Snapchat is one of the most popular free chat apps for iPhone, especially among young people. The special thing is that you send each other photos and videos that quickly disappear. Snapchat also deliberately does not choose menus and buttons, which can make the app difficult to understand for the elderly. Still, there are a lot of possibilities in the app and Snapchat is constantly at the forefront with new features. We’ll tell you more about it in this guide to Snapchat.
- That’s how Snapchat works
- Download snapchat
- Add friends
- Edit your Snaps
- Snaps visible longer
- More Snapchat tips
How does Snapchat work?
Snapchat works differently than other messaging apps. You first take a photo or video and only when you are satisfied do you press the names of friends who may receive your message. You decide how long friends can see the photo. In the row of editing options on the right, you’ll find a timer that lets you choose between 1 and 10 seconds. Use the arrow on the right to send the photo. Once the recipient has viewed a photo, the message will be deleted.
You can also add photos and videos to My Story, a compilation of your best events of the day for all your friends to see, which will automatically disappear after 24 hours.
Download snapchat
You can find the Snapchat app in the App Store. The app is not optimized for the iPad, but you can use it on the iPad. After installing, start the app and create an account. Snapchat also wants to know your email address and date of birth.
You can always change your Snapchat username and change your account name at a later time. If necessary, you can also delete your SnapChat account and delete your profile.
Add friends in Snapchat
You can add friends by swiping down on the camera screen or tapping the plus icon in the Stories tab. You have the option to search based on username or location, but you can also scan a Snapcode. The Snapcode is a QR code that you can easily share with a friend. Press your Bitmoji at the top of the camera screen and your QR code will appear.
Edit your Snapchat selfies and videos
Creating a message in Snapchat is child’s play. You briefly press the camera button at the bottom of the screen to take a photo. If you hold it down, Snapchat will automatically create a video. Under your finger you will see a bar filling up with red. Once the bar is full, you cannot continue filming. Then you see the result of the photo or video.
You can make a photo or video in Snapchat more fun in several ways:
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Type text
Tap the image to get a text bar. The keyboard appears and you write a line of text. When you’re done, you can grab the line of text and move it to a different height, so it’s not in the middle of the screen. You can use the slider on the right to determine the color of the text. If you press the letter icon at the top right of the screen, you will get large letters without a background. -
To draw
With a tap on the pencil at the top right of the screen, you can draw and add handwritten text to your message. By swiping your finger on the color bar, you choose the color with which you draw. Hold the same ball, move to the left and swipe up and down to fine-tune the colors. If you want, you can draw yourself with emojis. In that case, tap the emoji below the color bar. -
Add links
You can add a link to a Snap by clicking the paper clip after taking a photo or video. People viewing your Snap can open the link by swiping up. -
Add music
Add a happy tune to your photo by pressing the music note. A library of music will open in which you can search. Select a song and determine which part of the song you place under your photo or video by moving the music bar at the bottom of the image. -
filters
You can display the temperature, place and time on a large screen on your message. After taking a photo, swipe left or right. For example, you see the time and the current temperature, but also color filters. -
Stickers and Emojis
Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen and choose one of the many stickers that come standard in Snapchat. You can also access Bitmoji here, if you use that app. Of course, all emoji are also available as a sticker. With the scissors icon you can also make a sticker yourself. -
Lenses
With lenses you can give yourself a completely different look. Long press on your face until a kind of grid appears over it or press the emoji symbol to the right of the camera button. You can then choose from the many lenses available. Additional sound effects or animations are clearly indicated on the screen. -
Voice filters
If you click on the speaker at the bottom left after making a video, you can apply a voice filter. You can sound like a robot or a hamster, among other things.
Another fun application is the Snapchat Faceswap, where you swap faces with a friend.
Satisfied with your photo or video? Save it for yourself by pressing the download symbol. You can add your photo or video to your Memories or save it to Photos. Sending is done via the large button at the bottom right of the screen.
Make Snapchat messages visible longer
You can make your photos and videos visible in Snapchat in two ways:
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Add to My Story
Don’t press the arrow at the bottom right to send a photo or video, but the button at the bottom with the caption ‘Story’. The photo will then be added to your collection of Snapchat messages, which others can review for 24 hours. After that, the messages disappear. You share My Story with your friends by default, but you can also make it publicly available. -
Add to Snapchat Memories
Snapchat Memories lets you create an archive of all the snaps you’ve sent. You can send them again later or share them in your Story. You can also export Memories to your camera roll.
More Snapchat tips
We have many more tips about Snapchat. You read them here:
- Change Snapchat username, change account name
- This is how Snapchat Memories works
- See where your Snapchat friends are with the Snap Map
- 9 Hidden Snapchat Features to Enhance Your Snaps
- This is how Snapchat Face Swap works: Swap faces with a friend
- Delete SnapChat account and delete Snapchat profile
- This is how you take better photos for Instagram and Snapchat
- This is how you prevent Snapchat from draining your battery
- Here’s how you can save Snapchat photos without your friends knowing
