- Remove a friend on Snapchat from the Chat screen
- Remove a friend on Snapchat from their profile
- What the person sees after you remove them on Snapchat
- Removing a friend on Snapchat vs blocking or muting them
- Removing several friends on Snapchat at once
- Changed your mind? Adding a removed friend back on Snapchat
- Removing a friend on Snapchat when you use it for business
- If you can't find Remove Friend on Snapchat
- Frequently asked questions
To remove a friend on Snapchat, swipe right to the Chat screen, press and hold their name, tap Manage Friendship, then tap Remove Friend. The detail people miss: depending on your privacy settings, a removed friend may still be able to Chat or Snap you, and they can still see anything you've made public.
Friend lists grow quietly. A school group from years ago, a client you added for one project, someone you met once at a conference: before long your Snapchat friends include people you'd rather didn't see your private Stories. I'm a fan of tidying that list now and then, and Snapchat makes it a quick, quiet job.
This guide walks through both routes Snapchat's help centre describes, what changes for the person you remove, and when blocking or muting is the better tool. Everything here follows Snapchat's own help articles, so the button names match what you'll see in the app.
Remove a friend on Snapchat from the Chat screen
This is the quickest way, and it's the one I'd use when the person already sits somewhere in your conversations.
- Open Snapchat and swipe right from the Camera to open the Chat screen.
- Find the friend's name and press and hold it.
- Tap Manage Friendship.
- Tap Remove Friend.
That's it. There's no extra confirmation screen in the help article's description, so take a second to check you've pressed on the right name before you tap.
Remove a friend on Snapchat from their profile
If you can't spot the person in your chats, go through their profile instead. Snapchat's help article lists this as the second option.
- Swipe right to open the Chat screen.
- Tap the friend's profile icon to open their Friendship Profile.
- Tap the menu icon at the top of the screen.
- Tap Manage Friendship, then tap Remove Friend.
Menus vary a little by app version and device, but the wording Manage Friendship and Remove Friend has stayed the same in the official help.
What the person sees after you remove them on Snapchat
According to Snapchat's help centre, Remove Friend quietly takes someone off your friends list. The help centre doesn't say the other person gets an alert, and I wouldn't promise either way, because they may notice changes for themselves. Here's what the help article says changes:
- They can't see your private Stories or your Charms any more.
- They can still view anything you've set to public.
- Depending on your privacy settings, they may still be able to Chat or Snap you.
- Removing, blocking or muting a friend should also take them off your Stories screen.
That third point catches people out. Removing someone isn't the same as shutting the door. If your settings let anyone contact you, a removed friend may still reach you. If you'd like to understand how friends differ from people who simply follow a public account, my explainer on what followers mean on Snapchat clears that up.
Removing a friend on Snapchat vs blocking or muting them
Snapchat gives you four ways to manage a friendship, and picking the right one saves awkwardness later.
| Option | What Snapchat says it does |
|---|---|
| Remove Friend | Quietly takes someone off your friends list |
| Block | Stops someone contacting you, viewing your Stories or finding you |
| Mute | Hides their Stories or notifications without removing them |
| Report | Alerts Snapchat to harmful, spammy or rule-breaking behaviour |
If someone is bothering you, removing them won't be enough. Blocking is the stronger tool, and I've covered the steps in my guide to blocking someone on Snapchat. If you just need a break from someone's posts, muting keeps the friendship and hides the noise. If anyone is harassing or threatening you, report it to Snapchat and, if you're in danger, contact the police.
Removing several friends on Snapchat at once
Sadly, you can't. Snapchat's help article says plainly that you can't remove multiple friends at once and each one has to be removed individually. If you're clearing out a big list, set aside a few minutes and work down the Chat screen one name at a time.
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A tip from my own clear-outs: start with people you haven't spoken to in ages, then look at anyone who appears in your Best Friends. Seeing who Snapchat counts as close can surprise you, and my guide to the Snapchat Best Friends list explains how that list is built.
Changed your mind? Adding a removed friend back on Snapchat
Removing a friend isn't permanent. The help article says that to add someone back, you'll need to search for them. Tap the magnifying glass, type their name or username and tap Add. They'll need to accept again for the full friendship features to return, such as seeing each other's private Stories.
Removing a friend on Snapchat when you use it for business
If you run a small business or work as a creator, your friends list is often a mix of customers, collaborators and personal contacts. A quick review every few months keeps your private Stories private. I'd also think about which content belongs on a public profile, since removed friends can still see anything you've made public, and which belongs in private Stories for people you know well.
- Keep personal Stories private and check who's still on your friends list before you post them.
- Use public content for anything you're happy for customers or strangers to see.
- Check your contact settings, so removed people can't keep messaging you if you'd prefer they didn't.
If you can't find Remove Friend on Snapchat
A few things usually explain a missing option:
- You're pressing on a Group rather than a person. Group chats have their own settings, and removing someone from a group is a different job.
- The person isn't on your friends list in the first place, for example if you only follow their public profile.
- Your app is out of date. Update Snapchat from your app store, then try again.
If the option still isn't there, Snapchat's help centre is the right place to ask, since its team can see things that aren't visible from your side.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove a friend on Snapchat?
Swipe right to open the Chat screen, press and hold the friend's name, tap Manage Friendship, then tap Remove Friend. You can also do it from their profile through the menu icon at the top.
Does Snapchat tell someone when I remove them?
Snapchat describes Remove Friend as quietly removing someone from your friends list, and its help article doesn't mention an alert. They may still notice they can't see your private Stories.
Can a removed friend still message me on Snapchat?
Possibly. Snapchat's help article says that depending on your privacy settings, a removed friend may still be able to Chat or Snap you. Blocking stops contact completely.
Can I remove lots of Snapchat friends at once?
No. Snapchat says you can't remove multiple friends at once, so each friend has to be removed individually.
How do I add someone back after removing them?
Search for them by name or username and tap Add. They'll need to accept you again for the full friendship features to return.
