If you notice your Snapchat best friends list is not updating properly, there could be a few reasons for this. The best friends list shows the Snapchat friends you interact with the most, by snapping back and forth regularly. So if someone you consider a best friend is missing from the list, it likely means your snaps with them have decreased. Here are some common reasons the Snapchat best friends list may not be updating correctly and tips to fix it.
You or your friend stopped snapping frequently
The biggest reason a best friend drops off the list is that your snapstreak has ended or you simply aren’t snapping that friend as often anymore. The best friends list automatically updates based on who you send snaps to and receive snaps from most frequently. If you go a few days without snapping a best friend, they could drop off the list until your interactions increase again.
Similarly, if one of your best friends stops snapping you as often, your interactions will decrease and they may drop off the list. The best friends algorithm tracks reciprocated snaps, so you both need to be actively snapping each other to maintain best friend status.
If you want a friend to show up on your best friends list again, make an effort to start a streak by snapping them regularly again. It may take a few days of frequent snapping back and forth before they reappear as a best friend.
Your friend has a top best friend
The Snapchat best friends algorithm prioritizes friends who are each other’s #1 best friends. So even if you snap a friend frequently, if you are not their absolute top best friend, you may not show up on their list because you rank lower than their #1.
For example, if your top best friend is Emily, but Emily’s top best friend is someone else like Sarah, Emily likely will not have you as a best friend because her #1 best friend is Sarah. But Sarah will likely have Emily as her #1 best friend.
To fix this, focus on becoming your friend’s #1 best friend by snapping them more than anyone else. It may take consistency over a period of time, but eventually you can displace their current #1 best friend. Once you become their top best friend, you should appear on each other’s lists.
Your friend cleared their best friends list
Your friend may have intentionally cleared their best friends list, causing you to disappear from it. Sometimes people clear their list to hide their interactions with certain friends from others who may check their best friends. Or they may want to reset it if they feel it’s not accurately ranking their closest friends.
There’s no notification when someone clears their best friends list. If you suspect a friend did this, check if you still have a snapstreak with them – if you do, then you know they still see you as a close friend. Keep snapping them as usual and you’ll likely appear on their list again soon.
Your friend started a “second account”
Some Snapchat users create secondary “ghost” accounts to snap specific friends more privately. If your friend made a second account and is snapping their inner circle from that account, it won’t impact their main account’s best friend algorithm.
You may notice your snaps with them decreasing and not understand why. Check in with your friend and ask if they started a private second account. If so, ask them to add you so your interactions don’t suffer on their main account. Or try to get them to snap you from their main again.
Your friend blocked you
The harsh truth is that if a friend blocks you on Snapchat, you will disappear from their best friends list instantly. And they’ll disappear from yours. Blocking cuts off all Snapchat interactions with that person.
If you think you’ve been blocked, check if your snapstreak disappeared that day too. If so, it’s very likely you’ve been blocked. You won’t get a notification, their name will just vanish entirely from your friends list.
If you can’t figure out why you got blocked, it may be worth reaching out on another platform to talk it out. Ask them to unblock you so your streak doesn’t disappear.
Somebody logged into your friend’s account
If one of your best friends suddenly disappears from the list without explanation, it could be because someone else logged into their account. If someone logs into your friend’s Snapchat on a new device, it will disrupt their best friends algorithm.
Check with your friend if they lent their phone to someone else, or got a new phone logged into their account. Having their account accessed from a new device confuses the best friends tracking. Once the unusual logins stop, their algorithm should reset back to normal.
Your friend was inactive from Snapchat
If your friend takes a break from Snapchat and doesn’t open the app for several days, this inactive time can disrupt their best friends list. You may notice other friends who snap them less frequently appearing instead, just because they snapped more than you did during their absence.
Once your friend returns from their Snapchat hiatus and starts actively snapping again, your interactions will increase and their algorithm will likely return to normal. Just be patient and keep snapping them as usual.
Snapchat is having issues
In some cases, the problem may actually be on Snapchat’s end. The app has been known to have bugs and glitches that affect the best friends algorithm. Sometimes issues during a Snapchat update rollout can cause best friends lists to get scrambled up.
If you notice your entire best friends list seems off and multiple friends are missing or ranked strangely, it may be an app-wide problem. Check Snapchat’s Twitter or status page to see if other users are reporting issues with friends lists too. Typically Snapchat will work on fixing any bugs affecting the algorithm.
You violated Snapchat’s terms of service
In extreme cases, Snapchat may penalize your account for violating their terms of service by locking you out of the best friends feature. This could happen if you are spamming friends, using third-party apps, or otherwise misusing Snapchat.
You should get a notification if your account faces a penalty or suspension. If your best friends list suddenly vanishes as discipline for a terms violation, you will likely need to appeal to Snapchat to restore your account’s full features.
How to troubleshoot your Snapchat best friends list
If you’re experiencing issues with your Snapchat best friends list not updating, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check that you and your friend have not stopped snapping each other frequently, maintain daily snaps.
- See if your friend took a break from Snapchat or cleared their best friends list.
- Ask your friend if someone else logged into their Snapchat recently.
- Monitor Snapchat’s statuses for any app issues or bugs.
- Restart the Snapchat app and your phone to refresh the algorithm.
- Uninstall/reinstall the Snapchat app if all else fails.
Give these solutions a try for a few days to see if your best friends list begins updating properly again. The algorithm should respond over time by ranking your true closest friends at the top. But have patience, as it may take consistency to override your prior snapping history.
Tips to keep your best friends list updating accurately
To prevent issues with your Snapchat best friends ranking, keep these best practices in mind:
- Snap your true best friends every day to maintain streaks.
- Aim to become your friend’s #1 best friend for optimal ranking.
- Send more snaps to friends you want higher on your list.
- Limit snaps to friends you don’t engage as much to lower their rank.
- Notify best friends before taking a Snapchat break so they know you’ll be inactive.
- Check your list regularly to make sure it reflects your closest friends.
- Don’t violate Snapchat’s terms or use third party apps.
The best friends algorithm is not an exact science, but being proactive about your snapping habits can help. Make sure to keep snapping your real besties frequently to maintain your status on each other’s lists.
What if my best friends list is still not updating?
If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting suggestions but your Snapchat best friends list still isn’t updating correctly, you have a few options:
- Contact Snapchat support – Reach out directly through Snapchat’s support contact form and explain your best friends issues. They may be able to reset your account if it’s a persistent bug.
- DM Snapchat support – You can also try DMing @SnapchatSupport on Twitter explaining your problem with screenshots. Their social media team may be able to get your account reviewed.
- Post on Snapchat community forums – Visit Snapchat’s community forums and search for similar issues other users have posted about. You can also start a new thread describing your best friends problem to potentially get help.
- Update the app – Check the App Store/Google Play Store for any Snapchat app updates you may have missed. Installing new versions can sometimes fix glitches.
- Turn notifications off/on – Go to Snapchat’s settings and toggle off, then on again, notifications and background app refresh. Toggling these may help reset things.
- Log out and back in – As a last resort, fully log out of your Snapchat account and log back in to do a clean reset. This may recalibrate your best friends algorithm if all else fails.
With some patience and troubleshooting, you should be able to get your Snapchat best friends list back on track. But don’t worry excessively about your ranking, and just focus on snapping the friends you care about most often.