Yes, it is possible to put your Snapchat account on private. Snapchat has privacy settings that allow users to control who can view their stories, see their location on the Snap Map, and more. Here are some quick answers about putting your Snapchat account on private:
Making Your Stories Private
By default, your Snapchat stories are public, meaning anyone who follows you can view them. To make your stories private:
- Go to your profile page
- Tap the gear icon in the top right to access settings
- Under “Who Can View My Stories”, choose “My Friends” to limit story views to friends only
This will make your stories invisible to people who don’t follow you back. You can also block specific friends from viewing your stories if desired.
Restricting Your Snap Map Location
The Snap Map shows your location to friends by default. To turn this off:
- Go to your profile page
- Tap the gear icon in the top right
- Under “Snap Map” choose “Ghost Mode”
Ghost Mode hides your location from all friends on Snapchat. You can also opt to show your location to a select group of friends instead of everyone.
Preventing Users From Contacting You
If you want to prevent random Snapchat users from messaging you:
- Go to your profile page
- Tap the gear icon
- Under “Who Can Contact Me”, choose “My Friends” to only allow friends to contact you
This will block messages from people you haven’t added as friends. You can also block specific users who are harassing you.
Restricting Name and Username Searches
To prevent people from looking up your Snapchat profile:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the gear icon
- Under “Find Me By”, uncheck “Name” and “Username”
This will remove your name and username from search results. Only friends who have your Snapchat username added can find your profile.
Making Your Friend List Private
Your Snapchat friend list is public by default. To make it private:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the gear icon
- Under “My Friends”, choose “My Friends” to hide your friend list
This will prevent people from seeing who you are friends with on Snapchat.
Blocking Users
You can block individual users who are bothering you:
- Go to the profile of the person you want to block
- Tap the ⋮ icon in the top right
- Select “Block”
This will prevent that user from viewing your stories or contacting you on Snapchat.
Deleting Messages
To delete a message you sent to someone:
- In the chat, press and hold the message
- Tap “Delete”
You can delete messages up to 24 hours after sending. This removes the message from the recipient’s chat as well.
Removing Friends
To stop someone from being your friend on Snapchat:
- Go to their profile
- Tap the ⋮ icon
- Select “Remove Friend”
This will prevent them from viewing your private stories or contacting you unless you re-add them as a friend.
Disabling Snapchat’s Quick Add Feature
Snapchat’s Quick Add uses your contacts and public posts to suggest friends. To turn this off:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the gear icon
- Under “Quick Add”, disable the feature
This prevents Snapchat from scraping your data to recommend friends. You will have to manually add friends instead.
Using Two-Factor Authentication
Enabling two-factor authentication adds extra security to your account:
- Go to your profile
- Tap the gear icon
- Under “Login Verification”, enable two-factor authentication
This requires you to enter a code from your phone whenever logging in on a new device. It prevents unauthorized logins.
Conclusion
Snapchat offers customizable privacy settings to control your account. Making your account private limits what others can see and who can interact with you. Important privacy settings include:
- Making stories visible to friends only
- Turning off Snap Map location sharing
- Allowing messages/friend requests from friends only
- Removing your name and username from search results
- Hiding your friends list and friend count
You can also block users, delete messages, remove friends, and enable two-factor authentication for greater security. Adjusting these settings prevents unwanted attention and gives you control over your Snapchat experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I put my Snapchat on private?
Go to your profile, tap the settings gear icon, and adjust the privacy settings. Important ones include “Who Can View My Stories”, “Who Can Contact Me”, “Snap Map” visibility, and disabling “Quick Add”. This restricts who can view your content and interact with your account.
What does a private Snapchat account mean?
A private Snapchat account limits visibility and access to your content. Your stories, location, and friend list will only be visible to people you approve. Strangers can’t view your snaps or contact you without permission. It gives you control over who sees your activity.
Why would you want your Snapchat on private?
Going private protects your privacy. It prevents random people from viewing your content or knowing who you interact with. Private accounts reduce unwanted attention, harassment, and spam. It ensures only approved friends see your more personal moments.
Can people search for you if your Snapchat is on private?
No, disabling your name and username from Snapchat’s search settings prevents people from looking you up. Only friends who have your exact Snapchat username added can find your private account.
Will my Snapchat Memories disappear if I go private?
No, setting your account to private does not affect Memories. Any snaps you save there will remain accessible even after making your account private. Your Memories will only disappear if you clear them manually.
Can I tell if someone took a screenshot of my snap if my account is private?
Yes, privacy settings do not affect Snapchat’s screenshot notifications. If someone takes a screenshot of your snap, you will still be notified through the app with the screenshot icon. Your account being private does not disable screenshot alerts.
Do my friends still see my private stories?
Yes, friends you’ve added on Snapchat can still view your private stories. The “My Friends” setting only limits story access to people on your friends list. Your approved friends will see your private stories as normal.
Can someone add me as a friend if I have a private Snapchat?
Only if they know your exact username. Strangers will not be able to find your private account in search or Quick Add. However, anyone with your username can still send a friend request, which you can accept or ignore.
Setting Your Account to Private Step-by-Step
Follow these steps to make your Snapchat account private:
- Open Snapchat and go to your profile page
- Tap the settings gear icon in the top right corner
- Under “Who Can View My Stories”, choose “My Friends”
- Under “Snap Map”, choose “Ghost Mode”
- Under “Who Can Contact Me”, choose “My Friends”
- Under “Find Me By”, uncheck “Name” and “Username”
- Under “My Friends”, choose “My Friends” to hide your friend list
- Disable the “Quick Add” feature
- Enable “Login Verification” for two-factor authentication
- Tap done once you’ve adjusted all settings
Your Snapchat account is now fully private. Adjust any additional settings as needed, like blocking users or deleting chat messages. Your privacy is now in your control.
Private Account Benefits
Here are some of the key benefits of a private Snapchat account:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Control who sees your content | Going private lets you approve exactly who views your stories, location, and profile. |
| Avoid unwanted attention | Prevents strangers from messaging you or viewing your more personal snaps. |
| Reduce harassment | Blocks unwanted friend/follow requests, messages, and interactions from strangers. |
| Improve privacy | Your snaps, friends list, location, and contacts stay totally private. |
| Personalize experience | Customize your privacy settings so only preferred friends interact. |
| Enhanced security | Reduces risk of account hacking with limited visibility and 2FA. |
Who Views Your Snapchat Content
Here is a comparison of who can view your Snapchat content with a public vs. private account:
| Content Type | Public Account | Private Account |
|---|---|---|
| Stories | Anyone | Friends only |
| Location | Anyone | No one (Ghost Mode) |
| Profile | Anyone | Friends only |
| Friend List | Anyone | Friends only |
| Memories | You only | You only |
| Snaps | Recipients only | Recipients only |
A private account ensures full control over your content visibility and audience.
Pros and Cons of a Private Account
Here are some key pros and cons of having a private Snapchat account:
Pros:
- Enhanced privacy and control over your information
- Avoid spam, harassment, and unwanted interactions
- Prevent random people from viewing your content
- Reduce risks associated with account hacking
- Approve exactly who gets to view your stories and location
- Personalize your Snapchat experience for friends only
Cons:
- Harder to get new friend/follower growth organically
- Limits potential audience for content like public stories
- Can’t find friends as easily without name/username search
- Need to manually approve all incoming friend requests
- Followers/friends won’t see your location on Snap Map
Overall, the enhanced privacy and security tend to outweigh the limitations of a private account for most users.
How Snapchat Determines Suggested Friends
Snapchat uses several methods to suggest new friends, even for private accounts:
- Uploaded Contacts: Matches friends from your phone’s contacts list
- Shared Connections: Friends of your existing friends
- Location Data: Nearby Snapchat users based on location sharing
- Shared Posts: People who share/view the same public posts as you
- Quick Add: Analyzes contacts and public information to suggest friends
A private account limits some of this, like Quick Add, but friends can still be suggested based on contacts, locations, and connections.
Is a Finsta or Fake Snapchat Account More Private?
A Finsta or “fake” Snapchat account uses a different username to be more private from your main profile. Here is how it compares to a private account:
| Private Main Account | Finsta/Fake Account |
|---|---|
| Real name and username | Fake name and username |
| Follows friends you know | May follow strangers |
| Can customize privacy settings | Privacy depends on account type |
| Friends know it’s you | Friends don’t know it’s you |
| Main account stays private | Links you to a different persona |
For privacy, a private main account gives more control. But a fake account lets you show different sides to different groups.
Closing Thoughts
Snapchat accounts are public by default, but luckily Snapchat provides many options to customize your privacy settings. Making your account private limits your reach, but enhances security and gives you greater control over your information.
Adjust your privacy settings based on your comfort level for who can contact you, view your content, and see your location. Find the right balance between reach and privacy. Stay safe and enjoy Snapchatting with your approved friends!