No, Snapchat does not allow you to see exactly which filters another user used on their snaps. However, there are some ways to guess which filters someone may have used based on the effects you see in their snap.
Why You Can’t See Snapchat Filters Used by Others
Snapchat’s central premise is that snaps disappear after being viewed. This ephemeral nature of snaps is a big part of what makes Snapchat unique compared to other social media platforms. Allowing you to see the exact filters used would go against this idea of impermanence.
Snapchat wants filters to enhance the fun, in-the-moment experience of sharing snaps without too much focus on the specifics of the tools used. The app’s creators deliberately designed Snapchat to capture shared moments, not create perfect images. Seeing someone’s exact filter choices could shift the focus too much to the filters themselves.
There are also technical reasons why Snapchat doesn’t let you see other users’ filters. When someone sends you a snap, what you actually receive is an image or video file, not a record of the editing tools and steps. So the data about the specific filters simply isn’t there for Snapchat to show you.
Clues That Can Reveal Which Filters Were Used
Even though you can’t definitively see the filters used on someone else’s snap, there are some clues you can look for to make an educated guess about which filters they used:
- Face filters like dog or bunny ears, crowns, glasses, etc. will be obvious if the person is on camera.
- The colorful backgrounds in some geofilters may reveal which location filter was used.
- If the snap has an overlay caption or graphic, they likely used one of the text/drawing tools.
- Stickers floating around likely means they used the stickers feature.
- A speed filter may be visible if they snapped a video while moving.
- If the snap has a temperature sticker, they used the temperature filter.
- Black and white or sepia tones probably means they used a monochrome filter.
So by looking closely, you can make reasonable guesses about which filters someone used. But you won’t know for 100% sure exactly which filter combinations and editing tools they chose.
When You Might Want to Identify Someone’s Filter
There are a few situations where you may really want to know the specific Snapchat filter used by someone else:
- Recreating the look: If it’s a really great snap, you may want to recreate the same style and look by using the same filter(s).
- Inside jokes: For funny snaps between friends, the exact filter used may be part of an inside joke you want to continue.
- Aesthetic preferences: You may want to use the same filters as a friend whose Snapping style you admire.
- Troubleshooting issues: If a filter is displaying oddly or not working, knowing the name could help troubleshoot.
In these cases, your best bet is to simply ask the person directly which filters they used. Most Snapchatters will happily share if you ask.
Third-Party Apps That Identify Filters
While Snapchat itself doesn’t have a built-in way to reveal filters, some third-party apps claim to identify Snapchat filters:
- Snapchat Filter Finder: This app says it can detect Snapchat filters used on saved Snap images.
- FilterLook: Allows you to browse Snapchat’s available filters and find filter names.
- SnapInfo: Claims to unpack Snapchat files to show filter metadata.
However, be aware that these third-party apps are not endorsed or supported by Snapchat. They may access your snaps in ways Snapchat would not approve of or intend. Experts recommend exercising caution when using apps like these with your Snapchat account.
Ways to See Your Own Filters
While you can’t view filters used by others, Snapchat does let you see the filters you’ve applied to your own snaps in a few ways:
- In the editing screen before sending, you can see small thumbnails of filters you’ve stacked.
- Your filter choices appear while you’re applying them.
- Icons display along the top while recording video snaps.
- When using the replay feature, your filters are visible again.
- Your Snapchat history stores the filters you’ve used on sent snaps.
Snapchat also has collections like Your Favorites and Recents that remind you of filters you’ve used often. So exploring these sections can help jog your memory about your go-to filters if you want to recreate a certain style.
Conclusion
The ephemeral nature of Snapchat means the app purposefully does not show you the exact filters used by others. But there are still ways to make reasonable guesses at which filters were applied based on the effects you see. If you really want to know someone’s filter choice, asking them directly is your best bet.
While you can’t see other’s filters, Snapchat does provide ways for you to view filters you’ve personally applied. So if you want to recreate a certain style of snap, looking through Your Favorites and Snapchat history can remind you of filters you’ve used in the past.