Can you see the last time someone was active on Snapchat? Can you tell if they are online right now? Does Snapchat notify that a contact is available?
These are three of the most common questions we see on one of the busiest social networks in the world, so I thought of putting together a quick guide that answers these and more.
Unfortunately, unlike some other social media platforms, Snapchat doesn’t include a clear way to tell if a friend is online – but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to tell when someone was last active on the app.
Read on to find out how you can tell when someone was last active on Snapchat.
How Do You Know When Someone Was Last On Snapchat?
The easiest way to see when someone was last active is to look at their feed, as it doesn’t feature a flashing green light to show who’s online or not. Search for posted Snaps or Stories and see when they were posted. If they have recently uploaded a Story, you probably know that they are online or have been active recently. If there is quite a time gap between a post and the current time, they may not be online.
You can also send a Snap and keep an eye on the situation. Snapchat uses icons to show you the status of anything you post. If the notification says “delivered” but doesn’t “open”, the recipient is either offline or didn’t open Snap. If it says ‘opened’, you know the contact is online or recently active.
Of course, you can always check a friend’s Snap score too! Snap score increases with each snap and communication, so if the number is changing, it’s probably in the app.
Alternatively, you can use Snap Maps to check if someone is active. This method is not always accurate, but in some cases it can be effective.
Snap Maps is a feature that shows users where their friends are while using the app; however, depending on your friend’s privacy settings, you may not see him on the map.
Unless the person is using Ghost Mode, which always hides their location, you should be able to see when they last used Snapchat and where they were when they were online. Users have the option to hide their location or prevent the app from seeing it by turning off the permissions in their settings as well.
Snap Maps will regularly update your location while you’re in the app, unless you stay in Ghost Mode or turn off your location services. You can limit who can see where you are, but other than that, it’s a cue to tell all your friends where you are and when you’re there.
To use this method, simply follow these three simple steps:
- Open Snap Maps and call your friend.
- Select their Bitmoji from the map.
- Look for the gray status text below their names.
You will see one of several messages: ‘Now Seen’ if they are online somewhere right now, ‘Seen 23 minutes ago’ if they logged out a while ago, or ‘Last seen’ if they logged out a few hours ago.
Can You Tell When Someone Is Active On Snapchat?
Unfortunately, there aren’t many ways to check if someone is active on Snapchat. The best way to check is to use the Snap Maps method outlined above.
Alternatively, if you open the individual chat screen at the same time as the person you want to chat with, a blue dot or the person’s Bitmoji will appear on the screen. This only works if you’re both on the chat screen at the same time.
Other than that, there’s really no way to be sure if someone is currently using the app. Unless you’re chatting with them right now.
More Frequently Asked Questions
Snapchat can be a confusing app to get used to, especially when it comes to managing your friend list, communicating with your friends, and managing your privacy in the app.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most common questions we receive regarding Snapchat.
Does Snapchat Indicate A Person’s Eligibility?
In other major chat apps, users have the option to specify their availability with options such as ‘Available’, ‘Unavailable’, ‘Busy’ or similar statuses. This makes it much easier for users to control their privacy and let others know if they want to be contacted.
However, Snapchat doesn’t show whether a user is available or not. You can check when someone was last online, but you can’t see their current status.
This, of course, can be a good thing for users who value their privacy when using social media. However, it’s not so good when you want to know if your friend is available to chat.
Can You Use Snapchat Without Notifying Your Friends?
Yes, you can use Snapchat without warning your friends if you want. If you want some alone time or just need a few minutes to catch up on what’s going on before socializing, there’s no need to let your friends know that you’re currently using the app.
All you have to do is not share anything, open your friends’ Snaps or chats, and stay in Ghost Mode for a while. This will be enough to hide the fact that you are currently online. Alternatively, you can put your phone in Airplane Mode.
Why Does Snapchat Show I’m Active When I’m Not Active?
If Snapchat is showing that you’re active when you’re not, it’s probably a time delay. If you were active four minutes ago, it may briefly indicate that you are still active.
Another option is if someone else is using your Snapchat account. While the company will notify you if someone else signs in via email, there are some revealing signs that your account is being used elsewhere:
- You should sign in to your Snapchat account often – Snapchat only lets you sign in to one device at a time. If someone else is accessing your account, they will fire you.
- Your location will be turned off – Snap Maps will show you in a different area or region. Unless the user lives with you or lives close to you, the GPS signal will not reflect your current location.
If you are having trouble with an incorrect active state, you can contact Snapchat Support team to have the error fixed.
final thoughts
Whether or not Snapchat displays your status while using the app is a common question among the app’s incredibly large audience.
While the app doesn’t show your status, there are several ways to check when someone last used the app. However, there is currently no official way to see someone’s online status.
