There are a few potential reasons why you may be seeing some people’s Snapchat stories late:
Delayed Viewing
One of the most common reasons is that you have delayed viewing turned on for some friends. Snapchat allows you to delay viewing your friends’ stories for up to 24 hours. This can be useful if you don’t want to be bombarded with Snapchat notifications at certain times of day.
To check if you have delayed viewing turned on:
- Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left
- Tap the gear icon to access your settings
- Scroll down and tap on “Friend Stories”
- Here you can see which friends have delayed viewing enabled
If you have delayed viewing on for certain friends, you will not see their stories until the delay period has passed. For example, if you have a 24 hour delay, you will not see that friend’s story until 24 hours after they originally posted it.
Do Not Disturb Mode
Another possibility is that you have Snapchat’s Do Not Disturb mode enabled. This prevents you from receiving any Snapchat notifications during scheduled hours.
To check your Do Not Disturb settings:
- Open Snapchat settings
- Tap on “Do Not Disturb”
- Here you can see if Do Not Disturb is scheduled and when it is active
If Do Not Disturb is enabled during the times your friends are posting stories, you will not see them until Do Not Disturb is disabled. You have to manually open Snapchat and view stories to see what was posted during Do Not Disturb hours.
Connection Issues
Problems with your internet connection can also lead to delayed story views. If your connection drops while you have Snapchat open, you may miss some friend stories that were posted during that time. The next time your connection is restored, those stories will appear late to you.
Poor connectivity in general can cause delays in Snapchat refreshing with new stories. Using Snapchat on a slow network may result in outdated stories until the app can fully update.
Ignored Friends
Snapchat allows you to ignore friend stories if you are not interested in their content. This prevents their stories from automatically loading in your feed.
To see if you have any friends ignored:
- Open your Snapchat profile
- Tap the gear icon and go to settings
- Go to “Friend Stories”
- Tap “View Ignored”
Here you will see a list of any friends you have ignored. Since their stories are not showing in your main friends feed, you will only see them if you specifically check their profile or search for their name.
Server Delays
In some cases, delays in story views could be caused by problems on Snapchat’s server side. Server issues leading to lag and slow loading times for stories have been reported before. There can be short delays between users posting stories and those stories reaching recipients due to server load.
These types of delays are usually temporary as Snapchat works to resolve server problems. But they can result in some stories arriving later than expected.
App Issues
Glitches with the Snapchat app may also be responsible for delayed story delivery in some instances. App crashes, freezes, or bugs could prevent stories from loading properly. Force quitting and restarting the app usually resolves temporary app issues.
Making sure you are updated to the latest version of Snapchat can help avoid bugs that may be fixed in newer releases. But even the latest version is not immune to the occasional hiccup that disrupts normal functioning.
Account Privacy Settings
Snapchat has privacy settings that allow users to restrict who can view their stories or see their location on the Snap Map. If someone has adjusted their privacy settings to exclude you, you will no longer see their stories or location.
To check if a friend has restricted your account specifically:
- Open your Snapchat profile
- Tap the settings gear
- Go to “My Friends”
- Tap the friend’s name
Here you can see if your friend has enabled any privacy restrictions against your account. This will prevent you from viewing their stories normally.
How to Avoid Seeing Stories Late
Here are some tips to help prevent delayed Snapchat story views:
- Disable viewing delays for friends in your settings
- Turn off Do Not Disturb mode during periods you are active on Snapchat
- Check your internet connection and troubleshoot any issues
- Avoid ignoring friends if you want to see their stories
- Force quit and relaunch Snapchat if you suspect app issues
- Communicate with friends if you think they limited your account
- View Snapchat frequently and keep the app open to receive stories on time
What to Do About Late Stories
If you are seeing stale stories from more than 24 hours ago, it likely means there is some type of settings issue or app glitch preventing normal story delivery. Going through the settings options above can help identify and resolve the cause.
For friends with viewing delays enabled, you can temporarily disable the delay to view any old stories you missed. Just remember to re-enable it afterwards if you want to keep using that setting.
If you believe a friend restricted your account privacy, try reaching out and asking them to check their settings. They may have enabled the restriction accidentally.
In the case of server problems or app issues, there is unfortunately not much you can do besides waiting for Snapchat to fix it on their end. Force closing and reopening the app periodically can help load new content if available.
Overall, late story views are generally just a minor annoyance and not a major issue. With some adjustments to your settings and troubleshooting your connection, you should be able to resume seeing stories in a timely manner.
Why Snapchat Stories Expire
Snapchat stories are designed to expire after 24 hours by default. There are a few reasons why Snapchat implemented expiring stories:
- It encourages more authentic sharing – Users feel comfortable posting casual, silly, or everyday moments knowing it won’t stick around forever.
- It creates a sense of urgency – Viewers feel compelled to view stories before they disappear, which increases engagement.
- It reduces performance issues – Temporary stories don’t take up storage space indefinitely.
- It differentiates Snapchat from other platforms – Disappearing content makes Snapchat unique compared to permanent posts on Instagram or Facebook.
Overall, expiring stories help Snapchat fulfill its mission of being a camera and communication app that mirrors real life interactions. Just as moments pass in real life, Snapchat aims to have its content reflect that ephemeral nature.
Story Expiration Periods
While 24 hours is the default, Snapchat does give users some control over story expiration:
| Story Type | Expiration Period |
|---|---|
| Regular Story | 24 hours |
| Story Highlight | Until unpinned |
| My Story (posted to own profile) | 24 hours |
| Our Story (crowdsourced public story) | Varies, usually 24 hours |
| Location-based Stories | Varies based on location |
As you can see, Highlights and public Our Stories may stick around for longer than 24 hours if Snapchat chooses to feature them. But individual user stories sent to friends will disappear after 24 hours.
Saving Stories Before They Expire
If you want to save a story before it expires, there are a couple options:
- Replay – You can replay a friend’s story once to view it again for 24 hours. Tap and hold on a story to replay.
- Screenshot – Snapchat notifies your friend if you screenshot their story. But you can capture it this way before it’s gone.
- Screen recording – You can record video of a story with your device screen recorder. Snapchat is unable to detect this.
Using one of these methods lets you save stories that are meaningful or useful to you. However, keep in mind that your friends may not want their stories saved forever without their permission.
Troubleshooting Issues Viewing Stories
If you are having trouble viewing Snapchat stories at all, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check your internet connection – A weak signal or disconnected WiFi could prevent stories from loading.
- Update the Snapchat app – An outdated version could suffer bugs or glitches that affect stories.
- Restart your device – Power cycling your phone can clear up temporary issues.
- Reinstall Snapchat – If all else fails, deleting and reinstalling the app could resolve persistent glitches.
- Contact Snapchat support – For ongoing widespread issues, check Snapchat’s server status page and report problems.
With some basic troubleshooting, you should be able to resolve most issues viewing stories. If the problems persist across devices, it likely indicates a server problem on Snapchat’s end affecting multiple users.
Tips for Using Snapchat Stories
Here are some tips for taking advantage of Snapchat stories:
- Watch stories immediately to avoid spoilers since they disappear quickly.
- Reply to friends’ stories to keep conversations going.
- Use creative tools like filters, stickers, drawings, and reactions to liven up your own stories.
- Add Snaps throughout your day to your Story to share what you’re up to.
- View Discover Stories from publishers, celebrities, and community contributors for entertainment and news.
- Check the Snap Map to see public stories from events and locations around the world.
- Screenshot or screen record truly ephemeral moments you want to look back on.
- Respect friends’ privacy and get their consent before saving risky or embarrassing stories about them.
Following Snapchat etiquette helps ensure you have authentic and fun experiences with stories. You get to enjoy all the benefits of ephemeral content while also saving meaningful moments in a respectful way.
Conclusion
Snapchat stories provide a unique way to share daily moments with friends in real time. While delays in viewing stories can be annoying, they are often caused by minor technical issues or app settings. Troubleshooting your personal Snapchat settings and connection can help resolve problems and let you keep up with friends’ stories.
At the end of the day, if you miss some expiring stories, just remember that’s part of the ephemeral experience! The temporary nature of stories takes getting used to, but also creates fun urgency and spontaneity for sharing. With the right settings and understanding of how Snapchat works, you’ll be able to enjoy stories without disruptive delays.