Snapchat doesn't show how many friends you have as a number anywhere on your profile. To see them, go to your Profile and tap My Friends, then scroll and count; for an exact list, request your data from Settings, then My Data, and the download includes your friends list.
That missing number surprises a lot of people, but it's by design. Your friend list on Snapchat is private, so nobody else can see it, and Snapchat doesn't turn it into a public score the way some apps do with followers.
The catch: if you've seen a big number on someone's Snapchat profile, it isn't their friend count. It's a follower or subscriber number on a public profile, which is a different thing altogether. More on that in the table below.
Open your friend list and count
- Open Snapchat and tap your Bitmoji or profile picture in the top corner to go to your Profile.
- Scroll down until you see My Friends, and tap it.
- You'll see everyone you've added who has also added you back.
- Scroll through the list and count. If you have a lot of friends, it helps to count in batches as you scroll.
If a menu name looks different in your version, search Snapchat's settings for the word "friends" and it should take you there.
Counting by hand works fine for a short list. Once you're into the hundreds, it gets slow, and it's easy to lose your place. That's where the data download comes in. It gives you every name in one file, so you can count them without scrolling at all.
Get an exact list with My Data
Snapchat lets you request a copy of your account data, and that copy includes your friends list. It's the most reliable way to get a full, exact list.
- Go to your Profile.
- Tap the gear icon to open Settings.
- Scroll to Privacy Controls and tap My Data.
- Follow the on-screen steps to submit your request.
- Wait for Snapchat to email you. The email contains a download link.
- Open the link, download the file, and look for the friends list inside.
The email can take a while to arrive, so don't worry if it isn't instant. Use the email address linked to your account, and check spam if you can't see it. The download link is for you only, so don't share it with anyone, because it contains your account data.
Friends, followers and subscribers aren't the same
Snapchat uses a few words for the people connected to you, and they don't mean the same thing. This is where most of the confusion comes from.
| Term | What it means | Who can see the number |
|---|---|---|
| Friends | People you've added who have added you back | Only you, and there's no total shown |
| Followers | People who follow a public profile without being friends | Shown on the public profile |
| Subscribers | People subscribed to a public profile or creator account | Shown on the public profile |
So two people with the same number of friends can look very different from the outside. One might have a public profile with a visible follower count, the other might have no public profile at all. Neither number tells you anything about their private friend list.
If you want to know who you're closest to rather than how many friends you have, that's a different list. My guide to the Snapchat best friends list explains how Snapchat works out who sits at the top.
Skip the apps that promise a friend count
Search for this topic and you'll find apps and websites offering to count your Snapchat friends, rank them or show you extra stats. I'd stay well away. Almost all of them ask for your Snapchat username and password, and handing those over to anyone outside Snapchat puts your account at risk.
Snapchat already gives you the two honest options: scroll My Friends, or download your own data. Anything that claims to show more than that, or to show someone else's friend list, is something I wouldn't trust with my login.
If you've already typed your details into one of these, change your Snapchat password straight away and turn on two-factor authentication in Settings.
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Finding one person in a long list
Sometimes you don't need the total at all, you just want to check whether one person is still on your list. Scrolling for them is slow. Tap the search at the top of the Snapchat screen and type their name or username instead. If they show up as a friend, you're still connected; if you only see an option to add them, you're not.
Tidy up your friend list
Counting your friends is often the moment people realise how many of them they don't talk to any more. Old classmates, people from a party years ago, accounts you don't recognise. A tidy list makes Snapchat feel more personal and keeps your Stories and location for the people you trust.
- Open My Friends from your Profile.
- Press and hold the name of the person you want to remove.
- Tap Manage Friendship.
- Tap Remove Friend and confirm.
For more detail, including what the other person sees, read my guide on how to remove a friend on Snapchat.
A few things I'd look for while tidying up:
- Names you don't recognise at all. If you can't remember adding them, there's no reason to keep them.
- Accounts with no Bitmoji, no name and no snaps between you.
- People who can see your Story but you'd rather didn't.
- Anyone who can see your location on the Map who no longer needs to.
Removing someone doesn't block them. If someone is bothering you, use block instead, which stops them contacting you.
What I'd do
If it were my account, I wouldn't worry about the number. I'd scroll My Friends once, remove anyone I don't recognise, and keep the list to people I'd happily share my Stories with. If I needed an exact count for a reason, I'd request My Data rather than counting by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Does Snapchat show my friend count?
No. Snapchat doesn't show a total friend count on your profile. You can see the full list under My Friends on your Profile and count it, or download your data for an exact list.
Can other people see my Snapchat friend count?
No. Your friend list is private, and only you can see it. A public profile can show a follower or subscriber number, but that isn't your friend count.
How do I get a full list of my Snapchat friends?
Go to Profile, tap the gear for Settings, open My Data under Privacy Controls and submit a request. Snapchat emails you a download link, and the export includes your friends list.
How do I remove someone from my Snapchat friends?
Open My Friends from your Profile, press and hold the person's name, tap Manage Friendship, then tap Remove Friend.
