The best friends list on Snapchat shows the users you interact with the most on the app. It displays the Snapchat friends you send snaps, chats, and videos back and forth with frequently. Being best friends on Snapchat means you and another user consistently snap each other more than other friends.
Snapchat’s best friends algorithm tracks who you interact with the most over the last 7 days. It looks at snaps sent back and forth, chat messages, video notes, and more.
The friends you communicate with the most consistently over the past week appear at the top of your best friends list.
The best friends list updates every week to reflect changes in your Snapchat communication habits.
New friends who you’ve been snapping a lot recently might join your best friends list, while old friends you haven’t snapped as much lately could drop off.
Ways to Interact with Friends on Snapchat
Here are some of the ways you can interact with friends on Snapchat that contribute to your best friends list:
- Sending snaps back and forth frequently
- Exchanging chat messages often
- Replying to each other’s stories a lot
- Sending video notes and voice messages
- Video chatting together
- Reacting to stories and snaps with emojis
- Sharing locations
- Playing games together like Bitmoji Party
The more you do these types of things with certain friends over your other friends, the more likely those friends will end up on your best friends list that week.
How to View Your Best Friends List
To see your own best friends list in Snapchat:
- Go to your profile page
- Tap the smiley face icon in the top left corner
- Scroll down and tap “Best Friends”
This will open your friends list sorted to show your top 3 best friends at the top.
You can scroll down to see more best friends further down the list as well.
Who Can See Your Best Friends List?
Your best friends list is private. Only you can see your own best friends list. Friends who appear on your best friends list can’t see that they are part of your best friends list.
Their best friends list will be different based on their own Snapchat interactions.
Why Best Friend Lists Matter
Best friend lists represent who you interact with most intimately on Snapchat. Appearing on someone’s best list can be a sign of a close friendship or relationship.
Shows your closest friends – It highlights the friends you care about and want to keep in touch with the most.
Displays reciprocity – Mutual best friends means you and another user are each other’s top friends.
Signals importance – Best friends are the people whose snaps you look at first and reply to the fastest.
Creates confidence – Being best friends reassures close friends that your friendship is strong.
Sparks competition – Friends may compete for best friend status in your list.
Going from Acquaintances to Best Friends
Developing a best friend relationship on Snapchat takes time. You go from being acquaintances to best friends through consistent, quality communication.
To nurture a new friendship into a best friend on Snapchat, try:
- Snap them every day with personalized snaps.
- Quickly reply to their snaps and chats.
- Send chat messages with substance.
- Respond to their stories often.
- Like and comment on their public posts.
- Use emojis and Bitmojis to keep chats fun.
- Watch their public stories.
- Connect on Snap Games.
- Gradually share more of your life.
If you and a friend do these types of friendship-building activities consistently for a few weeks, you’ll likely end up on each other’s best friends lists soon.
Losing a Best Friend on Snapchat
Best friend relationships fade if you stop interacting regularly on Snapchat. You can lose your best friend status if you don’t nurture the friendship actively over time.
Here are some ways you can get removed from a friend’s best list:
- Stop snapping them for several days.
- Don’t watch or reply to their stories.
- Leave their chats on read and don’t respond.
- Take a long time replying to their snaps.
- Send shorter and lower quality snaps.
- Snap them very occasionally or infrequently.
If you notice your once-close friend isn’t reciprocating communication anymore, it may be a sign your best friend status is at risk. Reach out to re-engage with that friend if you want to maintain your status.
The Emoji Next to Best Friends
Snapchat displays emoji icons next to friends on your best friends list. Each emoji represents how long you’ve been best friends with someone. Here’s what the emoji mean:
- 💛 Yellow Heart – #1 Best Friend for 2 Consecutive Weeks
- ❤️ Red Heart – #1 Best Friend for 2 Months in a Row
- 🔥 Fire – #1 Best Friend for 2+ Years
- 🌟 Gold Star – Someone’s #1 Best Friend, But Not Yours
The emojis visually highlight your longest and closest best friends on Snapchat.
They add prestige and status to important friendships.
Improving Your Best Friend Emoji
It takes consistency over time to upgrade a best friend’s emoji.
Here are tips to maintain your #1 spot and get a better emoji:
- Snap them every day, especially first thing in the morning and at night.
- Send personalized good morning and good night snaps.
- Quickly view and respond to all their snaps.
- Keep chats with them going regularly.
- Stay actively engaged commenting on their stories.
- Play games together and video chat often.
If you continue being dependably their #1 Best Friend week after week and month after month, your emoji will gradually change to reflect your special long-term BFF status.
Can’t See Someone’s Best Friend Emoji
You can only see the emoji of your own best friends, not others’ best friends. Other people can’t see your friend’s emoji or best friend list either – it’s private to each user.
Best Friend Emoji Disappeared
If your best friend’s emoji suddenly vanishes, it likely means they got a new #1 best friend this week bumping you down the list. Snap them more to try to earn back your emoji.
How to Remove Someone as a Best Friend
There is no direct way to remove or delete best friends. To organically remove someone, gradually snap them less and less over time until they drop off your best list.
Best Friend Status Not Showing Up
It can take consistent snapping for 1-2 weeks to trigger best friend status. Be patient and keep actively snapping and chatting.
Other Friend Snapped My Best Friend More
They may temporarily earn #1 status that week. But keep snapping your BFF as usual and they’ll likely reclaim top status soon if your bond is strong.
The best friends list on Snapchat is a fun way to see and track your closest social connections on the app.
Earning best friend status requires regular, high-quality interaction over time. Pay attention to your list each week to see your key Snapchat relationships evolve and grow.