Snapchat’s Snap Codes allow you to easily share your Snapchat profile with friends by scanning a personalized QR code. However, sometimes the Snap Code doesn’t immediately work when you try to send it to someone. There are a few potential reasons why your Snapchat code may not be sending properly.
Issues Sending Your Snapcode
Here are some of the most common reasons why your Snapchat code may not be sending to someone when you try to share it:
- You just created your Snapcode – It can take some time (up to 24 hours) for a new Snapcode to fully activate in Snapchat’s system. So if you just made it, wait a bit and try sending it again later.
- Your friend needs to update Snapchat – Make sure the person you’re sending your code to has the latest version of Snapchat installed. Older versions may not read the code properly.
- Their camera quality is low – The Snapcode needs to be clearly scanned for it to work. Make sure your friend is using a smartphone with a decent quality camera to scan the code.
- Connection issues – Weak internet connections on either end can disrupt the sending and scanning process. Make sure both phones have a strong WiFi/mobile data connection.
- You entered their username wrong – Double check that you entered the exact username of who you want to send it to with no typos or errors.
If none of those fix it, there may be a deeper technical issue going on. The next few sections provide some troubleshooting steps you can take to get your Snapcode sending correctly.
Refresh Your Snapcode
One easy first step is to refresh your Snapcode in the Snapchat app. Here’s how to refresh your code:
- Open the Snapchat app and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Tap on the Snapcode icon in the top section of your profile.
- Tap the circular refresh icon in the top right section of the screen.
This will generate a new version of your Snapcode. Try sending the refreshed code to your friend. Sometimes renewing the code can resolve issues getting it to send.
Check Your Friend’s Username
Another potential issue is that the username of the person you’re trying to send your Snapcode to is entered incorrectly. To double check it, follow these steps:
- In Snapchat, tap the button to send your Snapcode to a friend.
- Verify the username shown at the top of the screen is exactly right for your friend.
- If needed, delete the username and retype your friend’s username carefully.
- Tap Send once the proper username is entered.
Something as simple as a typo in the username could prevent the Snapcode from sending properly. Entering the exact username of who you want to send it to can often fix issues.
Update the Snapchat App
An outdated version of Snapchat on your friend’s device could potentially cause issues scanning your Snapcode. Make sure your friend updates to the latest version of Snapchat by following these steps:
- On an iPhone, open the App Store. On Android, open the Google Play Store.
- Search for “Snapchat” and tap on the Snapchat app.
- On the Snapchat listing, check if there is an Update option. If so, tap Update to get the latest version.
- Once updated, open Snapchat and try having your friend scan your code again.
Having the latest Snapchat version with bug fixes and improvements can often resolve problems like codes not scanning correctly.
Enable Permissions
For the Snapcode scanning process to work properly, certain app permissions need to be enabled on your friend’s phone. Make sure your friend has enabled the following permissions for Snapchat:
Permission | Purpose |
---|---|
Camera | Allows Snapchat to access the camera to scan your Snapcode. |
Contacts | Lets Snapchat associate your code with your contact profile. |
Storage | Allows Snapchat to store your profile data from the Snapcode. |
To enable permissions on an iPhone, go to Settings > Snapchat > Enable Camera, Contacts and Storage access. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Permissions and enable them.
Clear App Data/Cache
Over time, issues like cached data or corrupted files can build up in the Snapchat app that may prevent certain features from working right. Clearing this old data out can potentially fix problems scanning and sending codes properly. Here’s how to clear data/cache on Snapchat:
On iPhone
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Find and tap on Snapchat under the list of apps.
- Tap Offload App > Reinstall to clear data.
On Android
- Go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat.
- Tap Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data.
This will wipe the existing data and cache from the Snapchat app. After reopening Snapchat, try sending your code again. The process of clearing out old data can resolve a number of issues that may have built up over time with the app.
Restart Your Phone
Something as simple as restarting your phone and your friend’s phone can help resolve Snapcode issues in some cases. Here’s what you should do:
- Fully power down both phones (yours and your friend’s).
- After 1-2 minutes, power the phones back on.
- Once fully booted up, open Snapchat and try sending the Snapcode again.
Restarting the phones clears out any memory issues and resets all the apps and connections on the device. For some users, this simple restart has fixed problems sending and receiving Snapcodes.
Reinstall Snapchat
If you’ve tried all other troubleshooting tips and are still having issues, the nuclear option is to uninstall and reinstall Snapchat. This wipes the app fully clean and starts fresh. Just be sure to backup any needed Snapchat data first.
To uninstall/reinstall Snapchat:
- On iPhone, hold down on the Snapchat icon until the icons shake. Tap the X to delete. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Uninstall.
- Once deleted, install Snapchat again from the app/play store.
- Sign back into your account and try sending your Snapcode again.
Completely reinstalling Snapchat removes any corrupted files or issues with the current install that may be preventing your code from sending correctly to friends.
Contact Snapchat Support
If you still can’t get your Snapcode to send after trying all troubleshooting steps, you may need to contact Snapchat support. You can reach out to Snapchat support through the in-app support page or on Twitter (@snapchatsupport). Be prepared to provide details on exactly what issues you’re facing.
Some key details to have ready when contacting Snapchat support:
- Your Snapchat username
- Username of who you’re trying to send your code to
- Screenshots showing the issue if possible
- What troubleshooting steps you’ve tried already
Snapchat support can dig deeper into technical issues that may be preventing your specific code from sending correctly. Provide them with as many details as possible so they can resolve your problem swiftly.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting Snapchat codes that won’t send can take some patience. Try refreshing your code, double checking your friend’s username, updating Snapchat to the latest versions, clearing app data/cache, restarting phones, and reinstalling Snapchat as needed. Also ensure the proper app permissions are enabled. If issues continue, reach out to Snapchat’s dedicated support team.
With some diligent testing, you should be able to get your Snapcode sending smoothly. Snapcodes are a fun way to quickly share your Snapchat profile, once you get the bugs worked out. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Snapchat support if you need assistance getting the code working properly.