Snapchat's version of a boomerang is called Bounce. Record a video snap, then on the preview screen tap the loop icon on the right until it shows Bounce, which plays your clip forwards and then backwards. To reverse a video on Snapchat, swipe across the preview until you reach the backwards arrows filter.
If you're coming from Instagram, where Boomerang is its own camera mode, Snapchat feels different at first. There's no separate Boomerang button. Everything happens on the preview screen after you've recorded, using the toolbar and the filters you swipe through. Once you've done it twice, it only takes a few seconds.
Make a Bounce boomerang, step by step
- Open Snapchat so you land on the camera.
- Press and hold the capture button to record a short video. A few seconds is plenty for a good loop.
- Let go. Your video opens on the preview screen.
- Look at the toolbar on the right and find the loop icon, which looks like an infinity sign.
- Tap it. Each tap cycles between Loop, Bounce and Play once. Stop on Bounce.
- If Snapchat lets you pick the section to bounce, drag to choose the part you like best.
- Add text, a sticker or a caption if you want one, then send it to friends or add it to your Story.
Loop plays your clip over and over from the start. Bounce plays it forwards, then backwards, then forwards again, and that back-and-forth motion is what gives you the boomerang look. Play once is the normal video setting. Snapchat added Bounce in 2020, so if you can't see it, update the app first.
Icons change from time to time. If the loop icon looks different on your phone, tap the tools on the right side of the preview and look through them, or search Snapchat's settings for the word loop.
How to reverse a video on Snapchat
Reversing is a separate trick and it uses filters rather than the loop icon.
- Record a video snap by holding the capture button.
- On the preview screen, swipe left or right across the video to scroll through the filters.
- Keep going until you see the backwards arrows. That's the rewind filter.
- Let it settle and your video plays back to front.
- Send it, save it or post it as normal.
You'll pass a few other time filters on the way. The snail slows your video down and the rabbit speeds it up. They sit in the same row as the rewind filter, so it's worth swiping slowly and watching the small icon at the bottom of the screen.
Which effect does what
| Effect | What your friend sees | Where you find it | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loop | The clip repeats from the start, again and again | Loop icon on the right toolbar | Short actions that end where they began |
| Bounce | Forwards, then backwards, repeating | Loop icon, cycle until it says Bounce | Jumps, waves, pouring, hair flicks |
| Reverse (rewind) | The whole clip plays back to front once | Swipe to the backwards arrows filter | Spills that unspill, a surprise reveal |
| Slow motion (snail) | The clip plays slowly | Swipe through the filters | Splashes and confetti |
| Fast forward (rabbit) | The clip speeds up | Swipe through the filters | Long moments you want to squeeze in |
| Play once | A normal video, no repeating | Loop icon, cycle to the last option | Anything you don't want repeated |
You can't layer all of these at the same time on one clip, so decide which one suits your idea before you record. Bounce and Loop come from the same icon. Reverse and the speed effects come from the filter row.
Tips for filming a good loop
- Keep the camera still. Lean your phone on something or hold it with both hands. A shaky camera makes a bouncing clip look messy.
- Pick one simple action. A wave, a jump, a spin or a toss works best. Complicated scenes get confusing when they repeat.
- Keep it short. Long clips lose the snappy back-and-forth feel.
- Think about the start and end. A loop looks smoothest when the first and last moments match, like a hand starting and ending in the same spot.
- Use good light. Dim rooms make video grainy, and grain shows up more when a clip repeats.
- Play it back before sending. Listen as well as watch, because sound can feel odd when a clip runs backwards.
Ideas worth trying
Not sure what to film? These work well because the action is short, clear and easy to repeat.
- Tossing a pillow, a ball or a rolled-up sock and catching it.
- Clinking two glasses together, or a cheers with a friend.
- A dog or cat doing something silly, like a head tilt.
- Opening a door or a fridge and finding a surprise.
- Pouring a drink, then watching it go back into the glass in reverse.
- Jumping with friends in front of a view you like.
Keep people's privacy in mind. If a friend or a stranger appears in your clip, ask before you post it to your Story, especially if it's anything beyond a quick wave.
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Snapchat's Bounce compared with Instagram's Boomerang
They look similar to the person watching, but you make them differently. Instagram's Boomerang is a camera mode that captures a quick burst and loops it for you. Snapchat's Bounce is something you apply after you've recorded a normal video. That means on Snapchat you get to choose the moment first and the effect second, and you can switch between Loop, Bounce and Play once as many times as you like before sending.
When something isn't working
| Problem | Likely reason | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| No loop icon on the preview | You took a photo, not a video, or the app is out of date | Record a video by holding the capture button, and update Snapchat |
| The clip doesn't bounce | The icon is still on Loop or Play once | Tap the loop icon again until it says Bounce |
| The rewind filter never appears | You haven't swiped far enough, or the filters moved | Swipe slowly left and right and watch the small icons |
| The video looks jerky | The camera moved too much | Re-record with your phone resting on something steady |
After you've posted it
Once your clip is on your Story, it's worth a quick check that it went where you meant it to. My guide to checking your active Snapchat Story shows you how. If you'd rather share it with a small group instead of everyone, read how to make a private story on Snapchat. And if you posted the wrong take, deleting a Snapchat Story is quick.
Frequently asked questions
Does Snapchat have a boomerang feature?
Yes, though Snapchat calls it Bounce. Record a video, tap the loop icon on the preview screen and choose Bounce.
Why can't I see the loop icon?
The loop icon appears on video snaps, so a photo won't show it. If you recorded a video and still can't see it, update Snapchat and look through the right-hand toolbar, as icons move around between versions.
How do I undo a reversed video?
Swipe back through the filters until you're on the plain, unfiltered version of your video, or record it again.
Can I send a Bounce to one friend instead of my Story?
Yes. Once your video is ready, tap Send To and choose the friends you want. Your Story only gets it if you pick it there.
