Snapchat is a popular photo-messaging app that allows you to take photos, record videos, add drawings, and send them to your friends. When a friend receives a photo or video message, known as a “snap,” it appears for a few seconds — 10 at most — and then it’s permanently deleted. Whether you’re a Snapchat veteran or a complete newbie, our guide will you get started with the platform and run you through some of the app’s more integral features, whether you’re looking to create a story or quickly reimburse a friend for that Naked Chicken Chalupa.
More: 21 Instagram tips and tricks you can’t afford to miss
Getting started with Snapchat
To get started with Snapchat, you’ll need to download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Once the app is installed, tap the Snapchat icon to open it. Tap Sign Up, enter your email address, and then tap password and enter a secure password. Next, you’ll need to choose your username, which will be your identity on Snapchat. Make sure it’s something that you’ll be able to remember, because you won’t be able to change your username after you set it.
Keep in mind: In order to use Snapchat, you need to be at least 13 years old. If you aren’t, you’ll be re-directed to a restricted version of Snapchat called Snapkidz.
From there, you’ll need to do a few more things before you start snapping.
Adjust your settings
Before you start using Snapchat, make sure you take a look at your settings by tapping on the red square that is located at the bottom right-hand corner of your camera screen. Then, tap the gear icon in the top-right hand corner. This is where you can also update your personal information, including who can send you snaps and view your Stories.
Find and add friends
To add friends on Snapchat, tap “My Contacts” on your Profile screen. All of your contacts with Snapchat accounts will then be displayed, along with friends who don’t have Snapchat. If one of your friends doesn’t have Snapchat, you can send them an invite via SMS. When a friend adds you, the ghost icon at the top of your Camera screen will turn yellow. To add a friend who has added you, tap “Added Me” on your Profile screen.
Create your first snap
When you open up Snapchat, it automatically activates your phone’s camera, and it’s pretty easy to use. You can easily adjust the focus of the camera, by tapping anywhere on the screen. To switch from rear camera to front camera, tap the camera icon in the upper-right corner. To turn on the flash, tap the lightning symbol at the top-left hand corner. To snap a photo, tap the circle at the bottom of the screen. To take a video, tap and hold the circle at the bottom of the screen. With Snapchat, you can only record videos up to 10 seconds long.
Spicing up your snaps
One of the greatest things about Snapchat is that it offers plenty of features to help spice up your snaps. You can doodle on your snaps, add different hues, and adjust the time limit. To doodle on your snaps, tap on the pencil tool, which is located on the top-right hand corner. You can pick a color by adjusting the slider. Then, use your finger to draw on the photo. If you make a mistake, don’t worr᷾y — you can easily undo your mistake by tapping the arrow on the left of the pencil.
How to add a cool filter or effect
Are you trying to add different hues to your snap? Make sure you go to your settings and enable the filter feature. Simply swipe your finger left or right and you’ll be able to preview each feature.
How to adjust the time limit
By adjusting the time limit, you can choose how long you want your recipient to be able to view your snap. With Snapchat, you can adjust the time up to 10 seconds. Tap the stopwatch icon at the bottom of the left-hand corner, to adjust the time limit.
How to save your snaps
If you want to save your image or video before sending, tap on the downwards pointing arrow at the bottom of the screen to download. If you want to save an image, Snapchat must have access to your photo album.
Sending your first snap
Now that you’ve opened up your account and you’ve added some friends, you’re ready to send your first snap! To send a snap, tap the arrow in the bottom-right corner. Your contact list will then appear, and you can choose who you want to send it to. With Snapchat, there is no limit on how many people you can send a snap to, so have fun with it and send your snap to as many friends as you want. When you’re ready to send your snap, tap the arrow in the bottom-right corner.
If you already have a photo in your phone you want to share on Snapchat, just click the small circle under the larger circle you typically use to take a photo. You will be transferred to the Memories section of Snapchat, which is a collection of Snapchat stories, videos, and pictures you’ve previously saved. Here, you’ll also find a Camera Roll tab, which you can click to browse the photos on your phone. Simply tap on one of the pictures, edit it, and hit send!
Viewing received snaps
To view your snaps, go to the camera screen, and you’ll see a number located on the bottom-left hand corner of the screen. This number will show you how many new snaps you have. If you find there is a filled-in icon next to your friend’s name, that just means you haven’t opened up their snap yet. If you see an empty square or triangle that means you already viewed the snap.
Creating and sending Stories
Back in 2013, Snapchat introduced Stories, a feature that allows you to add a “snap” to a feed for 24 hours before it vanishes. Stories can be seen by your friends – or pretty much anyone.
To create a Story, take a photo or video and then tap on the icon with a plus sign, which is located at the bottom of your screen. Next, tap “Add to Your Story.” If you want to delete a snap from your Story, just go to your “MyFriends” page and tap on the gear icon next to your Story. You can also manage who views your Stories by going to settings.
Discovering curated stories from Snapchat’s editorial teams
With Snapchat, it’s easy to discover curated stories from Snapchat’s various editorial teams. Right now, there are more than 25 media outlets to choose from, including IGN, The New York Times, Complex, ESPN, CNN, People, Vice, Food Network, and Mashable. There’s also a Snap channel, that offers posts from other content creators.
To use the Discover feature, you can either tap on the dotted circle in the upper-right corner of your story feed or simply swipe left. In the Discover tab, you will see thumbnails of stories from different media outlets. Tap a story to access it, or swipe down to exit. Each story is broken up into short video clips that you can tap through like a normal Snapchat video. Some also allow you to swipe up and read a full article. Keep in mind that each channel has ads, though you can easily skip through them.
Chatting on Snapchat
Snapchat doesn’t just let you send snaps and Stories, you can also chat with your friends. To start a chat, go to your Snapchat inbox and swipe right on a friend’s name. If you want to send a photo or video, tap the yellow camera button. When you leave the chat screen, all of your messages between you and your friend will automatically be cleared. If you want to save a chat, tap on the message you want to keep, and the font will change, this just means the conversation has been saved.
How to live-video chat on Snapchat
Once you and your friend are in the chat, the camera button will turn blue. To start a live video chat, all you and your friend need to do is hold your fingers down on the camera button at the same time. You can easily switch from the front-facing camera to the rear-facing camera by dragging your finger up or down. If you want to end the video chat, drag away from the locked position and take your finger off the screen.
Sending money to other Snapchatters
In 2014, Snapchat partnered with Square to launch Snapcash, a service for sending money to friends. After you add your debit card, it’s securely stored by Square, who will process your payment and send money directly to your friend’s bank account. Once your debit card is set up, all you have to do is swipe into chat, type the dollar sign and the amount you want to send (e.g. $ 15), and hit the green Snapcash button that will show up on the right. Snapcash is only available to Snapchatters who are 18 years old and live in the United Sates.
Using Snapchat Spectacles
With the introduction of Snapachat Spectacles, you no longer have to pause and take out your phone to capture a moment. Although the Spectacles were once reserved for those who could locate a nomadic vending machine, thankfully, you can now purchase one online directly from the Spectacles website for a cool $ 130. If you can get your hands on a pair, it offers a unique way to record snaps while on the move.
Before you start taking Snapchat videos with apt-titled glasses, however, you have to pair your Spectacles with your account. To do so, open Snapchat and tap the ghost icon in the upper-right corner of the Snapchat camera. From there, tap on the Settings button and scroll down until you see Spectacles. Tap the Spectacles button and click Pair Spectacles. A Snapcode will then appear, and once you aim your glasses at the code and tap the shutter button, the pairing process should begin.
To record a video using the Spectacles, you simply tap the button on the left-hand side of the glasses. The glasses will record a 10-second video, and you can add 10 seconds at a time to your video with each additional tap. The LED lights in the specs will also light up when the glasses are recording.
Be sure to check out our full guide on using Spectacles, from how to buy one to using it.
This article was original published on October 28, 2016, and updated on February 24, 2017, by Keith Nelson Jr. to include new information pertaining to the Discover feature and Spectacles availability.
