How to Make Your Snapchat Account Private

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This wikiHow teaches you to change your privacy settings in Snapchat so that only friends you’ve added can communicate with you, receive your snaps, and see your Story.

Steps

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    It’s a yellow app with the outline of a ghost.
    • If you aren’t logged into Snapchat, you’ll be prompted to do so.
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    This will open your profile page.
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    It’s in the top right corner of the screen and will open Settings.
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    It’s under Who Can…
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    This ensures only friends you’ve added on Snapchat will be able to contact you with photo and video snaps, chats, and calls. [1]
    • If someone you’re not friends with sends you a snap, you’ll get a notification. If you add them as a friend, you’ll be able to see their snap.
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    It’s in the top left corner of the screen.
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    This ensures only friends you’ve added on Snapchat will be able to see your Story. [2]
    • You can also tap Custom to create a list of friends who can see your Story.
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    It’s under Who Can… [3]
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    It will turn white. This ensures you won’t be added to the Quick Add section of your friends’ friends. [4]
    • With these three settings configured, you’ve set your account to private and only your friends will be able to contact you, view your Story, and add you using Quick Add. [5]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I prevent people from adding me?
    Community Answer
    Turn off your quick add. All you have to do is go to settings, scroll down until you see "who can...," and go to see me in quick add.
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    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 23 Helpful 58
  • Question
    Can I create an account just for the filters without anyone seeing any of my info?
    Community Answer
    Yes, just don’t add anyone on a Snapchat and you’ll be fine. Take a picture with filters and save, then you’ll be good to go!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 20 Helpful 35
  • Question
    Is it possible to read people's messages without them knowing?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can just press the name and slide across without actually opening the message.
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      Video

      Tips

      • Before you join a Group Chat, check who’s in the group by pressing and holding the name of the group in the Chat screen. Even if you choose My Friends in the privacy settings, anyone you’re in a group with will be able to communicate with you in a Group Chat.
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      Warnings

      • If you post snaps to your Story before you change your privacy settings to My Friends, others can still see the snaps you posted before the change.
        Thanks
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      References

      1. ↑ https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012343074580-How-do-I-change-my-privacy-settings-on-Snapchat-
      2. ↑ https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012343074580-How-do-I-change-my-privacy-settings-on-Snapchat-
      3. ↑ https://www.alphr.com/snapchat-remove-quick-add/
      4. ↑ https://social.techjunkie.com/turn-snapchat-private/
      5. ↑ https://www.consumer-action.org/english/articles/social_media_privacy_controls

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      Reader Success Stories

      • likarika tulafono

        Oct 20, 2017

        "It's really useful for me because I don't want people to see my photos."
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