How to turn off Friend Suggestions on Snapchat

Snapchat logo next to person holding phoneUNSPLASH: ROBIN WORRALL

One of Snapchat’s many features is giving you friend suggestions based on the users in your contact list. If you’d prefer not to receive these recommendations, you can easily turn off the Friends Suggestions feature.

One of the most controversial features on Snapchat is the Friend Suggestions function, which recommends other users you might want to add to your friends list.

The feature is helpful if you’ve forgotten your friend’s snap code or if they’ve changed their number. But this convenience doesn’t resonate with everyone. For some, it feels unnecessary or even intrusive.

Article continues after ad

Friend Suggestions can sometimes suggest people you don’t know, who might have your phone number for various reasons. Sometimes, it may even include scammers or users with ulterior motives, posing a potential risk to unsuspecting users. Fortunately, there is a way to turn off these suggestions.

Snapchat logo yellow backgroundSnapchat

How to turn off Snapchat’s friend suggestions

If you don’t need the Friend Suggestions function, here’s how to turn it off:

  1. Open Snapchat.
  2. Tap your profile in the top left-corner of the screen.
  3. Click the gear icon in the top right to open the Settings menu.
  4. Under ‘My Account,’ scroll down and select ‘Notifications.’
  5. Now you will see a number of options, including the Friend Suggestions button.
  6. Swipe the tab to the left to toggle off Friend Suggestions.

Open Snapchat and tap your profile in the top left-corner of the screen

Snapchat step 1SNAPCHAT/DEXERTO

Start by opening the Snapchat app on your device. If you’re not logged in, enter your email and password to access your account. Once inside, tap your profile icon in the top left corner of the screen.

Article continues after ad

Click the gear icon in the top right to open the Settings menu

Snapchat step 2SNAPCHAT/DEXERTO

When you open your profile, you’ll see a gear icon in the top right corner. Tap it to access your Snapchat Settings.

Under ‘My Account,’ scroll down and select ‘Notifications’

Snapchat step 3SNAPCHAT/DEXERTO

Tap on ‘Notifications’ under ‘My Account.’ You’ll find it just below ‘Two-Factor Authentication’ and above ‘Memories.’

Find the Friend Suggestions button and swipe the tab left to turn it off

Snapchat step 4 and 5SNAPCHAT/DEXERTO

You’ll now see several options, including the Friend Suggestions button. Swipe the tab to the left to turn off Friend Suggestions.

Another feature that users often find unnecessary is Quick Add. This feature suggests accounts you may know or find interesting, allowing you to add them with a simple click, no search required.

Article continues after ad

If you’d prefer not to be easily found and added by others, check out our guide on how to turn off the Quick Add feature on Snapchat

If you want to learn more about how to use Snapchat, you can check out some of our other guides, including how to remove someone from your Snapchat best friends list and how to make a private story on Snapchat.