To turn on Ghost Mode on Snapchat, open the Map, tap the gear icon in the bottom right corner, toggle on Ghost Mode and choose a timer: 3 hours, 24 hours or Until Turned Off. Your friends stop seeing you on the Snap Map, but Snap itself still receives your location, and any Snaps you submit to Snap Map can still appear there.
That last part is the one most people miss. Snapchat's own help page warns that Snaps you submit to Snap Map can still show up on the Map whatever location setting you choose. Ghost Mode hides your Bitmoji from friends. It doesn't pull back a public Snap you've already sent to the Map, so if you're going quiet for privacy reasons, check what you've submitted too.
If you're new to the Map itself, my guide to what Snap Map is and how it works covers the basics. Below are the exact steps, what each setting hides, and fixes for the three things that trip people up.
How to turn on Ghost Mode: the steps
These are the menu names exactly as Snapchat lists them on its Ghost Mode help page:
- Open the Map.
- Tap the gear icon in the bottom right corner to open Map Settings.
- Toggle on 'Ghost Mode.'
- Select a timer for how long you want to stay in Ghost Mode (3 hours, 24 hours, or Until Turned Off).
You can switch it on and off as often as you like. Pick 3 hours or 24 hours if you only want a break, for example while you're at an appointment or travelling, and Until Turned Off if you'd rather nobody sees you on the Map at all.
Ghost Mode vs. just leaving location sharing alone
A lot of people assume that not opening the Map, or turning Ghost Mode on, means Snapchat knows nothing. That's not how it works. Here's what each setting changes, based on Snapchat's help pages:
| What you're asking | Ghost Mode on | Location sharing on (no Ghost Mode) |
|---|---|---|
| Does Snap still get my location? | Yes, your location is still shared with Snap | Yes |
| Can friends see me on the Map? | No, you're not visible to anyone else on the Map | Yes, whoever you've chosen under Who Can See My Location |
| What does my Bitmoji show? | It holds up a blue sign with a ghost icon, unless you're sharing your live location | Your Bitmoji at your location |
| Can Snaps I submit to Snap Map still appear? | Yes | Yes |
| How long does it last? | 3 hours, 24 hours or Until Turned Off | Depends on your phone's location permission (see below) |
One more detail from Snapchat's location privacy page: your location isn't shared on the Map at all until you open the Map for the first time. So if you've never opened it, there's nothing on the Map for friends to see yet. Once you have opened it, the rules in the table apply.
How long your location stays on the Map without Ghost Mode
This depends on the location permission you've given Snapchat on your phone, according to Snapchat's help page on location:
| Phone location permission | How long your location stays on Snap Map |
|---|---|
| Always | Until you turn it off or it expires |
| Only while using | It expires after 24 hours |
If you'd rather your spot doesn't linger, setting the permission to Only while using is a useful second layer, and Ghost Mode is the quick way to hide from friends.
Ghost Mode not working? Quick fixes
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No timer options after toggling Ghost Mode on | Snapchat says some Snapchatters may see timer options, so not every account gets them | The Ghost Mode toggle is still there; switch it off in Map Settings when you want to reappear |
| Your Bitmoji is still on your own Map | In Ghost Mode your Bitmoji holds up a blue sign with a ghost icon. That's how you can tell it's on | Look for the blue ghost sign. If it isn't there, check whether you're sharing your live location |
| Your music still shows on the Map | Now Playing is a separate setting from Ghost Mode | Pause it in Map Settings (steps below) |
| A Snap of yours still appears on the Map | Snaps submitted to Snap Map can show up whatever location setting you choose | Ghost Mode won't hide these, so think before you submit |
How to pause music sharing (Ghost Mode for Now Playing)
If you've linked Spotify to share what you're listening to on the Map, Ghost Mode on its own won't stop it. Snapchat's steps:
- Go to Map Settings.
- Tap your linked music app under 'Now Playing'.
- Toggle off 'Share Now Playing'.
- Choose how long to pause, for example 3 hours, 24 hours or Until Turned Off.
Sharing comes back on automatically when the timer ends, so if you picked a short timer, don't be surprised when your music reappears.
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Ghost Mode or Who Can See My Location?
Ghost Mode hides you from everyone on the Map. If you only want to hide from some people, Snapchat's Who Can See My Location setting lets you choose who can view your location on the Snap Map instead. That's the better pick when you're happy for a few close friends to see where you are but not your whole friends list. My walkthrough on sharing your location on Snapchat goes through those choices.
And if what you really want is fewer people knowing you're online, rather than where you are, that's a different setting: here's how to turn off active status on Snapchat.
My advice
I'd treat Ghost Mode as the fast, reliable way to go invisible to friends, and nothing more. It doesn't stop Snap getting your location, and it won't hide a Snap you've submitted to the Map. If privacy is the goal, use all three together: Ghost Mode on Until Turned Off, location permission set to Only while using, and a quick think before anything goes to Snap Map. If you just want a quiet afternoon, the 3 hour timer does the job and switches itself back.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on Ghost Mode on Snapchat?
Open the Map, tap the gear icon in the bottom right corner to open Map Settings, toggle on Ghost Mode and select a timer: 3 hours, 24 hours or Until Turned Off.
Does Snapchat still know my location in Ghost Mode?
Yes. Snapchat says your location is still shared with Snap in Ghost Mode, but it isn't visible to anyone else on the Map.
Why don't I see a timer when I turn on Ghost Mode?
Snapchat says some Snapchatters may see timer options, so not every account gets them. The Ghost Mode toggle is still there; switch it off in Map Settings when you're ready.
Can people still see my Snaps on Snap Map in Ghost Mode?
They can. Snapchat warns that Snaps you submit to Snap Map can still show up on the Map whatever location setting you choose.
How can I tell Ghost Mode is on?
Your Bitmoji holds up a blue sign with a ghost icon, unless you're sharing your live location.
Does Ghost Mode stop my music showing on the Map?
No. Now Playing is separate. Go to Map Settings, tap your linked music app under Now Playing, toggle off Share Now Playing and choose how long to pause it.
