Snapchat’s Snap Map and location stories allow you to see where your friends are and what they are up to around the world. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use these features to view your friends’ locations and stories:
Table of Contents
Enable Snap Map
Snap Map is opt-in, so you need to enable it first in your Snapchat settings:
- Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top-left corner
- Tap the settings icon (gear shape)
- Scroll down and tap ‘See My Location’ under Snap Map
- Select either ‘My Friends’ to share your location with friends, or ‘Select Friends…’ to choose specific friends
Once enabled, your friends will be able to see your location on the Snap Map.
View Friends on the Snap Map
To see your friends’ locations:
- Pinch outwards on the camera screen to open the Snap Map
- The map will show your friend’s Bitmoji avatars in locations they have recently snapped
- Tap on a friend’s Bitmoji to view their public story or send them a chat
- You can also search for a specific friend by tapping the search bar at the top
The Snap Map is a great way to see where your friends are and what they are up to in real-time.
View Location Stories
In addition to the Snap Map showing your friends’ current locations, there is also a feature called location stories. Location stories are public snaps submitted by Snapchat users to showcase what is happening in specific locations.
To view location stories:
- Open the Snap Map and tap on a location story icon
- This will bring up the submitted public snaps from that location
- Swipe up to view more snaps from the same location
Location stories are a great way to explore what is happening in different places around the world through the lens of Snapchat users. Popular locations typically have many recent stories.
Customize Location Sharing
You can customize exactly who can view your location on Snap Map at any time:
- My Friends – All of your added Snapchat friends can view your location
- Select Friends – Choose specific friends who can view your location
- Only Me – Turn off friend location sharing completely
To change your location sharing settings:
- Open your profile and tap the settings icon
- Tap ‘See My Location’
- Select your desired sharing option
It’s recommended to only share with friends you personally know and trust. Never share your location with strangers.
Appearing Offline
If you want to use Snapchat but not appear on the Snap Map:
- Open Snapchat settings
- Toggle on ‘Ghost Mode’
This will make you appear offline so friends can’t view your location.
Parental Controls
Parents who want to limit their child’s Snapchat access can enable additional restrictions:
- Disable Snap Map location sharing
- Restrict who can contact them
- Limit account features
Refer to Snapchat’s support articles for detailed instructions on setting up parental controls.
