Changing a friend’s Snapchat display name back to their default can be useful if you or a friend changed someone’s name as a prank, and now you want to revert it. Snapchat allows you to change a friend’s display name in the app, but it doesn’t provide an obvious way to change it back. Fortunately, there are a few simple methods you can use to reset a friend’s Snapchat display name to their default.
Why Change a Friend’s Snapchat Name Back?
Here are some common reasons you may want to change a friend’s Snapchat display name back to their default:
- You or a friend changed someone’s name as a prank, and now you want to undo it
- Someone’s name was changed without their consent, and they want it reverted
- An inappropriate or offensive name was set, and you want to reset it
- The custom name makes the person hard to find in your friends list
- The person simply wants their original default name back for their own reasons
In most cases, the person whose name was changed didn’t do it themselves, so they need your help to change it back. Or, if you were the one who changed it, resetting it can repair any harm or confusion you caused.
Can the Person Change It Themselves?
If the person whose Snapchat display name was changed wants to change it back themselves, they unfortunately can’t do it directly within Snapchat. There is no built-in setting to revert your name to the default.
However, the person can change their display name to anything else they want. So one option is for them to manually change their name back to their real first and last name or whatever their default name originally was.
The drawback is that they may not remember exactly how their name was formatted by default. And changing it manually doesn’t guarantee it will be identical.
So if you want to ensure the name is reverted to the actual original default, you will need to use one of the methods below.
Method 1: Unfriend and Refriend
One way to reset someone’s Snapchat display name is by unfriending them and then adding them as a friend again. Here’s how:
- Open your Snapchat friends list and find the friend whose name you want to change back.
- Tap and hold on their name to pull up the friend management options.
- Tap the gear icon at the top right to access the friend settings.
- Tap ‘Unfriend’ to remove them from your friends list.
- Open your device’s Contacts list and find the person’s phone number or Snapchat username.
- Go back into Snapchat and tap the ‘Add Friends’ option.
- Tap ‘Add by Contacts’ and select the person’s name or username to re-add them.
Once you add the person as a friend again, their Snapchat display name should be reset to the default name from their contact entry.
The disadvantage of this method is you’ll both temporarily lose your Snapstreak if you have one. But the advantage is it’s a fairly definitive way to reset their display name.
Method 2: Ask Snapchat Support
If you don’t want to unfriend the person, you can also try asking Snapchat Support to reset their display name for you:
- Open your device Settings app.
- Find and tap the Snapchat app settings.
- Tap ‘Support’ to open the Snapchat Support site.
- Tap ‘My Account and Settings’ followed by ‘Managing My Friends and Settings’.
- Tap ‘A friend’s name or Bitmoji is inappropriate or being misused’.
- Enter your friend’s Snapchat username and explain you want their name changed back to default.
- Tap ‘Submit’ to send the request to Snapchat.
Snapchat Support will then review your request and can revert your friend’s name to the default if they agree there is an issue. This prevents you from having to unfriend the person to make the change.
Method 3: Send a Friend Request from a Different Account
If you have access to another Snapchat account, you can send your friend a new friend request to reset their display name:
- On your other Snapchat account, tap the ‘Add Friends’ option.
- Tap ‘Add by Username’ and enter your friend’s exact Snapchat username.
- Send them a friend request from the alternate account.
- When your friend accepts the request, their Snapchat name will reset.
- You can then delete the friend request from your main account so you remain friends.
By sending a new friend request, your friend’s name reverts back to their user profile default before they accept it. Their name should then stay the default even after deleting the second friend request.
Other Ways to Reset a Snapchat Name
Aside from the main methods above, here are a couple other options that may work:
- Have the person log out of their Snapchat account and log back in. This sometimes resets a changed name.
- Ask the person who originally changed the name to change it back if known.
- Block and unblock the person to reset their friend metadata including name.
- Change the name from your end first. It may get reset if changed back.
Some of these alternative solutions are hit or miss but worth trying as simple options before unfriending or contacting support.
Preventing Inappropriate Name Changes
To avoid inappropriate Snapchat name changes happening in the first place, advise friends to use these prevention tips:
- Avoid sharing Snapchat login or letting others use their device.
- Turn on Two-Factor Authentication for added security.
- Change account password if it may have been compromised.
- Be cautious of tapping links that can steal login cookies.
- Use screen lock and don’t save login cookies on shared devices.
With good security practices, friends can minimize the risk of their Snapchat display name being changed without consent in most situations.
Conclusion
While Snapchat unfortunately doesn’t have an easy way to revert a display name change, there are several effective methods you can use to change a friend’s Snapchat name back manually. The key options include unfriending and re-adding the person, asking Snapchat support for help, or sending a new friend request from a different account. With one of these steps, you should be able to successfully reset someone’s name back to the default in just a few minutes.