Removing someone from a Snapchat group can be tricky, as the app doesn’t provide an obvious way to do so. However, it is possible to remove people from your Snapchat groups with a few workarounds. In this article, we’ll explain why Snapchat doesn’t allow you to directly remove someone from a group, and provide step-by-step instructions on how to get around this limitation.
Why Snapchat Doesn’t Allow Direct Removal
When Snapchat first introduced groups in late 2020, many users assumed there would be an option to remove people, just like you can remove followers or delete one-on-one conversations. However, Snapchat groups don’t actually have any settings for managing members. The person who creates a Snapchat group is considered the “admin,” but admin privileges are very limited.
So why doesn’t Snapchat allow admins to remove people from groups? There are a few possible reasons:
- Snapchat wants groups to feel casual and friendly, not overly moderated.
- Removing people could lead to potential bullying or ostracization.
- The platform wants group memberships to be fluid and temporary, not serious long-term commitments.
- Too many moderation features could make the app more complicated to use.
Overall, Snapchat groups are designed for short-term, informal conversations. The chat history disappears after 24 hours, so any drama from removing people wouldn’t last long anyway. Still, if someone is bothering you in a group, there are a couple workarounds…
Method 1: Turn Off Notifications
The easiest way to remove someone from your Snapchat group is to simply turn off notifications for that conversation:
- Open the Snapchat group chat that you want to remove someone from.
- Tap and hold on the name of the person you want to remove at the top of the chat.
- Select “More” from the menu that pops up.
- Choose “Turn Notifications Off.”
This will mute notifications for that specific person. You won’t see their messages or be notified when they send anything, but they’ll still remain part of the group chat. Essentially you’ve “removed” this person from your perspective, even if they can still participate in the group.
Method 2: Start a New Group
If you want to fully remove someone from a Snapchat group, you’ll need to create an entirely new chat:
- Go to your Snapchat friends list and select the new group members you want to include.
- Start a new group chat with only those friends.
- Let the new members know you’ve created a new group without the person you wanted to remove.
This gives you a fresh start with a new group minus the person you wanted gone. The disadvantage is needing to rebuild the group chat from scratch. There’s no way to move the old group’s chat history or name over to the new group.
Method 3: Delete the Old Group
If you’re the admin of a Snapchat group, you also have the nuclear option of deleting the entire group chat:
- Open the group chat you want to delete.
- Tap and hold on the group name at the very top of the screen.
- Select “More” from the menu.
- Choose “Delete chat.”
- Confirm that you want to delete the conversation.
This will completely erase the group and its message history. You can then start fresh with a new group minus the person you wanted to remove.
Just be aware that deleting a group will likely frustrate other members who lost their chat history. Use this method sparingly for problem groups, not as your go-to solution.
Why You Can’t Add Someone Back
Okay, so now you know how to remove someone from a Snapchat group. But can you add them back if you change your mind later? Unfortunately, no – and here’s why.
To add someone new to a Snapchat group, you need to select all the existing group members again. This kicks off a new group chat rather than modifying the existing one. So there’s no way to directly re-add a removed member down the road.
If you want to add someone back to a group, you’ll need to follow the same steps for starting a brand new conversation from scratch and re-adding everyone. It’s not ideal, but at least the option exists if you have regrets.
Should Snapchat Allow Removal?
While the inability to fully remove and manage members is inconvenient, Snapchat may have a point in designed groups this way. Some benefits of not allowing removals include:
- Avoids potential abuse of admin privileges
- Keeps groups casual and not over-moderated
- Encourages tolerance of minor conflicts
- Simpler user experience without advanced settings
On the other hand, counterarguments for adding removal options include:
- Admins should decide who participates in their groups
- Lets groups remove toxic or abusive members
- Allows correcting mistakes if someone is added by accident
- Gives groups more flexibility to evolve over time
Overall there are good points on both sides. Here is a table summarizing the potential pros and cons:
Allow Removals | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Yes | More control for admins | Potential for abuse/bullying |
No | Avoids abuse of privileges | No recourse for problem members |
Reasonable arguments could be made either way. Snapchat will likely stick with their current minimal approach for now. But user demand for more robust groups could eventually prompt Snapchat to add enhanced admin tools, including removing members.
Conclusion
Snapchat groups are designed for casual, ephemeral chats between friends. The platform intentionally avoids advanced moderation tools that could undermine the laidback vibe.
While there’s no direct way to remove members from a Snapchat group, you have a few options to work around it:
- Turn off notifications from someone to remove them functionally, if not officially.
- Start a new group without that person included.
- Delete the group entirely and create a fresh one.
These methods allow you to control who participates in your groups. But they also require rebuilding conversations from scratch. There are reasonable pros and cons around Snapchat’s lack of removal options.
Ultimately friend groups evolve, and online conversations come and go. If someone is bothering you in a Snapchat group, simply starting fresh with a new chat may be the path of least frustration.