How to Use Snapchat Filters and Lenses (Simple Steps)

Ask ten people what a Snapchat filter is and you'll get two different answers. Some mean the colour and info overlays you swipe across a finished Snap. Others mean the puppy ears and face effects that move with you while you film. Snapchat treats these as separate features, Filters and Lenses, and once you know which is which, the app gets a lot easier.

I'll cover both here, because most people searching this want one or the other and aren't sure which. Everything below follows Snapchat's own help centre, so the names match what's in your app. If you run a small business account, there's a short section on using Filters and Lenses without making your brand look gimmicky.

Using Snapchat filters on a photo or video Snap

Filters go on after you've taken the Snap. Snapchat describes them as overlays on top of your photo or video, rather than effects that change your face as you record.

1. Open Snapchat and take a photo or record a video.
2. On the Preview screen, swipe left or right to browse the Filters.
3. Stop on the one you like. That's it applied.
4. To stack more than one, tap the layer icon, then keep swiping to add another Filter on top.
5. Send the Snap to friends or post it to your Story as usual.

The layering step is the one most people miss. Snapchat's help article says the layer icon lets you combine several Filters, so you can put a colour tint and an info overlay on the same Snap.

Where the time and temperature Snapchat filters went

If you remember swiping to a Filter that showed the time, the temperature or your speed and now can't find it, you're not imagining things. Snapchat's help article says that if you don't see a Filter you want, such as one with the temperature or time, check the sticker drawer. Open it from the sticker icon on the Preview screen and look there before you assume it's gone.

Using Snapchat Lenses while you film

Lenses are the effects most people picture when they say Snapchat filter. Snapchat's help describes them as AR effects that change your appearance or add 3D objects, characters and transformations to your Snaps. There are two broad kinds:

• Face Lenses, which Snapchat says can turn you and your friends into things like puppies.
• World Lenses, which add effects or characters to your surroundings.

The steps are the same for both:

1. Open the Camera screen.
2. Swipe through the carousel next to the capture button and tap a Lens.
3. Tap the camera button for a photo, or press and hold it to record a video.

Snapchat notes that some World Lenses may not be available on all devices, which explains why a friend's phone sometimes has an effect yours doesn't.

Finding more Snapchat Lenses with Lens Explorer

The carousel only shows a handful at a time. For the full library, tap the magnifying glass icon while the carousel is open to reach Lens Explorer. According to Snapchat, it's packed with Lenses made by other Snapchatters.

• Tap a Lens tile to add it to your carousel. Snapchat says it stays there for 24 hours.
• Tap the heart icon to save a Lens as a favourite so it's easy to find again.
• Tap a creator's display name and Subscribe to follow the people whose Lenses you like.
• If a friend's Snap used a Lens you love, swipe up on it to open the Context Card and try that Lens yourself, where one is available.

Snapchat filters vs Lenses at a glance

	Filters	Lenses
When you add it	After taking the Snap	Before or while you capture
How you choose it	Swipe left or right on the Preview screen	Tap one in the carousel on the Camera screen
What it does	Overlays on top of the Snap	AR effects on faces or surroundings
Where to find more	The sticker drawer for time or temperature	Lens Explorer, via the magnifying glass

Pair the two and you can do quite a lot: film with a Lens, then swipe a Filter over the result. If you'd like to go further with editing, my guide on editing pictures on Snapchat covers the other tools on the Preview screen, and my walkthrough of portrait mode on Snapchat shows how to blur the background behind you.

Custom Snapchat filters for weddings and parties

A lot of older guides still talk about ordering a custom Filter for a wedding or birthday. Snapchat's help article says plainly that custom Filters for events are no longer available. What it suggests instead is making a Lens in Lens Studio, Snapchat's tool for building your own effects. It's a bigger project than the old Filters were, but it's the route Snapchat points to now.

When a Snapchat filter or Lens won't work

Snapchat's help puts most Lens problems down to the device. Some Lenses won't run on older phones because of technical limits, and it gives the supported versions as iOS 12 or newer on Apple devices and most Android devices on Android 4.4 or newer. Its suggested fixes are short:

1. Try a different Lens. Some are heavier than others.
2. Use Snapchat on a different device if you can.
3. Update Snapchat from your app store and try again, which is a sensible first check for any missing feature.

For Filters, if swiping does nothing, make sure you're on the Preview screen after taking a Snap rather than the live Camera screen, since Snapchat's Filter steps start from a Snap you've already taken.

Using Snapchat filters for a business or creator account

If Snapchat is part of how you promote your work, a little restraint goes a long way. I'd keep one or two Filters as your signature look so your Snaps feel consistent, and save the silly Lenses for moments that suit them, like a team celebration or a product reveal. A Lens on your face while you explain a serious offer can distract people from what you're saying. Use the info Filters from the sticker drawer, such as the time, when they add context, for example showing when a shop opens or how fresh a bake is.

Frequently asked questions

How do I use filters on Snapchat?

Take a Snap, then swipe left or right on the Preview screen to browse Filters. Tap the layer icon if you'd like to stack more than one.

What's the difference between a Snapchat Filter and a Lens?

Filters are overlays you add after taking a Snap. Lenses are AR effects you pick from the carousel on the Camera screen before or while you capture.

Where did the time and temperature filters go?

Snapchat's help says to check the sticker drawer if you can't find a Filter such as one showing the temperature or time.

Can I still make a custom Snapchat filter for a wedding?

No. Snapchat says custom Filters for events are no longer available and suggests making a Lens in Lens Studio instead.

Why won't a Lens work on my phone?

Some Lenses don't run on older devices. Snapchat suggests trying a different Lens or using another device, and updating the app helps too.