Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to share photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. While the Snapchat app itself does not have a search feature to look up other users, you can find friends on the Snapchat website using a few different methods.
Searching by Username
The easiest way to find someone on Snapchat is by searching their unique username. To do this:
- Go to Snapchat.com and click “Log In” in the top right corner.
- Log into your Snapchat account.
- Click on the profile icon in the top left corner to open your profile.
- In the search bar at the top, type in the exact username of the person you are trying to find.
- If the username exists, their profile will pop up in the search results. Click on it to go to their profile.
If you do not know the exact username, you can try variations or partial matches in the search bar to see if their profile appears.
Searching by Name
If you only know the person’s first and last name, you can try searching for them by name on Snapchat:
- Go to Snapchat.com and log into your account.
- Click on “Add Friends” on the left side menu.
- In the search bar, type in the first and last name of the person you want to find.
- Snapchat will display a list of matched profiles – look through to see if you can find the person you’re searching for.
- Click “Add” next to their name to send them a friend request if found.
Keep in mind Snapchat does not always show all matched profiles, so you may not find the person even if they have a Snapchat account.
Connecting Using Phone Contacts
You can also find Snapchat friends by syncing up your phone’s contact list. Here’s how:
- Go to your profile page on Snapchat.com.
- Click “Add Friends” on the left side.
- Click “Contacts” at the top of the Add Friends page.
- Click “Connect Contacts” and allow Snapchat access to your contacts.
- Snapchat will display any friends in your contacts who have Snapchat accounts.
- Click “Add” next to their names to send them friend requests.
This lets you easily find Snapchat profiles of people already saved in your phone contact list.
Using Snapcodes
Every Snapchat user has a unique Snapcode which looks like a barcode. If you have someone’s Snapcode, you can add them as a friend by scanning it. Here’s how:
- Go to your Camera on Snapchat and point it at the person’s Snapcode.
- Hold the camera over the code until the Snapchat ghost icon appears.
- Snapchat will prompt you to add this person as a friend.
- Click “Add” to send them a friend request.
Some other ways to get someone’s Snapcode are:
- Ask them directly to share their Snapcode with you
- Check their Snapchat profile or bio on other social platforms
- Look for their Snapcode on posters, stickers, or other print materials
Searching Within Groups
If you and the person you’re trying to find share a common group or event, you may be able to search for them within that group:
- Go to the Group Stories page in Snapchat.
- Tap on the group or event that you have in common.
- Swipe up on the Group Story to open the list of members.
- Scroll through the list to see if you can find the person you’re searching for.
- Tap their name to go to their profile and add them as a friend.
However, keep in mind that not every member may choose to visibly participate in the Group Story.
Using the Snap Map
If you have a general idea of where the person lives or works, you can try looking for them on Snapchat’s interactive map called Snap Map:
- Open Snap Map by pinching outwards on the Camera screen.
- Navigate the map and zoom into the area you think they might be located.
- Click on the Bitmoji icons that appear on the map to reveal their username.
- See if their Bitmoji looks familiar and match it up with their username.
- Tap on their Bitmoji and select “Add Friend” if you find the person you’re looking for.
However, keep in mind the Snap Map only shows users who opt into sharing their location.
Following Brand Accounts
If you know what brands, companies, or creators someone follows, look up those accounts and see if you can find that person in the follower list:
- Go to the brand/company/creator’s public Snapchat profile.
- Tap on “See followers” next to the follower count.
- This will open up the full list of people who follow that account.
- Scroll through to see if you can spot the person you’re searching for.
- Tap their name to open their profile and add them as a friend.
However, this will only work if both you and that person are following the same public account.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips if you’re having issues finding someone on Snapchat:
- Make sure you have the exact username or name spelling.
- Try alternate spellings or nicknames of their first/last name.
- Check different phone contact names they may be listed under.
- Make sure both you and the other person have added each other’s phone numbers in your contacts.
- Confirm they actually have and use a Snapchat account.
- Check that their privacy settings allow searches.
- Ask your mutual connections if they’re able to find that person’s account.
Safety Tips
When trying to find people on Snapchat, keep these safety tips in mind:
- Only search for people you know and trust in real life.
- Be cautious of random friend requests from strangers.
- Report any fake accounts pretending to be someone else.
- Block users who make you uncomfortable or harass you.
- Be careful about sharing personal information with Snapchat friends.
- Enable privacy settings like “Who Can Contact Me” and “Who Can View My Story.”
- Avoid connecting your Snapchat account to other sites and apps.
- Set your location-sharing to “Ghost Mode” if you don’t want to be visible on Snap Map.
Conclusion
Although Snapchat itself does not have a friend search function, there are plenty of options to find and connect with people you know on the platform. Just be mindful of privacy and security when searching for or adding new friends. With over 265 million daily active Snapchatters, the right search methods can help you expand your connections and find the accounts you’re looking for.
Search Method | How To | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|
Username Search | Search exact username on Snapchat website profile | – Works if you know exact username | – Need to know precise username spelling |
Name Search | Search first and last name on Snapchat Add Friends | – Can search by common name | – Not all matching accounts may appear |
Phone Contacts | Sync phone contacts and see who’s on Snapchat | – Easy to find contacts who use Snapchat | – Requires both users to have shared phone numbers |
Snapcode | Scan someone’s unique Snapcode in the app | – Links directly to profile via Snapcode | – Need access to the person’s Snapcode |
Shared Groups | Browse Group Story members list | – Can find connections through groups | – User must be active in the shared group |
Snap Map | Browse map for familiar usernames and Bitmojis | – Useful if you know their location | – User must have location sharing enabled |
Brand Followers | View follower list of public accounts | – Find mutual brand followers | – You both have to follow same account |