Snapchat is a popular messaging and social media app that allows users to send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. One of Snapchat’s features is the ability to make voice and video calls within the app. This has led some users to wonder – do Snapchat calls show up on your phone log or call history?
The Short Answer
The short answer is no, Snapchat calls do not show up on your regular cell phone call log or history. This is because Snapchat calls are made within the app and do not use your actual cell phone calling service. The calls are made over the internet using data or WiFi.
Why Snapchat Calls Don’t Appear in Call Logs
There are a few key reasons why Snapchat calls are not logged like regular cell phone calls:
- Snapchat calls use Voice over IP (VoIP) technology – The calls are routed through the internet rather than the cellular network. This means they do not connect to the call logging function on your phone.
- Snapchat does not have access to call logs – The Snapchat app cannot access your normal phone call logs and does not have permission to write call data to them.
- No integration with carrier networks – Snapchat’s calling feature is self-contained and does not communicate call data with your cell carrier’s network or systems.
- Calls aren’t made using your phone number – Snapchat calls use your Snapchat ID rather than your actual phone number. So there is no number for your carrier to associate with their call records.
Where Snapchat Calls Are Logged
While Snapchat calls don’t show up in the regular call log on your phone, Snapchat does keep its own internal call logs within the app:
- Call history – You can view your Snapchat call history by going to the chat screen for a contact and tapping on the call icon in the top right.
- Notifications – Your Snapchat notifications will have a record of recent calls you’ve made and received.
- Account records – Snapchat stores call records internally and associates them with your account.
So while Snapchat calls may not be part of your regular call log, there are call records within Snapchat itself. You just need to access them directly through the app rather than your main phone call history.
What Shows Up in Your Phone’s Call Log
Since Snapchat calls do not appear in your phone’s call log or history, what does show up there? Here are the types of calls that you will find in your standard call log:
- Cellular calls – Any calls made over the regular phone network will appear.
- Landline calls
- VoIP calls made through your phone’s native apps – For example, calls made through FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype etc. directly through the iPhone or Android apps.
- Potentially calls made through tied phone numbers on other devices – For example business phone systems that are tied to your cell phone number.
The key unifying factor is that the call has to be connected to your phone’s native calling capability in some way in order to show up in the log. Standalone internet-based calls like Snapchat will not appear.
Can You View Snapchat Call Logs Elsewhere?
Since Snapchat call records are not natively integrated into your phone’s call history, is there any way to view them elsewhere? There are a couple of options:
- Call log apps – Some third party appsclaim to record Snapchat calls and integrate them into a call log history along with your regular phone calls. The functionality can be hit or miss.
- Carrier records – It is possible that your cell phone carrier may have limited records of Snapchat calls made while using cellular data, but this is not guaranteed. You would have to request records directly from your carrier.
- Jailbreaking – Rooting or jailbreaking your iPhone or Android could potentially allow installing apps that can access Snapchat call data and sync it with your call log. But this is complex and carries risks.
In most cases though, the only reliable place to view your full Snapchat call history is within the Snapchat app itself.
Snapchat Call Log vs Regular Call Log
To summarize, here are some of the key differences between your Snapchat call log and regular phone call log:
| Snapchat Call Log | Regular Phone Call Log |
|---|---|
| Only includes Snapchat calls | Includes all network calls and native VoIP calls |
| Accessible only within Snapchat app | Native call log available system-wide |
| Does not interact with carrier networks | Carrier networks update call logs |
| Uses Snapchat user IDs | Uses your phone number |
The Benefits of Snapchat Calls Being Separate
The fact that Snapchat calls are kept separate from your main phone call log has some advantages:
- Privacy – Snapchat calls are designed to be more private and ephemeral, so not logging them system-wide aligns with that ethos.
- Less clutter – Only seeing relevant cellular and native app calls reduces noise in your call history.
- Control – Snapchat has full control over its calling feature rather than relying on system integration.
- Different identity – Your Snapchat ID provides separation from your real phone number.
For most users, the inability to see Snapchat calls in their regular call log is actually a positive. It helps keep that communication channel private and separate from more formal phone calls.
How To Check Snapchat Call History
While Snapchat calls don’t show up in your primary call log, you can still easily view your Snapchat call history. To see your Snapchat call history just follow these steps:
- Open the Snapchat app and tap on the Chat screen.
- Tap on the name of the friend you want to check call history with.
- In the chat view, tap the phone icon in the top right corner.
- You will see a list of your Snapchat call history with this friend, along with the duration of each call.
This call history information includes both voice and video calls through Snapchat. Tap on any call in the history to see additional details.
If you want to see a consolidated call history across all friends, simply tap on the phone icon from the main Chats screen in Snapchat. This will show all of your recent received and dialed Snapchat calls.
Turn on Snapchat Call Confirmations
Within Snapchat’s settings you can also enable call confirmations to get notifications whenever you make or receive a call through the app. To do this:
- Go to your Snapchat Profile
- Tap the Settings gear icon
- Go to Notifications > Call Notifications
- Turn on “Display Call Confirmations”
With confirmations enabled you’ll never miss a Snapchat call even if you don’t have the app open, as you’ll get a notification for every call made or received.
Conclusion
Snapchat’s calling feature provides a way to make voice and video calls while retaining the ephemeral, private nature of Snapchat messaging. To align with that ethos, Snapchat has designed its calling capability to be separate from the regular phone system.
So in summary:
- Snapchat calls do not appear in your regular call log or history.
- Calls are made over the internet so are not tracked by carrier networks.
- The Snapchat app itself maintains call history and notifications.
- This separation provides privacy benefits and less clutter.
- You can always view your Snapchat call history within the Snapchat app.
While you won’t see Snapchat calls in your overall phone call list, you can access the call history any time within Snapchat. So you don’t need to worry about losing track of your Snapchat call activity.