Snapchat's disappearing messages might give you a false sense of privacy, but the app collects significant amounts of personal data — including your location, contacts, and browsing habits. Here's how to configure Snapchat's privacy settings to protect yourself.
Why Snapchat Privacy Matters
Snapchat has over 800 million monthly active users, making it one of the most widely used social platforms in the world. While the app is best known for its ephemeral messaging, it also tracks your real-time location through Snap Map, stores your content in Memories, and shares data with third-party advertisers.
Without proper privacy settings, strangers can contact you, see your location, find your profile, and view your activity status. Here's how to lock down every privacy setting on Snapchat.
How to Access Snapchat Privacy Settings
To change your privacy settings in the Snapchat app:
- Tap your profile picture or Bitmoji in the top-left corner
- Tap the gear icon (⚙️) to open Settings
- Scroll down to the "Privacy Controls" section
Essential Privacy Settings to Change
1. Set "Contact Me" to Friends Only
By default, Snapchat allows friends and contacts from your phone to send you snaps and messages. Change this to "Friends" only to prevent strangers from contacting you.
Go to Settings → Privacy Controls → Contact Me and select "Friends."
2. Turn Off "Quick Add"
The Quick Add feature suggests your profile to other users, including strangers who have mutual friends with you. This can expose your account to people you don't want finding you.
Go to Settings → Privacy Controls → See Me in Quick Add and toggle it off.
3. Enable Ghost Mode on Snap Map
Snap Map is one of Snapchat's biggest privacy risks. It shows your real-time location to friends, and by default, it's visible to everyone you've added. This feature has been linked to stalking and safety concerns.
To enable Ghost Mode:
- Open the Snap Map (pinch to zoom out on the camera screen)
- Tap the gear icon in the top right
- Toggle "Ghost Mode" on
Ghost Mode Is Not Permanent
When you enable Ghost Mode, Snapchat asks if you want it on for 3 hours, 24 hours, or "Until Turned Off." Always select "Until Turned Off" — otherwise your location will automatically become visible again after the timer expires.
4. Restrict Story Viewing
Control who can see your Snapchat Stories to limit your audience:
Go to Settings → Privacy Controls → View My Story and choose:
- "Friends Only" — Only people you've added back can view your Story
- "Custom" — Block specific friends from seeing your Story
- "Private Story" — Create stories visible only to selected friends
5. Disable Activity Indicator
The Activity Indicator shows other users when you were last active on Snapchat. Turn this off to prevent people from monitoring your online habits.
Go to Settings → Privacy Controls → Activity Indicator and toggle it off.
6. Turn Off Find Friends
The Find Friends feature syncs your phone contacts with Snapchat, allowing people with your phone number to find your account. Disable this to keep your Snapchat account separate from your phone contacts.
Go to Settings → Privacy Controls → Phone Number and uncheck "Let others find me using my phone number."
7. Manage Memories Auto-Save
Snapchat's Memories feature stores your snaps and stories permanently, which contradicts the app's disappearing-message design. Control what gets saved:
Go to Settings → Memories and adjust your auto-save preferences. Consider turning off "Auto-Save My Story Snaps" to prevent automatic storage.
Control Data Sharing with Advertisers
Snapchat shares your data with advertisers for targeted advertising. To limit this:
- Go to Settings → Privacy Controls → Ad Preferences
- Toggle off "Activity-Based Ads" to stop Snapchat from using your activity to personalize ads
- Toggle off "Third-Party Ad Networks" to prevent data sharing with external ad partners
Review Connected Apps
Go to Settings → Connected Apps to see which third-party apps have access to your Snapchat account. Revoke access for any apps you no longer use or don't recognize. Each connected app is a potential source of data leakage.
Additional Security Measures
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Protect your account from unauthorized access by enabling 2FA:
- Go to Settings → Two-Factor Authentication
- Choose between SMS verification or an authentication app (an authentication app is more secure)
- Follow the prompts to complete setup
Review Login Activity
Regularly check Settings → Session Management to see all devices currently logged into your Snapchat account. Log out of any sessions you don't recognize.
The Bigger Privacy Picture
Securing your Snapchat account is one piece of your overall digital privacy. Your personal information may also be exposed on data broker sites like Spokeo, BeenVerified, and Whitepages — sites that aggregate your name, address, phone number, and more from public records.
PrivacyOn helps protect your privacy beyond social media by removing your personal information from 100+ data broker sites, monitoring the dark web for your exposed data, and providing 24/7 monitoring to catch new listings. Plans start at just $8.33/month and cover up to 5 family members.