How do I send a message to someone I’m not friends with on Snapchat?
- Find a Snapchatter in your Contacts that you want to message from Search, the Add Friends screen, or the recommended Contacts in your feed
- Tap on their name to open a new Chat
- Send them a message
Keep in mind that non-friend Snapchatters that you try to contact for the first time have the option to hide or block your message after they view it. Also, you must be at least 18 years old to send or receive messages from non-friends.
What if I try to message them from my iPhone Contacts?
On iPhone, if Snapchat is your default messaging app (or you choose Snapchat when you message a contact), Snapchat can open when you try to message someone from your iPhone Contacts.
If that person is on Snapchat but you are not friends yet, you may see options to:
- Add them as a friend (this sends a friend request, then opens Chat)
- Cancel (closes the prompt)
Please Note: If Chat opens and your friend request is still pending, you can send a message. If their ‘Contact Me’ setting is ‘Friends and Contacts,’ they can see your message; if it’s ‘Friends’ only, they won’t see it until they accept your friend request.
Snapchat matches the phone number the same way it does when you add friends from your contacts. The number needs to be in your contacts and already linked to a Snapchat account.
If Snapchat cannot show their username, you may see their phone number instead.
What if they are not on Snapchat?
If Snapchat cannot find an account for that number, you may see an option to invite them by text. Choosing that option opens Messages with an invite to download Snapchat. After they join, you can add them as a friend.