- What mutual friends means on Snapchat
- How to see mutual friends on Snapchat
- The rule that decides whether you see anything
- How to turn mutual friends on or off
- Why you can't see a mutual friends list
- Mutual friends and your privacy
- Using mutual friends before you add someone
- Mutual friends compared with friend emojis
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To see mutual friends on Snapchat, open the other person's profile and look for their mutual friends list. Snapchat only shows it if you and they have both turned on sharing mutual friends, so if either of you has it off, you'll see nothing.
That two-way rule is the bit people miss. You can switch the setting on and still see a blank space on someone else's profile.
Below you'll find where to look, how to turn the setting on or off, and every reason Snapchat gives for an empty list. It all comes from Snapchat's Support pages, read in October 2026.
What mutual friends means on Snapchat
Snapchat defines mutual friends as Snapchatters you and another person are both friends with. Its help page says the point is to help you confirm you're adding the right person, which is handy when two people share a name.
How to see mutual friends on Snapchat
- Find the person, either in your Chat list or by tapping the magnifying glass and searching their name or username.
- Tap their name or Bitmoji to open their profile page.
- Look for the mutual friends list on that profile.
- Tap it to see who you both know.
Snapchat says you can only view the list on that Snapchatter's profile page, and only if both of you are sharing mutual friends.
The rule that decides whether you see anything
Snapchat is clear on this. You'll only see another person's mutual friends list if both of you have turned on sharing mutual friends. If you've switched it on and they haven't, no mutual friends are displayed.
There's a second layer too. Each mutual friend has the same choice. Snapchat says that if one or more mutual friends don't appear, those people may not have turned on Mutual Friends, so they stay hidden even when you and the other person are both sharing.
| You | The other person | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing on | Sharing on | The mutual friends who also share |
| Sharing on | Sharing off | Nothing |
| Sharing off | Sharing on | Nothing |
| Sharing off | Sharing off | Nothing |
How to turn mutual friends on or off
Snapchat says sharing your mutual friends list, and appearing in other people's lists, is your choice. Once it's on, you can switch it off at any time:
- Open My Account by tapping your Bitmoji.
- Tap the edit icon.
- Turn off the Show Mutual Friends List toggle.
You can also find Mutual Friends under My Privacy and Data in Settings and switch it off there. To turn it back on, flip the same toggle.
Why you can't see a mutual friends list
Snapchat's help page gives four reasons:
- You may not have any mutual friends with that person.
- The other person may not be sharing mutual friends yet.
- Your mutual friends haven't turned on their own Mutual Friends setting, so they stay hidden.
- The feature may not be available for that account or in that region.
If you're trying to work out whether someone's removed you rather than hidden a list, my guide on how to know if someone blocked you on Snapchat covers the signs.
Mutual friends and your privacy
Snapchat keeps friend lists private by default. Its Find Friends page says friend lists are private for all users and only the owner can see their own list. Mutual friends is the one small window into that, and it only opens when everyone involved agrees.
Snapchat also says that teens appear in Find Friends suggestions only in limited cases, for example if they have numerous mutual friends or are already in each other's uploaded contacts, and that everyone can turn off showing up in Find Friends in Settings.
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Using mutual friends before you add someone
This is where the feature earns its keep. Before you tap Add on a stranger who says they know you, check the list. A handful of real friends in common is a good sign. An empty list doesn't prove anything, for the reasons above, but it's a reason to ask a friend first.
Snapchat's Add Friends page lists the main ways to add people, including from your contacts, from Search, by Snapcode and by mention. My guide to finding someone on Snapchat goes through those one by one.
If you'd rather see which friends you chat with most, Snapchat's friend emojis do that job. My guide to the Snapchat best friends list explains how it works.
Mutual friends compared with friend emojis
Snapchat has a second, quieter way of hinting at shared connections: friend emojis next to names in your Chat list. Snapchat's Friend Emoji guide says these are based on how you and your friends use the app, and they can change regularly.
| Emoji | What Snapchat says it means |
|---|---|
| Sunglasses face | One of your Best Friends is also one of this person's Best Friends |
| Grimacing face | Your number one Best Friend is also their number one Best Friend |
| Smiley face | They're one of your Best Friends, but not your number one |
These don't show you who the shared friend is. They only tell you there's an overlap among Best Friends. For names, you still need the mutual friends list, with the setting switched on at both ends.
My verdict
Mutual friends on Snapchat works well as a quick identity check, as long as you know its limits. You need it switched on, they need it switched on, and each friend in common needs it on too. If the list's blank, don't read anything into it. Ask someone you both know instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see mutual friends on Snapchat?
Open the other person's profile page and look for the mutual friends list. Snapchat only shows it if both of you have turned on sharing mutual friends.
Why can't I see mutual friends on Snapchat?
Snapchat says you may have no mutual friends, the other person may not be sharing, your mutual friends may have the setting off, or the feature may not be available for that account or region.
How do I hide my mutual friends on Snapchat?
Open My Account, tap the edit icon and turn off Show Mutual Friends List. You can also turn off Mutual Friends under My Privacy and Data in Settings.
Can people see my friends list on Snapchat?
No. Snapchat says friend lists are private for all users and only the owner can see their own list. Mutual friends only shows when everyone involved shares.


