There are a few common reasons why your friends may not be able to see you during a Snapchat call:
Your camera or microphone permissions are turned off
Snapchat requires access to your camera and microphone to be able to transmit video and audio during calls. If you have denied Snapchat access to these devices in your phone’s settings, your friends will not be able to see or hear you on a call.
To fix this:
- Open your phone’s Settings app
- Go to the Apps or Application Manager section
- Select Snapchat
- Make sure the Camera and Microphone permissions are enabled
You are not connected to the internet
A stable internet connection is required for Snapchat calls to work properly. If your internet is slow or you lose connection, your video and audio may cut out during a call.
To fix this:
- Make sure you are connected to WiFi or have a strong mobile data connection
- Move closer to your WiFi router if possible
- Switch from mobile data to WiFi if your signal is weak
- Disable background apps that may be using your internet bandwidth
Your friend has connectivity issues
The issue may actually be on your friend’s end. If they are experiencing phone, internet, or Snapchat problems, they will not be able to see or hear you.
Ask your friend to:
- Force quit and relaunch the Snapchat app
- Check their internet connection
- Restart their phone
- Update Snapchat to the latest version
Your Snapchat app needs an update
Sometimes new Snapchat releases fix bugs that affect call functionality. If it’s been a while since you updated the app, there may be an issue preventing calls from going through properly.
To update Snapchat:
- Go to your device’s app store
- Search for Snapchat
- If an Update option is shown, tap it to download the latest version
- You can also enable automatic updates for Snapchat in your device settings
Your account or phone number is temporarily blocked
In some cases, Snapchat may temporarily block accounts or phone numbers from accessing call features if there is suspicious activity. This is often a spam prevention measure.
To resolve this:
- Try calling or snapping other friends to confirm your account is fully functional
- Open the Snapchat app and follow any instructions to verify your identity
- Contact Snapchat support if the problem persists after 24 hours
Your friend has you blocked or removed
If a friend has blocked your account or removed you as a friend, Snapchat will not allow you to call them. You will need to resolve the underlying issue before being able to video chat again.
To check if you’re blocked:
- Go to your friend’s profile in the Snapchat app
- See if their Snapcode, username, and any shared friends are missing
- Try searching for their username – if it doesn’t appear they may have blocked you
Your Snapchat profile is invisible to friends
Snapchat has a feature called Ghost Mode that makes your profile invisible to all your connections. When enabled, friends will be unable to call you.
To disable Ghost Mode:
- Tap your profile icon in the top left corner of Snapchat
- Tap the gear icon to access your settings
- Under the “Who Can…” section, tap Contact Me
- Disable Ghost Mode
Your phone’s call screening settings are blocking Snapchat
Some Android phones have call screening features and digital wellbeing settings that can block apps from making calls. This could inadvertently affect Snapchat’s ability to place calls.
To adjust these settings:
- Open your Android device’s Settings app
- Go to Apps & Notifications > Advanced > Call Screening & Spam Protection
- Make sure Snapchat is not being blocked or monitored
- You can also whitelist Snapchat in Digital Wellbeing if needed
Conclusion
If your friends still cannot see you on a Snapchat call after troubleshooting the above issues, the problem likely requires further investigation. Some other things to try include:
- Uninstalling and reinstalling the Snapchat app
- Updating your phone software in case of OS-specific bugs
- Trying different network connections to rule out an ISP problem
- Using Snapchat on a different device to isolate hardware issues
- Reporting the bug directly to Snapchat if it persists across devices
With consistent testing and experimentation, you should be able to identify and resolve whatever is preventing your camera feed from displaying during Snapchat calls. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Snapchat’s customer service for personalized troubleshooting if needed.
| Common issues | Solutions |
|---|---|
| Camera/microphone permissions disabled | Enable permissions in device settings |
| Poor internet connection | Move closer to router, switch networks |
| Friend has connectivity problems | Have friend troubleshoot their device/internet |
| Outdated version of Snapchat | Update to latest version in app store |
| Account or number temporarily blocked | Verify identity with Snapchat support |
| Blocked by friend | Resolve issue with friend who blocked you |
| Ghost Mode enabled | Disable Ghost Mode in Snapchat settings |
| Call screening blocking Snapchat | Whitelist Snapchat in call screening settings |
Camera and Microphone Permissions
One of the most common reasons why friends can’t see you on a Snapchat call is that the app doesn’t have permission to access your phone’s camera or microphone. On both iOS and Android devices, apps need explicit approval to use these hardware features.
To allow Snapchat to view and transmit video of you, as well as pick up your voice, you need to enable Camera and Microphone permissions. This is usually done when you first install the app, but sometimes users accidentally or intentionally revoke these permissions later on.
Here are the steps to check and re-enable Snapchat’s permissions on iOS and Android phones:
iOS
- Open Settings > Privacy > Camera
- Make sure Snapchat is toggled on
- Open Settings > Privacy > Microphone
- Make sure Snapchat is toggled on
Android
- Open Settings > Apps & notifications
- Select Snapchat
- Tap Permissions
- Enable Camera and Microphone
Once these permissions are checked, you should be able to make and receive Snapchat calls normally. If issues persist, you can also try fully force quitting the Snapchat app after the permissions are enabled to ensure the changes register properly.
Update Snapchat
Snapchat regularly releases new versions of the app with performance improvements, new features, and bug fixes. Sometimes not updating to the latest version can cause issues with call functionality.
It’s generally recommended to keep apps updated whenever new releases are available. This helps minimize bugs and ensures peak compatibility.
You can update Snapchat manually on iOS and Android as follows:
iOS
- Go to the App Store
- Tap your profile icon in the top right
- Scroll down to see available updates and tap Update next to Snapchat
Android
- Open the Play Store app
- Tap the hamburger menu in the top left
- Go to My Apps & Games > Updates
- Tap Update next to Snapchat
You can also enable automatic updates on your device so you never have to manually update Snapchat or any other apps again. Just be aware that automatic updates require more data and may impact storage space.
Uninstall and Reinstall Snapchat
If all else fails, completely uninstalling Snapchat and redownloading a fresh version can sometimes resolve persistent call issues. This essentially resets the app and clears out any corrupted files or cached data that may be causing problems.
Here are the steps to uninstall and reinstall Snapchat:
iOS
- Delete Snapchat from the home screen by tapping and holding the icon, then tapping Remove App
- Open the App Store and redownload Snapchat
- When prompted, allow Camera and Microphone permissions
Android
- Open Settings > Apps & notifications
- Tap Snapchat and select Uninstall
- Open the Play Store and redownload Snapchat
- When prompted, allow Camera and Microphone permissions
Keep in mind you’ll have to log back into your account after reinstalling Snapchat. Hopefully wiping the app and starting fresh will get calls connecting properly again.
Restart Your Phone
An easy first step in troubleshooting any app issue is to fully restart your iPhone or Android device. This clears out memory, ends background processes, and reboots the operating system.
Restarting your phone essentially provides a clean slate for apps like Snapchat to run on. It can quickly resolve temporary glitches or network issues that may be preventing calls from going through.
To restart an iPhone 8 or later:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button
- Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo
To restart other iPhone models:
- Press and hold the Power/Side button and Home button together until the screen goes black
- Keep holding until you see the Apple logo as the phone reboots
For Android devices, press and hold the Power button for 60 seconds or navigate to Settings > System > Advanced > Restart.
After the restart completes, open Snapchat again and see if you are able to receive calls properly. This simple step resolves many temporary glitches.
Check Snapchat Server Status
In rare cases, connection issues that prevent Snapchat calls across the board could be due to problems with Snapchat’s servers. If the app is experiencing an outage or degraded performance, there may be nothing wrong on your end.
You can check Snapchat’s server status at any time on third-party sites like Downdetector. This will show if others are reporting widespread issues with the Snapchat API across regions.
Major outages only happen occasionally and are usually resolved within hours. If Snapchat is having confirmed server trouble, the best option is just to wait it out until resolved.
Of course, it’s much more likely any call issues you experience are due to an individual device or account problem rather than a system-wide outage. But checking server status can at least help rule out the possibility of broader issues.
Contact Snapchat Support
If all else fails, you can reach out to Snapchat’s customer support team for help troubleshooting call issues. There are a few ways to get in touch with their support agents:
- In the Snapchat app, go to Settings > Support > Contact Us
- On Twitter, you can tweet @SnapchatSupport for help
- Visit Snapchat’s Support website and click Contact Us to send a message
When contacting Snapchat support, provide as many details as possible, including:
- Your username
- Phone model and OS version
- Screenshots of the issue
- Steps you’ve tried to resolve the problem
The more information you can provide, the better able Snapchat will be to investigate and pinpoint the cause of video call issues. Tech support can also check if your specific account is experiencing restrictions related to calls.
With hands-on help from the Snapchat team, you should hopefully get video calls working again soon. Support specialists can suggest device or account troubleshooting you may not have tried yet.
Preventing Snapchat Call Issues
Once you’ve resolved your immediate call connectivity problems, there are some steps you can take to avoid similar issues recurring in the future:
Keep Snapchat Updated
As mentioned previously, ensure you have the latest version of Snapchat installed via automatic app updates. This will provide bug fixes, optimizations, and new features over time.
Grant Persistent App Permissions
Don’t disable Camera or Microphone access after initially allowing it when you first installed Snapchat. Revoking permissions will break call abilities.
Improve Cellular and WiFi Connectivity
Use WiFi instead of mobile data when possible, or move closer to your wireless router for a stronger signal during calls.
Restart Your Phone Regularly
Don’t let your device run indefinitely without powering down and rebooting occasionally. This clears out temporary glitches.
Check Account Status
Log into Snapchat via web browser to confirm your account is in good standing, not locked, suspended, or limited.
Contact Support Proactively
If issues reoccur, don’t hesitate to reach out to Snapchat’s support team again for troubleshooting help.
Following these best practices will help minimize the likelihood of any video call problems. With a combination of optimal device settings, network connectivity, and account status – Snapchat calls should work reliably.
But in the event you do encounter more issues in the future, use the troubleshooting tips provided in this guide to identify the cause and get Snapchat calls connecting again.