Why can’t I Find Someone On Snapchat (Reasons & Solutions)

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By Ankit Kumar

Snapchat is a popular social media platform that allows users to share photos, videos, and messages with friends and family.

However, sometimes users may have difficulty finding a specific person on the app.

So, if you are also in the same boat and can’t find someone on Snapchat (not blocked), you are at the right place.

Here, we have explained why you can’t find someone on Snapchat and what you can do to fix it.


Why can’t I Find Someone On Snapchat

Short answer: You may not be able to find someone on Snapchat for various reasons such as deactivated or blocked account, changed username, private account, not having an account on Snapchat or the server may be down. It’s best to check these possible reasons one by one to find the exact cause.

1. The person has blocked you

If the person you’re trying to find has blocked you, you will not be able to find them on the app or view their stories or messages.

2. The person has deleted their account

If the person you’re trying to find has deleted their Snapchat account, you will not be able to find them on the app

3. The person has changed their username

If the person you’re trying to find has changed their username, you will not be able to find them by searching for their old username. You will need to ask them for their new username or search for them by their phone number or email.

4. Typo or mistake on the name

Make sure you have the correct spelling of the username, if the name is misspelled then you won’t find the person on Snapchat.

5. Snapchat app glitch

If you are unable to find someone on Snapchat and suspect it may be due to a glitch or bug in the app.

If you are unable to find someone on Snapchat and suspect it may be due to a glitch or bug in the app, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem:

  1. Restart the app: Close the app and reopen it to see if this resolves the issue. Sometimes, a simple restart of the app can fix the problem.
  2. Restart your device: Sometimes, a simple restart of your device can fix the problem.
  3. Check your internet connection: A poor internet connection can cause issues with the app, so make sure you have a strong and stable connection.
  4. Update the app: Make sure you have the latest version of the Snapchat app.
  5. Clear the cache: Clearing the cache can help fix issues with the app, go to your device settings, find the Snapchat app, and clear the cache.

6. Snapchat server may be down

Another possible reason you may not be able to find someone on Snapchat is if the Snapchat server is down.

This means that the app is experiencing technical difficulties and is not able to connect to the server, which can prevent users from being able to search for and add other users.

In this case, you may need to wait until the server is back up and running before you can find the person you are looking for.


How to find someone on Snapchat

There are several ways to find someone on Snapchat:

1. Search by username

If you know the person’s username, you can search for them in the search bar at the top of the Snapchat camera screen.

2. Add from Contacts

If the person has shared their contact information with you, you can add them by going to your Snapchat settings, selecting “Who Can Contact Me” and then selecting “Contacts.”

3. Scan a Snapcode

You can add friends on Snapchat by scanning their Snapcode, which is a unique QR code that represents a user’s account. Here’s how to do it:

  • Open the Snapchat app and go to the camera screen.
  • Point your camera at the Snapcode of the person you want to add. The Snapcode can be found on their profile page, or they can send it to you.
  • The Snapcode should automatically be recognized, and a yellow border will appear around it.
  • Press and hold on the Snapcode until the “Add Friend” button appears.
  • Tap on the “Add Friend” button and the person will be added to your friends list.
  • The person will receive a notification that you’ve added them, and they can choose to accept or decline your friend request.

If the Snapcode is not recognized automatically, you can also tap on the camera screen and select “Snapcode” and then scan the code manually.

4. Add from Snap Map

If the person has enabled location sharing on their Snapchat account, you can find them on Snap Map, which shows the locations of your friends on a map.

5. Add by phone number

If the person has shared their phone number with you, you can add them by going to your Snapchat settings, selecting “Who Can Contact Me” and then selecting “Phone number”.

6. Add by email

If the person has shared their email address with you, you can add them by going to your Snapchat settings, selecting “Who Can Contact Me” and then selecting “Email”.

Keep in mind that if the person’s account is private, you will need to send a friend request and wait for them to approve it before you can add them as a friend.

7. Use ‘Add Nearby’ feature.

Another way to find someone on Snapchat is by using the “Add Nearby” feature. Here’s how to use it:

  • Open the Snapchat app and go to the “Add Friends” screen.
  • Tap on the “Add Nearby” button.
  • Make sure your Bluetooth is turned on and your device’s location services are enabled.
  • Once the feature is enabled, it will display a list of nearby users who have also enabled the “Add Nearby” feature.
  • Tap on the user you want to add, and then tap on the “Add Friend” button.
  • The person will receive a notification that you’ve added them, and they can choose to accept or decline your friend request.

Keep in mind that both parties need to have the “Add Nearby” feature enabled, and that both should be in the same vicinity for this feature to work.


Final Words:

In conclusion, if you’re having trouble finding someone on Snapchat, it could be due to a variety of reasons such as being blocked, the account being deleted, the account being private, a change in username or a typo while searching.

To find the person, you can try searching by their phone number or email or contact them directly and ask for their new username.


Further Reading:

Why does my Snapchat Location say I’m somewhere else

How far off can Snapchat location be

Why Do I Get Notifications that Someone is on Snapchat

I Don’t Want my Contacts to Find me on Snapchat

Snapchat ‘In My Contacts But Not in My Contacts’ Meaning