how to hide friends on snapchat 2021
In this day and age of social media, privacy is a major concern for many individuals. With platforms like Snapchat gaining immense popularity, users often find themselves wanting to hide certain aspects of their profile from prying eyes. One such feature that Snapchat users frequently inquire about is how to hide their friends list. In this article, we will explore various methods and techniques to hide friends on Snapchat in 2021.
Snapchat, known for its ephemeral nature, allows users to send photos and videos that disappear after a certain time. However, the app also features a friends list, which displays the individuals who have added you and vice versa. While this feature may be helpful for staying connected with friends, there are times when users wish to keep their friend list private. Whether it’s to maintain a certain level of confidentiality or to avoid unwanted attention, hiding friends on Snapchat can be a beneficial step.
Before delving into the techniques, it’s important to understand that Snapchat has evolved over the years, and with each update, the platform introduces new features and changes to its privacy settings. Therefore, the methods discussed in this article are up-to-date as of 2021. However, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for any changes or updates made by Snapchat in the future.
Method 1: Customizing Privacy Settings
Snapchat offers a range of privacy settings that allow users to control who can see their profile and interact with them. By customizing these settings, you can ensure that your friends list remains hidden from unwanted eyes. To access these settings, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: On your profile page, tap on the gear icon in the top right corner to access settings.
Step 3: In the settings menu, scroll down and select “Privacy.”
Step 4: Under the “Who Can…” section, tap on “View My Story.”
Step 5: In the “View My Story” menu, select either “My Friends” or “Custom.”
Step 6: If you choose “My Friends,” only your friends will be able to view your story. If you select “Custom,” you can individually select who can view your story by tapping on the “Custom” option and adding or removing specific friends from the list.
By setting your story visibility to “My Friends” or customizing it further, you can ensure that only selected individuals can see your friends list indirectly through your story. However, it’s important to note that this method does not completely hide your friends list. Other users can still see your mutual friends and connections.
Method 2: Remove Friends from Your List
If you want to hide your friends list on Snapchat completely, you can consider removing certain individuals from your list. By doing so, you limit the number of people who can see your connections and reduce the chances of your friends list being discovered. Follow the steps below to remove friends from your Snapchat list:
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: On your profile page, tap on the “My Friends” option to access your friends list.
Step 3: Scroll through the list and find the friend you wish to remove.
Step 4: Tap and hold on their name until a pop-up menu appears.
Step 5: In the pop-up menu, select “More” and then tap on “Remove Friend.”
By removing friends from your list, you minimize the chances of your friends list being discovered. However, keep in mind that the other person will be notified when you remove them from your friends list, and they might choose to remove you as well.
Method 3: Create a Private Story
Another way to hide your friends list on Snapchat is by creating a private story. This feature allows you to share photos and videos with a select group of individuals, effectively hiding your connections from others. Here’s how you can create a private story:
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on the square icon with a plus sign at the bottom of the screen to create a new story.
Step 2: On the “Create a Story” page, tap on the “Private Story” option.
Step 3: In the “Private Story” menu, tap on the “+” icon to add friends to your private story.
Step 4: Select the friends you want to add and tap on the checkmark icon to confirm.
By creating a private story and selectively adding friends to it, you can control who can view your story and indirectly access your friends list. However, keep in mind that users added to the private story can still see each other’s names, so it’s important to only add individuals you trust.
Method 4: Hide Mutual Friends
If you’re concerned about others seeing your mutual friends on Snapchat, there’s a way to hide this information as well. Snapchat allows you to hide mutual friends, preventing others from seeing your connections. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: On your profile page, tap on the gear icon in the top right corner to access settings.
Step 3: In the settings menu, scroll down and select “Who Can…” under the “Who Can…” section.
Step 4: Tap on “See Me in Quick Add.”
Step 5: In the “See Me in Quick Add” menu, toggle off the “Mutual Friends” option.
By turning off the “Mutual Friends” option, you prevent others from seeing your connections when they search for new friends or are suggested your profile in their Quick Add section. However, keep in mind that this method only hides mutual friends and does not completely hide your friends list.
Method 5: Create a Custom Friends List
Snapchat allows users to create custom friends lists, which can be helpful for hiding your connections from certain individuals. By creating a custom list, you can choose who can view your story, send you snaps, and see your location. Here’s how you can create a custom friends list:
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: On your profile page, tap on the gear icon in the top right corner to access settings.
Step 3: In the settings menu, scroll down and select “Who Can…” under the “Who Can…” section.



Step 4: Tap on “View My Story” and then select “Custom.”
Step 5: In the “Custom” menu, tap on the “+” icon to add friends to your custom list.
Step 6: Select the friends you want to add and tap on the checkmark icon to confirm.
By creating a custom friends list, you can control who can view your story and indirectly access your friends list. However, keep in mind that this method does not completely hide your friends list, as other users can still see your mutual friends and connections.
Method 6: Block Certain Users
If you want to hide your friends list from specific individuals, you can consider blocking them on Snapchat. By blocking someone, you prevent them from seeing your profile, including your friends list. Here’s how you can block someone on Snapchat:
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: On your profile page, tap on the gear icon in the top right corner to access settings.
Step 3: In the settings menu, scroll down and select “Block” under the “Account Actions” section.
Step 4: Tap on “Block” and search for the person you want to block.
Step 5: Select the person from the search results and confirm the block.
By blocking someone on Snapchat, you effectively hide your friends list from them. However, keep in mind that blocking someone also means that you won’t be able to see their profile or receive any snaps or messages from them.
Method 7: Enable Ghost Mode
Snapchat offers a feature called “Ghost Mode,” which allows users to hide their location from others. By enabling Ghost Mode, you prevent others from seeing where you are on the Snap Map, effectively hiding your connections indirectly. Here’s how you can enable Ghost Mode:
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: On your profile page, tap on the gear icon in the top right corner to access settings.
Step 3: In the settings menu, scroll down and select “See My Location” under the “Who Can…” section.
Step 4: Tap on “Ghost Mode” to enable it.
By enabling Ghost Mode, you prevent others from seeing your location and indirectly accessing your friends list. However, keep in mind that this method only hides your location and does not completely hide your friends list.
Method 8: Limit Audience for Snaps and Stories
Snapchat allows users to limit the audience for their snaps and stories, which can be helpful for hiding your connections from certain individuals. By choosing who can view your snaps and stories, you indirectly control who can access your friends list. Here’s how you can limit the audience for your snaps and stories:



Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on the camera icon at the bottom of the screen to take a snap.
Step 2: Take a photo or video and tap on the blue arrow in the bottom right corner to proceed.
Step 3: On the “Send To” page, tap on the “Send To” field at the top.
Step 4: In the “Send To” menu, select the friends you want to share the snap with.
Step 5: Tap on the blue arrow in the bottom right corner to send the snap.
By selecting specific friends to send your snaps and stories to, you control who can view your content and indirectly access your friends list. However, keep in mind that this method does not completely hide your friends list, as other users can still see your mutual friends and connections.
Method 9: Limit Friend Requests
If you want to hide your friends list from strangers or unknown individuals, you can consider limiting who can send you friend requests on Snapchat. By customizing your friend request settings, you reduce the chances of your friends list being discovered. Here’s how you can limit friend requests on Snapchat:
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: On your profile page, tap on the gear icon in the top right corner to access settings.
Step 3: In the settings menu, scroll down and select “Who Can…” under the “Who Can…” section.
Step 4: Tap on “Contact Me.”
Step 5: In the “Contact Me” menu, select either “Everyone,” “My Friends,” or “Custom.”
By selecting “My Friends” or “Custom” under the “Contact Me” settings, you limit who can send you friend requests on Snapchat. This helps in hiding your friends list from strangers and unknown individuals. However, keep in mind that other users can still see your mutual friends and connections if they are added to your friends list.
Method 10: Disable Quick Add
Snapchat’s Quick Add feature suggests profiles to users based on mutual friends and connections. By disabling Quick Add, you can prevent others from seeing your profile and indirectly accessing your friends list. Here’s how you can disable Quick Add on Snapchat:
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: On your profile page, tap on the gear icon in the top right corner to access settings.
Step 3: In the settings menu, scroll down and select “Who Can…” under the “Who Can…” section.
Step 4: Tap on “See Me in Quick Add.”
Step 5: In the “See Me in Quick Add” menu, toggle off the “Quick Add” option.



By disabling Quick Add, you prevent others from seeing your profile in their suggested friends list. This helps in hiding your friends list from unwanted eyes. However, keep in mind that other users can still see your mutual friends and connections if they are added to your friends list.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hiding friends on Snapchat in 2021 can be achieved through various methods, including customizing privacy settings, removing friends from your list, creating a private story, hiding mutual friends, creating a custom friends list, blocking certain users, enabling Ghost Mode, limiting the audience for snaps and stories, limiting friend requests, and disabling Quick Add. By implementing one or more of these methods, Snapchat users can ensure that their friends list remains hidden from prying eyes. However, it’s important to remember that these methods may not completely hide your friends list, as some features on Snapchat still allow users to see mutual friends and connections. It’s always advisable to regularly review and update your privacy settings to maintain the desired level of privacy on the platform.