To add a location on Snapchat Story, take a snap, tap the sticker icon on the right (the square with a folded corner), then tap the location sticker with the pin or search for a place name. Pick the place, move or resize the sticker, and send the snap to My Story.
If the sticker shows no places at all, Snapchat almost always lacks location permission on your phone. That's a quick fix in your phone's settings, and I've covered it further down, along with the one privacy detail most people get wrong.
Add a place sticker to your Story, step by step
- Open Snapchat and take a photo or a video with the round capture button.
- Look at the tools down the right side of the screen and tap the sticker icon. It's the little square with one corner folded over.
- Tap the location sticker (the one with a pin on it), or type a place name into the search bar at the top of the sticker tray.
- Choose the place you want from the list that appears.
- Drag the sticker to where you want it on the snap. Pinch with two fingers to make it bigger or smaller.
- Tap the sticker once to see whether another style is available. Some places switch between a few looks.
- Tap the send arrow, choose My Story, and send.
If a menu name looks different in your version of Snapchat, type the word "location" into the sticker search and it should come up.
The search bar is handy when the spot you want isn't in the first few suggestions. Type the name of the cafe, park, venue or town and pick it from the results. Spell it the way the place spells itself, because a nickname often won't match.
You can add the sticker to a photo or a video, and you can stack it with text, a caption or other stickers. Keep it away from the very edges of the screen so it isn't hidden behind buttons when your friends watch.
Other ways a place ends up on your snap
The venue sticker isn't the only way to show where you are. Two other tools do a similar job, and one of them is easy to use without noticing.
Filters that name your town
After you take a snap, swipe left or right across the picture to move through the filters. Some of them show the name of the town or area you're in, written across the snap in a decorative style. These filters rely on your location, so they only appear when Snapchat is allowed to see where you are.
That's worth knowing because people often add a town filter for fun and forget it says exactly which town they're in.
The weather sticker
In the same sticker tray there's usually a weather sticker. It shows the conditions where you are rather than a named venue, so it gives away less. It still hints at your area, especially on a day when the weather where you live is unusual.
Here's how I think about the three: a venue sticker says exactly where you were, a town filter says roughly where, and the weather sticker says very little. Pick the one that matches how much you want people to know.
Who sees the place you tag
A location sticker goes wherever the snap goes. So the real question isn't the sticker, it's who can view that Story. This table shows the difference.
| Where you post | Who sees the place | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| My Story (friends) | Friends who are allowed to view your Story, based on your Story settings | Showing friends where you are today |
| Private Story | Only the people you added to that private Story | Family, close friends, a small group |
| Public Story (public profile) | Anyone who can see your public content, including people you don't know | A shop, venue, event or creator account |
| A snap sent to one chat | Only the person you sent it to | Telling one friend where to meet you |
If you've added a lot of people over the years, your friends-only Story can reach more people than you think. Have a look at who's on your list before you tag somewhere personal.
The catch most people miss: a location sticker has nothing to do with Snap Map. Ghost Mode on the Map hides your Bitmoji, but it doesn't hide a place you've stuck on a Story. Everyone who can see that Story sees the place, and viewers may be able to tap the sticker to look it up.
So if you're in Ghost Mode and assume nobody can see where you are, a venue sticker on a public Story undoes that in one tap. If you want to control who sees you on the Map itself, my guide on how to share your location on Snapchat walks through Ghost Mode and the friend settings.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Tagging a person works the same way: they show up for everyone who can view the snap. If you'd like to tag the friend you're out with, here's how to mention someone in a Snapchat Story.
When no places show up: what to check
Work through these in order. Most people are sorted by the first or second one.
- Check location permission. On iPhone, open your phone's Settings, scroll down to Snapchat, tap Location and choose While Using. On Android, open your phone's settings, find Snapchat in the list of apps, open its permissions and allow location.
- Make sure location services are on for the whole phone. If they're switched off, no app gets a location, Snapchat included.
- Close Snapchat fully and open it again so it picks up the new permission.
- Update the app from your app store. Older versions can miss newer sticker features.
- Search by name. If the nearby list is empty, typing the venue or town name can still find it.
- Move somewhere with a better signal. A weak connection can stop the list from loading at all.
If none of that works, the place may simply not be listed. A town filter or a typed caption does the same job, and you stay in control of what it says.
Not sure what the small icons around your friends' Stories mean while you're poking around? My guide to Snapchat symbols on Stories explains them.
My privacy verdict before you tag a place
Location stickers are great for a holiday, a gig or a new cafe you want friends to try. They're a bad idea in a few situations, and it's worth being strict about them.
- Never put your home, your street or your building on a public Story.
- Never tag your school, college or workplace on a Story people you don't know can see.
- Post the place after you've left, not while you're still sitting there.
- Watch out for stacked clues. A venue sticker plus a selfie by a street sign tells people far more than either one alone.
- If you've added people you barely know, use a private Story for anything close to home.
If it were my Story, I'd use the venue sticker for shops, events and places I've already left, and keep anything near home off it completely. For a small business it's the opposite: a sticker on your own shop is free signposting, so I'd add it every time I posted from there.
If you want the full set, start at the Instagram Help: 81 Guides to Followers, Hashtags, Money, Accounts and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Can people see my live location if I add a place to my Snapchat Story?
No. They see the place you picked, not where you are right now. Anyone who can view that Story sees the place name, and they may be able to tap the sticker to see more about it.
Does Ghost Mode hide a location sticker?
No. Ghost Mode hides your Bitmoji on Snap Map. A location sticker on a Story stays visible to everyone who can view that Story, whatever your Map settings are.
Why can't I find any places in the location sticker?
Snapchat usually doesn't have location permission. On iPhone set Settings, Snapchat, Location to While Using; on Android allow location in Snapchat's app permissions, then close and reopen the app.
Can I move or resize the location sticker?
Yes. Drag it with one finger to move it and pinch to make it bigger or smaller. Tapping it may switch it to a different style.
