of shipping options.
Step 4. Select the recipient
Tap the name of each person you want to send your Snap to.
Step 5. Select My Story if you want to share a Snap to your story
If you want your Snap to be visible to everyone for the next 24 hours, and not just your friends, tap this option at the top of the screen.
- You can send a Snap to your friends and your story at the same time.
- You can also choose Our Story (our story) to share Snap on a more general level.
Step 6. Tap the Send button
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. The snap will be sent, and you will be taken to the Chat page.
Snaps that have been sent are displayed as solid triangles. When the recipient opens the Snap, the solid triangle turns into a blank triangle with an outline
Part 6 of 10: Viewing Individual Snaps
Step 1. Open Snapchat
This app has a yellow icon containing a white ghost on the home page or in the app drawer. Snapchat will automatically open the camera screen.
Step 2. Tap Chat
It's in the lower-left corner of the screen. You will be taken to a list of Snaps and chats from friends.
You can also swipe from left to right across the screen
Step 3. Look for the Snap that is not open yet
If you see a red or purple cube under a person's name, it means he or she has sent a Snap; You can tap the corresponding cube to open the Snap.
Unopened text chats look like blue chat bubbles under someone's name
Step 4. Respond to Snaps
Double-tap a person's name to open the camera interface, then take a photo and tap the "Send" arrow to send the Snap to that person only.
Part 7 of 10: Showing Stories
Step 1. Open Snapchat
This app has a yellow icon with a white ghost on the home screen or in the app drawer. Snapchat will automatically open the camera screen.
Step 2. Swipe left to reveal the Discover label
You can also go to this page by tapping Discover in the lower right corner. This label is also known as the Friends label.
Step 3. Scroll down to see the available stories
If any of your friends share a story, their name will appear under " Friends " at the top of the Discover page. Everyone with the blue outline circle to the left of their name has posted a story you haven't seen.
Step 4. Tap the story to watch it
You can do this on recently posted stories and stories you've watched.
- You can move on to the next story by tapping the right side of the screen, or repeat the last story by tapping the left side of the screen.
- Swiping down on the currently open story will close it and return you to the Discover page.
Step 5. Select a story from the "For You" section
Below your friends' stories are suggested and sponsored stories from people you don't follow. Scroll down to check out these stories, then tap on one to watch it.
If you see a channel you like on the Discover label, tap and hold it to bring up a pop-up menu, then tap Subscribe (subscribe) in the pop-up menu. This step will bring up the Snap of the channel in the label Subscriptions (subscription) at the top of the Discover page.
Step 6. Swipe left on the Discover label to check Shows
This is where you'll find Snapchat-exclusive programming such as television shows.
Part 8 of 10: Chat Via Snapchat
Step 1. Open Snapchat
This app has a yellow icon with a white ghost on the home screen or app drawer. Snapchat will open the camera screen automatically.
Step 2. Swipe the Chat screen to the right
You can also go to this page by tapping Chat in the lower left corner of the camera screen.
Step 3. Select a contact
Tap the contact you want to chat with. This will open a chat page with that contact.
If you don't see the contact you want to chat with, search for their name using the Search bar at the top of the screen
Step 4. Enter the message
Type a message, then tap the button Send on the keyboard (on some Android phones, the writing may be Enter or check mark).
When you start typing, the contact will receive a notification saying "[Name] is typing …" (writing) on their phone if their Snapchat notifications are enabled
Step 5. Send photos from mobile
Tap the " Photos " icon in the top left corner of the keyboard, then select a photo to send and tap the white " Send " arrow in the bottom right corner.
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You can edit a Snap before sending it by tapping the icon
Android7edit pencil shape.
Step 6. Add emoji to the conversation
Tap the smiley face icon in the upper right corner of the keyboard, then select an emoji or Bitmoji option to send it.
You can select different categories of emoji by tapping the various labels at the bottom of the screen
Step 7. Make a voice or video call
Tap the phone or video camera-shaped icon above the keyboard if you want to make a phone or video call with someone; if he answers, you will be able to chat with each other.
Step 8. Start the game
Tap the rocket icon to send a play invite to one of your Snapchat contacts. You can choose from a wide variety of games.
Step 9. Send the Snap to the person you are chatting with
Tap the camera icon if you want to send a photo or video Snap directly to that person.
Part 9 of 10: Creating a Snapchat Group
Step 1. Open Snapchat
This app has a yellow icon with a white ghost on the home screen or in the app drawer. Snapchat will automatically open the camera screen.
Step 2. Tap the Chats label
This label is in the lower-left corner of the camera screen.
Step 3. Tap the New Message icon
It's a pencil and paper icon in the upper-right corner of the Chat screen.
Step 4. Tap on New Group
This icon is near the top of the page.
Step 5. Select people to add
Tap each contact you want to add to the group chat. Your group can accommodate up to 32 people including yourself.
Step 6. Name the group
How, tap Name Group (group name) at the top of the screen, type a group name, then tap the button done (finished) or Enter.
Step 7. Tap Create Group
It's a blue button at the bottom of the screen. This step will create your group.
Step 8. Talk to your group
Once the group has been created, you can chat with them as usual. You can also create group chats from labels Chats.
- Unlike regular chats, group chats can be saved.
- You can also create a Story group. Everyone in the group can share in this story as it will appear as an option upon submission.
Part 10 of 10: Displaying Contact Locations
Step 1. Open Snapchat
This app has a yellow icon with a white ghost on the home screen or in the app drawer. Snapchat will automatically open the camera screen.
Step 2. Swipe down from the center of the screen
This way, the app will show your current location on the map, as well as a list of your friends' current locations.
Step 3. Review your friend's location
Scroll down your friends list to see the current location they checked.
You can also tap the map and zoom out to view your friends' activity in the area. This step also displays the events that have been registered in Snapchat in the area
Step 4. Enable location sharing
Tap the gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen to open the location settings. Here, you can control the following:
- Tap the "Ghost Mode" button to activate Ghost Mode if you want to hide the location. You can then choose how long you want to stay hidden.
- If "Ghost Mode" is on and you want to share your current location, tap the corresponding switch to turn it off, then select the friends you want to allow to see the location on the map. Do this only if you want to share your location with friends.
Tips
- If you want to repeat a Snap, tap and hold it as soon as you see it. You can only repeat each Snap only once.
- You can always delete a Snapchat story if you decide you don't want to post it for 24 hours.
