There are a few main reasons why someone may not show up on your friends list on Snapchat even if you thought you added them as a friend:
You or They Haven’t Accepted the Friend Request
On Snapchat, adding someone as a friend requires that both people accept the friend request. If you sent someone a friend request but they haven’t accepted it yet, they will not show up on your friends list. Similarly, if someone sent you a friend request that you haven’t accepted, they won’t be on your list either.
To check for pending friend requests you’ve sent or received, open your profile on Snapchat and tap the ghost icon in the top left. Then tap “Add Friends” > “Added Me” to see friend requests waiting for you to accept, or tap “Send Snap” to see requests you’ve sent that are still pending.
They Removed or Blocked You
If you previously had someone on your Snapchat friends list but they suddenly disappeared, chances are that person removed you as a friend or even blocked you. When someone blocks you on Snapchat, you get removed from their friends list and they also get removed from yours.
There is no way to tell for sure if you’ve been removed, blocked, or deleted by someone else on Snapchat. The app does not send any notification when this happens. If you notice someone missing from your friends list who you expected to be there, they likely removed you themselves.
One of You Deactivated Your Account
If someone temporarily deactivated their Snapchat account, they will disappear from your friends list and stories until they reactivate it. You can always try searching for their username to double check if their account still exists or not.
If someone permanently deleted their account, they will be gone from your list and you won’t be able find them by searching. Snapchat does not provide any way to recover a deleted account.
You Have Not Added Their Current Username
If a friend changed their Snapchat username, they will no longer appear in your friends list under their old name. For example, if you added “katie123” but then she changed her username to “katie456”, she will not show up on your list anymore.
To fix this, ask your friend what their new username is and search to add them again. Or if they add you under their new name, be sure to accept the friend request.
One of You Has the Other Restricted
If you have someone restricted on Snapchat, you can still be friends but they will not be able to view your stories. From their end, you will no longer show up on their friends list at all.
To check if you have someone restricted, go to your friends list and tap the ⋮ menu icon next to a friend’s name. If “Remove Restriction” is listed, that means you currently have that friend restricted.
Their Account Was Compromised
If a friend’s Snapchat account gets hacked or compromised, the hacker may remove all of their friends. So if you notice someone has disappeared suddenly from your list, it’s possible they did not remove you intentionally but had their account compromised.
Let your friend know so they can recover their account and secure it. Once they regain access, they can search and re-add you as a friend.
You Have Different Versions of the App
In rare cases, having different versions of the Snapchat app can cause friends lists to sync incorrectly. For example, someone on Snapchat for iPhone may not show up for someone on Snapchat for Android and vice versa.
Make sure both you and your friend have the latest version of Snapchat installed. The easiest way is to check for app updates in your device’s app store. Having the same app version can help resolve this friends list syncing issue.
Their Account Is Temporarily Locked
If someone gets temporarily locked out of their Snapchat account for violating terms of service, their account will remain inaccessible to them and disappear from their friends’ lists until the ban is lifted.
There is no way to know if or when someone’s temporary ban will be lifted. They will need to wait and then log back in to regain access to their account.
Snapchat Friends List Is Glitching
In some cases, the Snapchat app may just be glitching and your friends list is not properly updated. Refreshing the app by exiting and reopening it can sometimes resolve minor glitches like this.
You can also try re-adding the missing friend, logging out and back into your account, enabling/disabling notifications for them specifically, or reaching out to Snapchat support if the issue persists.
Their Account Was Banned by Snapchat
If Snapchat bans someone’s account due to repeated terms of service violations or illegal activity, they are removed from the platform and their account cannot be recovered. A banned user will instantly disappear from all friends’ lists.
Since banned accounts cannot be reinstated, you will no longer be able to connect with that friend on Snapchat. The only option is to contact them through another platform or communication method.
You Have Hit Your Friends Limit
All Snapchat accounts have a limit on how many friends can be added. The exact friend limit varies depending on usage but is typically around 8000 friends.
If you try to add new friends after hitting your account’s limit, Snapchat will automatically remove some existing friends from your list. The removed friends do not get notified.
To see your account’s friend limit, go to your profile and tap the ghost icon in the top left. Your limit will be listed under “My Friends.”
Their Phone Number or Username Changed
For friends added via phone number, their contact will disappear from your friends list if they change their phone number. Friends added via username will disappear if they change their username.
If this happens, ask your friend for their new contact information or username so you can search and find them again.
Snapchat Server Issues
Snapchat’s servers constantly sync friends lists and data for millions of users. Sometimes server errors prevent these lists from updating properly across all devices.
If a friend is missing from your list with no obvious cause, it may be a temporary glitch or outage on Snapchat’s end. Wait a bit and try force closing and reopening the app to see if your list syncs back up.
You Added an Incorrect Username
It’s easy to accidentally add someone by mistyping their username or adding an incorrect person altogether. If you added the wrong person or username, they will show up on your friends list even though they aren’t your intended friend.
Double check with your friend to confirm their exact Snapchat username and add them again. Then you can remove the accidental user you added.
How to Re-Add Someone on Snapchat
If you want to add someone back to your Snapchat friends list who disappeared or was removed, follow these steps:
- Tap your profile icon in the top left corner
- Tap the ghost icon to access your profile settings
- Tap “Add Friends”
- Enter the exact username of the person you want to add
- Tap “Add” after their name appears in search results
- Once they accept your friend request, they will re-appear in your friends list
What To Do If Your Snaps Are Being Ignored
If someone isn’t viewing or responding to your Snapchats, here are some things you can try:
- Double check that you added and are messaging the correct username
- Politely ask them if they are receiving your Snaps
- Check that you have not been blocked or removed as a friend
- Consider that they may just be busy and unable to respond
- Avoid spamming them with too many Snaps if they haven’t opened your previous ones
- Be sure you haven’t been restricted from viewing their stories
- Keep your Snaps fun, engaging, and not one-sided
- Try chatting about it outside of Snapchat in a call or text
Being ignored on Snapchat may be frustrating, but continue to be respectful. If the situation doesn’t improve, consider removing them as a friend on Snapchat.
When to Contact Snapchat Support
Some troubleshooting steps you can try on your own are:
- Force closing and restarting the Snapchat app
- Updating Snapchat to the latest version
- Double checking your friend’s username is entered correctly
- Checking your own internet connection
- Logging out and logging back into your Snapchat account
If none of those basic steps resolve your friends list issues, reach out to Snapchat Support through the in-app support menu or on Twitter @snapchatsupport. Be prepared to provide your username and details of the problem.
Some common reasons to contact Support are:
- A friend is missing and you didn’t remove each other
- You’re experience repeated glitches or syncing problems
- Someone suddenly disappeared from your friends list without explanation
- You think your account may have been compromised
- You suspect someone blocked you without justification
Snapchat Support may be able to resolve certain technical issues on their end or provide insight into any violations or bans that resulted in friends disappearing from your list.
Summary
There are many reasons why someone could be missing from your friends list on Snapchat – some may be fixable on your own, while others require patience or help from Snapchat Support. Being proactive in communicating with friends and troubleshooting issues can often get your list back to normal.
Overall, always be respectful of others’ decisions to disconnect on social media for any reason. And remember friend lists are just one small part of enjoying Snapchat and connecting with people.