Deleting a friend from Snapchat removes them from your friends list and stops them from seeing your Stories

When you delete someone from Snapchat, they can no longer see your Stories or send you Snaps unless they add you again. The person you delete is not notified that you removed them, though they may notice they can no longer view your content. If you want to block someone instead — which prevents them from contacting you at all — that is a separate action with stronger restrictions.

The deletion process takes about 10 seconds and works the same way on iPhone and Android. You do not need to open Snapchat settings or go through multiple menus; the option sits right on the friend's profile.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting someone from Snapchat removes them from your friends list but does not notify them or prevent them from adding you again later.
  • The delete option appears when you long-press on a friend's name in your friends list or tap their profile.
  • Blocking is different from deleting and prevents someone from messaging you, calling you, or viewing your Stories even if they try to add you again.
  • If you delete someone by mistake, you can add them back by searching for their username and sending a new friend request.
  • Deleted friends can still see old Snaps or messages you sent them before the deletion, but cannot see new content you post.

Delete a friend using the friends list

Open Snapchat and tap the Friends icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like a person with a plus sign). This shows your full friends list. Find the person you want to remove and long-press their name — hold your finger on it for about two seconds until a menu appears.

A row of options will pop up. Tap Remove Friend. The person is now deleted from your friends list. If you want to undo this immediately, tap Undo while the confirmation message is still visible at the bottom of the screen — you have a few seconds to do this.

Delete a friend from their profile

You can also delete someone by visiting their profile directly. Tap the Friends icon, find the person, and tap their name or profile picture to open their profile. At the top right, you will see three dots or a menu icon. Tap it.

A menu will appear with several options. Look for Remove Friend or a trash can icon and tap it. Confirm the removal when prompted. This method works the same way as deleting from the friends list — the person is removed, but not notified.

The difference between deleting and blocking

Deleting someone removes them from your friends list, but they can still add you again if they search for your username. They also cannot see your Stories or send you Snaps, but the removal is not permanent or restrictive.

Blocking is stronger. When you block someone, they cannot find your profile, send you messages, call you, or view your Stories — even if they try to add you again. To block someone, open their profile, tap the three dots, and select Block. You can unblock them later the same way.

Use delete if you simply want to remove someone from your active friends. Use block if someone is harassing you or you do not want them contacting you at all.

What happens after you delete someone

Once deleted, the person can no longer see your Stories, and new Snaps you send will not reach them. However, they can still see old Snaps or messages you sent before the deletion — Snapchat does not erase message history when you remove a friend.

The person will not receive a notification that you deleted them. They may eventually notice they cannot view your Stories or that your profile no longer appears in their friends list, but Snapchat does not send an alert.

If you change your mind, you can add the person back by searching for their username and sending a new friend request. They will have to accept the request before you are friends again.

Deleting multiple friends at once

Snapchat does not have a bulk delete feature, so you must remove friends one at a time. If you need to clean up your friends list, the fastest method is to go to your Friends list, long-press each person you want to remove, and tap Remove Friend. This takes a few seconds per person.

If you want to start fresh with a completely new friends list, your only option is to delete people individually. There is no "clear all friends" button in Snapchat settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I deleted them?

No. Snapchat does not send a notification when you delete someone. They may notice over time that they cannot see your Stories or that you no longer appear in their friends list, but they will not receive a message saying you removed them.

Can I delete someone without them being able to add me again?

Not with delete alone. If you want to prevent someone from adding you again, you need to block them instead. Blocking stops them from finding your profile or contacting you, while delete just removes them from your current friends list.

What if I accidentally deleted someone?

If you deleted someone by mistake, tap Undo immediately while the confirmation message is still on your screen. If you miss that window, search for their username in Snapchat and send a new friend request. They will need to accept it to be friends again.

Can I see old messages after I delete someone?

Yes. Deleting someone does not erase your chat history. You can still see old Snaps and messages you sent before the deletion, but you cannot send new ones unless you add them back as a friend.

Is there a way to delete friends on Snapchat Web?

Snapchat Web does not have a full friends management feature. You must use the Snapchat app on your phone to delete friends. Open the app, go to your Friends list, and follow the steps above.