Summary
There are a few potential reasons why you may not be able to see a friend’s Snapchat story:
- They haven’t posted a story in the last 24 hours
- They have you blocked or removed you as a friend
- Your app is glitching
- Your internet connection is poor
- Their privacy settings don’t allow you to view their story
- They posted the story to a custom audience that doesn’t include you
The most common fixes are to make sure you and your friend have added each other back on Snapchat, your app is updated, your internet is working well, and your friend hasn’t limited their story audience. If none of those solve it, your friend will need to check their blocked list and privacy settings.
What is a Snapchat story?
A Snapchat story is a collection of snaps that are posted to your account and are available for all your friends to view for 24 hours. Stories appear in a bar at the top of the app when you first open it up.
When you take a photo or video with Snapchat, you have the option to post it just to your friends or add it to your Story. Anything posted to your Story can be viewed by your Snapchat friends an unlimited number of times within a 24 hour period.
Stories were added to Snapchat in 2013 and have become one of the app’s defining features. They allow for sharing moments from your day in an ongoing, public way. People use Snapchat Stories to give their friends a visual narrative of their daily activities.
Why can’t I see a friend’s Snapchat story?
There are several reasons why you may be unable to view a friend’s Snapchat story:
They haven’t posted a story in over 24 hours
Snapchat Stories only remain live for 24 hours. If your friend hasn’t added to their Story in the last day, it disappears until they add new content. Make sure they’ve actually posted a Story within the last 24 hours.
They removed you as a friend
If a friend removes or blocks you on Snapchat, you will no longer be able to view their Story updates. You would need to add each other as friends again to regain access.
Go to your friends list and check if they still appear there. If not, they may have removed you.
They haven’t added you back as a friend
Adding on Snapchat goes both ways. If you’ve added them but they haven’t added you back, they will not show up as a friend, meaning you can’t view their Story. Have them add you back.
Your app is glitching
Like any app, Snapchat can have its technical issues. Try force quitting the app, restarting your phone, and reinstalling the app to see if that fixes any glitches. Make sure you have the latest version of Snapchat installed too.
Your internet connection is poor
With a bad internet connection, the Snapchat app may have trouble loading content and displaying stories properly. Check that your Wi-Fi or mobile data signal is strong in the Snapchat app.
Their privacy settings are limiting views
Snapchat lets you customize who can view your Story. Your friend may have their settings so only certain friends can see updates. Ask them to check their privacy settings.
They posted to a custom audience
Along with the main Story, Snapchat now allows users to share Stories with specific groups of friends. So you may not see a Story that was only shared with a custom list you’re not part of.
Their account is temporarily locked
If Snapchat has locked your friend’s account (like if they violated terms of service), it will appear like they have deleted you since you can’t view their profile or Stories. An account lock is usually temporary.
They blocked you
Friends can block other users on Snapchat. If you’ve been blocked, you will no longer have access to view their Stories or communicate with them on the platform. Unfortunately the only way to regain access is to have them unblock you.
How to regain access to a friend’s Snapchat Story
If you suddenly can’t see one of your friend’s Stories, here are some steps to troubleshoot and regain access:
- Confirm your friend still shows up in your friends list – if not, they may have removed or blocked you
- Make sure you and your friend have added each other back as friends on Snapchat
- Force quit and relaunch the Snapchat app on your device
- Update your Snapchat app to the latest version
- Restart your phone
- Check your internet connection and try switching Wi-Fi networks or turning cellular data on/off
- Ask your friend to check their privacy settings and make sure your account wasn’t accidentally restricted
- Ask your friend to check their blocked list and make sure you weren’t blocked
- As a last resort, delete and reinstall Snapchat to resolve any lingering issues
In most cases, the problem can be fixed by simply adding each other as friends again or having your friend adjust their privacy settings or blocked list.
How to tell if someone blocked you on Snapchat
If you think a friend may have blocked you on Snapchat, there are a few signs to watch out for:
- Their Bitmoji/avatar disappears from the chat bar
- You can’t view their Story anymore
- You can’t search for their username
- They disappear from your friends list
- Your chat disappears
- Messages you send them remain unopened
Unfortunately Snapchat does not directly tell users if they’ve been blocked. The only way to know for sure is if you notice the above signs of being blocked.
Some of the same things can also happen if the user simply deleted their account. But if everything was normal and then you suddenly can’t see their Story or chat, blocking is likely the cause.
If you think you’ve been blocked for no reason, you can try reaching out on another platform like text to ask if they blocked you. Some users will block contacts when they want a break from the app, not because of anything personal, so don’t take it too personally.
Get back access after being blocked
If you’ve been blocked by a friend on Snapchat, the only way to regain access to viewing their Stories and sending them snaps is to get them to unblock you.
Here are some tips for getting unblocked:
- Reach out to them off of Snapchat and ask if they blocked you
- Politely ask why you were blocked and see if the issue can be resolved
- Give them some space and time before requesting to be unblocked
- Offer an apology if you did something to upset them
- Ask mutual friends to put in a good word for you
Unfortunately beyond asking directly or pleading your case, there’s no way to override being blocked by another user. It’s ultimately up to them to unblock you.
Being patient and giving them space before reaching out again may help. But take the blocking seriously and reflect on if there’s something you did or need to change in the relationship. If you come across as pushy or demanding rather than apologetic, they may be hesitant to reconnect.
Prevent getting blocked in the future
To avoid getting blocked by your Snapchat friends in the future:
- Respect their privacy and boundaries
- Don’t spam them with tons of snaps
- Make sure your chats stay friendly and positive
- Don’t pressure them to communicate more than they want
- Apologize if you say something rude or inappropriate
- Don’t constantly request to view private Stories
- Don’t screenshot their snaps without permission
- Don’t share their private content without consent
Essentially, be a good friend! Blocking usually happens when users feel annoyed, harassed, or disrespected. As long as you’re respecting their boundaries and treating them well, you likely have nothing to worry about.
Conclusion
Not being able to view a friend’s Snapchat Story can be frustrating. But in most cases it’s fixable – whether by adding each other again, troubleshooting app issues, or having them adjust their privacy settings or unblock you.
To avoid being blocked in the future, always think about how your friend wants to be treated and stay thoughtful in your Snapping habits. With some mutual understanding and communication, you should be able to keep your Snapstreaks and Story views going strong.
Summary of Key Points
- Stories disappear after 24 hours, so make sure your friend has posted within the last day
- They may have removed or blocked you, check your friends list
- Glitches can prevent Stories from loading, try reinstalling the app
- Poor internet connections can also disrupt Snapchat
- Your friend may have limited their audience through privacy settings
- Being blocked means the only resolution is to be unblocked by your friend
- To prevent blocks, respect friends’ boundaries and be a thoughtful Snapchat partner