Having someone’s location suddenly disappear on Snapchat can be confusing and concerning for many users. There are a few potential reasons why this might occur.
They Turned Off Snap Map
The most likely reason a friend’s location has disappeared on Snapchat is because they have turned off Snap Map, the feature that shares your location. There are a few ways to turn off Snap Map:
- In the Snapchat app, go to their profile and tap on the Settings gear icon. Then tap “See Friendship” and toggle “Share My Location” off.
- In the Snapchat app, tap the Profile icon, then the Settings icon. Go to “Manage” and toggle “Ghost Mode” on. This will disable Snap Map.
- On an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Snapchat and select “Never.” This will prevent Snapchat from accessing location data.
If a friend has turned off Snap Map or put their account in Ghost Mode, their location will no longer be visible to anyone else on Snapchat. This is the most common reason you will suddenly stop seeing someone’s location.
They Deleted Their Snapchat Account
If a friend’s entire Snapchat account seems to have disappeared, they may have deleted or deactivated their Snapchat account. When someone deletes their Snapchat account, their name and information will vanish from all of their friends’ apps.
Some reasons someone may delete their Snapchat include:
- They wanted to take a break from social media
- They were concerned about privacy
- Their account was hacked
- They had a bad experience on Snapchat
If you can no longer find their profile and Snapcode, it likely means they have deleted their account entirely. They would need to create a new Snapchat account to be visible again.
They Blocked You
Another possibility is that your friend specifically blocked you on Snapchat. If a friend has blocked you, it makes your conversations and interactions with that friend private. You will no longer be able to see their location or view their public Snapchat Story.
Some reasons a friend may block you include:
- To get space from your friendship
- An argument or disagreement
- Too many Snaps or messages from you
- They wanted more privacy from you
You can still send messages to a blocked friend, but they will have to unblock you to see your content again. Blocking is done on an individual basis, so they may have blocked only you while still being visible to other friends.
Their Account Was Banned
In some cases, a Snapchat account can be banned or suspended for violating Snapchat’s rules and terms of service. Some examples of behavior that can lead to a banned account include:
- Sending spam or sexually explicit messages
- Harassing other users
- Impersonating another person
- Underage users with accounts
If their account was banned, they would need to appeal to Snapchat directly to get access restored. During the ban, no one would be able to see their location or Snaps.
Their Phone Battery Died
A less concerning possibility is that their phone battery simply died, preventing Snapchat from accessing or sharing their location. If their phone turns off due to low battery, Snapchat will not know their latest location to display on the Snap Map.
Once they are able to charge their phone and turn it back on, their Snapchat location should appear again. This is a common reason you might see someone’s location flicker on and off throughout the day.
They Have No Cell/Data Connection
Similarly, if your friend is in an area with poor cell reception or no data connection, Snapchat will be unable to update their location. Remote areas like mountains, forests, oceans, deserts and rural places are prone to having spotty internet connection.
Airplane mode also disconnects all cellular and WiFi connectivity, preventing location sharing. As soon as they regain an internet connection, their latest location will become visible again on Snap Map.
Snapchat is Having Issues
In rare cases, the cause could be an outage or glitch on Snapchat’s end. Server outages and app issues can sometimes cause Snap Map problems for sharing and viewing locations. Checking Snapchat’s Status page can confirm if others are also experiencing problems.
Some examples of Snapchat technical issues include:
- Server downtime or maintenance
- Problems with GPS/location tracking
- Bugs in new Snapchat updates
- Hacking, phishing, or security breaches
Usually when Snapchat itself is experiencing technical issues, the problems are widespread rather than affecting just one friend. A app or server outage typically resolves within hours or days.
Their Phone is Off, Dead or Broken
If your friend’s phone is turned off, has no battery, is damaged, or for some other reason cannot access Snapchat, their location will remain hidden. Some examples include:
- Phone powered off
- Phone not charged
- Phone lost or broken
- Deleted the Snapchat app
- Uninstalled Snapchat updates
- Switched to a new phone
Once they are able to use Snapchat on their device again, their location should become visible again in Snap Map, unless they have intentionally disabled sharing.
They Updated Their Privacy Settings
Along with turning off Snap Map entirely, your friend may have simply updated their Snapchat privacy settings to be more restrictive about who can see their location. Snapchat’s privacy settings allow users to limit Snap Map visibility.
Options like “My Friends” or “Only Me” will prevent you from seeing their location while allowing others they select to still see it. So it’s possible they limited visibility only for some friends or contacts.
Conclusion
In summary, there are many potential reasons why someone’s location has disappeared from your Snapchat Map, most commonly because:
- They turned off Snap Map or enabled Ghost Mode
- They deleted their Snapchat account
- They blocked you specifically on Snapchat
- Their account was banned by Snapchat
- They lost cell/data connection
- Their phone battery died
- Snapchat itself is having technical issues
- Their phone is off, broken, or missing
- They updated their Snapchat privacy settings
Before assuming anything negative, it’s a good idea to check Snapchat’s Status page and try messaging your friend to ask if they are having app troubles. In most cases, the issue is temporary and can be easily fixed. With the right communication and troubleshooting, you’ll likely be able to see your friend’s location again in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my friend’s Bitmoji disappear from Snap Map?
If your friend’s Bitmoji avatar is no longer visible on the Map, it likely means they have turned off Snap Map location sharing or ghost mode. Their Bitmoji will disappear anytime they opt out of sharing their live location.
Does blocking remove you from someone’s Snap Map?
Yes, blocking someone on Snapchat will mutually remove you from each other’s friend list and Snap Map. The blocked person will no longer be able to view your location or story.
Can you tell if someone stopped sharing location on Snapchat?
There is no notification if a friend stops sharing their location, but you will be able to tell as their Snapchat Map icon and Bitmoji will disappear when they opt out of location sharing.
What does the grey arrow mean on Snapchat map?
A grey arrow on the Snap Map means that a friend was active/in that location in the last few hours, but has since stopped sharing their live location. It indicates their last general area before disappearing.
Why is my friend’s score not going up on Snapchat?
If your friend’s Snapchat score has stopped increasing, it likely means they have not been using Snapchat lately or have taken a break from the app. It’s also possible they blocked you.
Can someone on Snapchat Map tell if you look at their location?
No, Snapchat does not notify or indicate to others when you view their location on Snap Map. It is designed to let you anonymously view friends’ locations.
| Reason | Location Visibility | Bitmoji Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| Turned off Snap Map | Not visible | Not visible |
| Deleted Snapchat account | Not visible | Not visible |
| Blocked you as friend | Not visible to you | Not visible to you |
| Snapchat account banned | Not visible | Not visible |
| Phone battery died | Not visible | Not visible |
| Poor cell/data connection | Not visible | Not visible |
| Snapchat outage | Possibly not visible | Possibly not visible |
| Phone turned off or broken | Not visible | Not visible |
| Restricted privacy settings | Possibly not visible to you | Possibly not visible to you |
This table summarizes how someone’s Snapchat Map location and Bitmoji visibility can be affected by different factors and issues.
How to Troubleshoot Snap Map Issues
Check Snapchat Status
First step is always to check Snapchat’s Status page to see if they are reporting any known issues with Snap Map, location bugs, or app outages. This can confirm if others are affected too.
Update the Snapchat App
Make sure both you and your friend have updated to the latest version of the Snapchat app. Older versions may have bugs affecting location sharing.
Restart Your Phone
If Snap Map is acting buggy, restart your phone to clear any temporary glitches or memory issues that could be preventing locations from loading.
Turn Location Services On
On your phone’s settings, make sure Location Services/GPS are enabled for Snapchat so that your live location can be shared accurately.
Re-add Your Friend
Try removing your friend temporarily and then adding them again. This can resync things if their location has gotten stuck.
Ask Your Friend
Start a chat with your friend and kindly ask if they are having any issues with their Snapchat or Snap Map. They may provide details about why their location disappeared.
Preventing Location Disappearing Issues
To avoid frustrations with friends disappearing from Snap Map, keep these tips in mind:
- Frequently check Snapchat Status page for system updates
- Make sure you always run latest Snapchat version
- Turn on notifications for friends’ location sharing
- Charge phone regularly to prevent battery dying
- Enable location access for Snapchat in your device settings
- Communicate with friends if their location seems wrong
While glitches happen occasionally, following best practices for using Snapchat and Snap Map can prevent the majority of location issues.