Snapchat’s Best Friends list is one of the most talked-about features on the platform. Whether you’re trying to figure out who’s on it, how it works, or how to manage it, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll break down everything about the Snapchat Best Friends list — from how it’s created to how to control what others see.
Outline
H1: Best Friends List on Snapchat
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H2: Introduction to Snapchat Best Friends
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H2: How the Best Friends Algorithm Works
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H3: Snap Score and Interaction Frequency
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H3: Chat Activity and Snap Exchanges
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H3: Group Chats and Story Interactions
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H2: How to View Your Best Friends List
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H3: Locating the List on Your Chat Screen
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H3: Understanding Emojis Beside Names
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H2: Snapchat Friend Emojis Explained
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H3: 💛 Yellow Heart – Besties
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H3: ❤️ Red Heart – Close Friends for Two Weeks
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H3: 💕 Pink Hearts – Super Best Friends
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H3: 😎 Sunglasses Emoji – Shared Best Friend
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H3: 🔥 Fire – Snapstreaks
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H2: How Many Best Friends Can You Have?
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H2: Can You Edit or Remove Best Friends?
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H3: Removing Best Friends Manually
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H3: Blocking and Unfriending
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H3: Changing Emoji Indicators
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H2: How to Customize Your Snapchat Best Friends Emojis
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H2: Does Snapchat Publicly Show Your Best Friends?
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H3: Privacy Settings and Display Rules
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H2: How the Best Friends List Updates Over Time
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H2: Myths About the Best Friends List
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H2: Tips to Manage Your Snapchat Relationships
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H2: Snapchat Plus and Best Friends Solar System
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H2: How to Hide or Control Your Friend Emojis
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H2: Troubleshooting Common Snapchat Best Friends Issues
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H2: Conclusion
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H2: FAQs
Best Friends List on Snapchat
Snapchat has always been about connections — quick photos, funny filters, and shared moments. But behind the fun lies one of the app’s most interesting features: the Best Friends list. This hidden ranking system shows the people you interact with most, revealing insights about your digital relationships.
What Is the Snapchat Best Friends List?
The Best Friends list on Snapchat is a personalized ranking of the users you communicate with most often. It’s automatically generated by Snapchat’s algorithm based on your recent interactions, including Snaps, chats, and story replies.
Essentially, your Best Friends are the people you’re most active with — think of them as your top circle within Snapchat.
How the Best Friends Algorithm Works
Snapchat doesn’t publicly reveal its exact algorithm, but here’s what most users and experts agree influences it:
Snap Score and Interaction Frequency
The more frequently you send and receive Snaps or messages, the higher your interaction ranking becomes. Consistent daily snaps are key.
Chat Activity and Snap Exchanges
Snapchat counts every direct chat, image, and video you exchange with a person. The higher the exchange volume, the stronger the bond in the algorithm’s eyes.
Group Chats and Story Interactions
Although group messages count, direct one-on-one interactions carry more weight. Replies to stories can also boost your ranking slightly.
How to View Your Best Friends List
Locating the List on Your Chat Screen
Your Best Friends appear at the top of your Chat tab or Send To screen. These are usually labeled with emojis that represent your relationship.
Understanding Emojis Beside Names
Each emoji corresponds to your level of friendship with that person. These emojis update automatically as your interaction changes.
Snapchat Friend Emojis Explained
Snapchat uses emojis as visual badges to represent friendship levels. Let’s decode what they mean:
💛 Yellow Heart – Besties
You’re each other’s #1 Best Friend. You send the most snaps to them, and they do the same to you.
❤️ Red Heart – Close Friends for Two Weeks
You’ve maintained the #1 Best Friend position for two consecutive weeks.
💕 Pink Hearts – Super Best Friends
You’ve been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two months straight — the ultimate sign of consistency!
😎 Sunglasses Emoji – Shared Best Friend
You both have one or more Best Friends in common. Basically, your circles overlap.
🔥 Fire – Snapstreaks
You and your friend have been sending snaps to each other daily. The number beside the emoji shows how many days your streak has lasted.
How Many Best Friends Can You Have?
Snapchat shows up to eight Best Friends at a time. This number can change based on your usage:
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Light users might see fewer than eight.
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Heavy users often see the full list.
Can You Edit or Remove Best Friends?
You can’t directly “edit” your Best Friends, but you can influence the list by changing your behavior.
Removing Best Friends Manually
If you stop snapping or chatting with someone, they’ll eventually fall off your list as your interaction score decreases.
Blocking and Unfriending
Blocking or removing someone instantly takes them off your Best Friends list.
Changing Emoji Indicators
You can change what emojis appear next to friends by going to:
Settings → Customize Emojis → Friend Emojis
How to Customize Your Snapchat Best Friends Emojis
Snapchat allows personalization. You can swap default emojis with any you prefer. For example, replace 💛 with 🌟 if that feels more “you.” It’s a small touch but makes the app more fun.
Does Snapchat Publicly Show Your Best Friends?
In earlier versions, Snapchat displayed your Best Friends publicly. However, now only you can see your list. Others cannot view it unless you’re using Snapchat Plus, which includes additional friend-related features.
How the Best Friends List Updates Over Time
Your list is dynamic — it updates regularly based on new interactions. If you start snapping a new friend daily, they might climb up to your Best Friends list within days, pushing others down.
Myths About the Best Friends List
There are many misconceptions floating around Snapchat:
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❌ You can’t manually reorder your list.
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❌ Viewing someone often doesn’t make them your Best Friend.
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✅ Only snap frequency and chats count.
Tips to Manage Your Snapchat Relationships
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Stay consistent: Daily Snaps matter.
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Use streaks to your advantage.
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Be mindful of privacy: Avoid over-sharing if you want to keep your list subtle.
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Clean up old chats: Snapchat rewards active relationships.
Snapchat Plus and Best Friends Solar System
Snapchat Plus introduces a “Solar System” feature — a fun, cosmic way to visualize your friendship ranking. Each friend is assigned a planet, with the Sun representing you. The closer their planet is, the stronger your connection.
For example:
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Mercury = Your #1 Best Friend
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Venus = #2 Best Friend
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And so on…
This feature is exclusive to Snapchat+ subscribers, adding a visual twist to friendships.
How to Hide or Control Your Friend Emojis
You can turn off or customize emojis entirely:
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Go to Settings → Manage → Friend Emojis
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Choose “Reset to Default” or hide emojis
Perfect for users who prefer a minimalist experience.
Troubleshooting Common Snapchat Best Friends Issues
If your list seems off, try:
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Logging out and back in
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Clearing cache
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Snapping regularly
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Updating Snapchat
Sometimes, the algorithm needs time to recalibrate based on your activity.
Conclusion
The Best Friends list on Snapchat is more than just a ranking — it’s a reflection of your digital life. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or competitive about it, understanding how it works gives you control over your Snapchat experience. Remember, your interactions define your circle — so snap wisely!
FAQs
1. How often does the Best Friends list update?
It updates regularly, often daily, depending on your snap and chat activity.
2. Can I hide my Best Friends list from others?
Yes! Only you can see your Best Friends list. Snapchat no longer displays it publicly.
3. Why did someone disappear from my Best Friends list?
They likely fell off because you stopped interacting as much or started snapping others more.
4. Can I have more than eight Best Friends?
No, eight is the maximum shown, though the internal algorithm tracks more data behind the scenes.
5. What’s the difference between Best Friends and Friends emojis?
Best Friend emojis (like 💛 or ❤️) reflect your top interactions, while other emojis show unique streaks or shared friends.
