Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among younger users. One of Snapchat’s key features is the ability to make video and voice calls to friends and contacts. With the prominence of Snapchat calling, many users wonder if there is a way to mute or disable their microphone during a Snapchat call.
Understanding Snapchat Calls
Snapchat introduced voice and video calling in 2014. To make a call on Snapchat, you simply tap the phone icon on the chat screen with a friend. This will initiate a video call by default, but you can switch to a voice-only call by tapping the video icon in the corner. Snapchat calls are designed to be quick, temporary interactions. There is no call log or record of Snapchat calls.
During a Snapchat call, you have a few options. On a video call, you can switch between front and rear facing cameras. There is a button to turn off your video briefly if desired. There is also the ability to switch to speakerphone or Bluetooth audio. However, Snapchat currently does not offer a definitive mute button during calls.
Is There a Mute Button on Snapchat?
Unlike other calling apps and social media platforms, there is no official mute button included on Snapchat’s calling interface. Snapchat does not have a built-in feature that allows you to mute your microphone on a call.
Some users have tried unsuccessfully to mute their mic by tapping the microphone icon during a call. However, this icon is merely a visual representation – it does not actually mute audio. Other users have tried pressing the physical mute switch on their iPhone during a Snapchat call. Again, this does not deactivate the Snapchat app’s access to your microphone.
Without a proper mute button, there is no straightforward way to turn off your mic in the Snapchat app at this time. You can try to cover your phone’s mic with your finger to block sound during a call, but this takes some effort.
Why Doesn’t Snapchat Have a Mute Button?
There are a few possible reasons why Snapchat does not offer a native mute function:
- Snapchat calls are meant to be casual, in-the-moment interactions. Muting could disrupt the real-time nature of Snapchat calls.
- Snapchat may want to encourage users to be fully engaged during calls, rather than multi-tasking.
- A mute button could potentially be abused by users to prank friends or avoid conversing.
- Snapchat may not have prioritized including a mute function due to the temporary, ephemeral nature of Snapchat calls.
The lack of a mute button means you cannot easily block your microphone without ending the call. This encourages attentiveness during your Snapchat calls.
Workarounds to Mute Your Microphone on Snapchat
While Snapchat itself does not have a mute feature, there are some possible workarounds to mute your mic on a Snapchat call:
Use Headphones with a Mute Switch
Many headphones and earbuds have a built-in mute button on their cord or stem. You can use voice-enabled headphones with this mute switch during a Snapchat call to quickly disable your mic as needed.
Use Your Phone’s Physical Mute Switch
As mentioned earlier, the iPhone’s mute switch does not directly mute the Snapchat app. However, it will mute any background noise your phone’s mic may pick up, somewhat blocking sound during a call.
Enable Do Not Disturb Mode
Your phone’s Do Not Disturb mode blocks notifications and calls. Enabling Do Not Disturb while on a Snapchat call will mute call notifications from other apps.
Block Microphone Access for Snapchat
You can go into your phone’s app permissions settings and revoke Snapchat’s access to your microphone. However, this completely disables calling ability until microphone access is turned back on.
Use a Third-Party App
Some apps like Mute for Snapchat can run overlay mute buttons on top of the Snapchat interface. However, Snapchat does not officially support these third-party tools.
| Workaround | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones with mute switch |
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| Phone’s physical mute switch |
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| Enable Do Not Disturb |
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| Block microphone access |
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| Third-party app overlay |
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Conclusion
Snapchat currently does not have a first-party mute button for voice and video calls within the app itself. While you cannot directly mute your microphone on Snapchat, there are a few workarounds like using headphones with a mute switch or your phone’s physical mute switch. However, these options may not completely mute your mic or require toggling settings. The lack of a proper mute function is likely intentional by Snapchat to encourage engaged conversations during calls. Still, the addition of a native mute button in a future update would give Snapchat users more control over their calling experience.