How to Create a Snapchat Account Step by Step

Snapchat is one of the most popular apps for quick, playful photo/video messaging, stories, and creative AR effects. This guide walks you through everything from downloading the app to securing your account, picking friends, customizing Bitmoji, and common troubleshooting — written so anyone can set up Snapchat and start snapping confidently.

Quick overview — what you’ll learn

• What you need before starting (device, email/phone, age).
• Exact step-by-step instructions to sign up on iOS or Android.
• How to set username, display name, and Bitmoji.
• Adding friends (QR/Snapcode, contacts, username search).
• Essential settings (privacy, notifications, two-factor auth).
• Tips for staying safe and solving common problems.
• How to delete or temporarily disable your account if needed.

Before you start — what you’ll need

1. A smartphone or tablet running a recent version of iOS or Android.
2. An internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
3. An email address and/or a mobile phone number you can access (Snapchat uses these for verification and recovery).
4. Your birth date (Snapchat requires users to be at least 13).
5. Optional but recommended: a Bitmoji account (you can create this inside Snapchat) and permission to access contacts if you want to find friends easily.

Tips:

• If you want extra security, have a secondary email or backup phone number ready for account recovery.
• Think ahead about a username and display name — usernames are often permanent or hard to change, while display names can be more flexible (verify current username policy in-app).

Step 1 — Download Snapchat

On Android

1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. Search for Snapchat (by Snap Inc).
3. Tap Install and wait for the app to download.

On iPhone / iPad

1. Open the App Store.
2. Search for Snapchat.
3. Tap Get (you may authenticate with Face ID / Touch ID / Apple ID).

When the app finishes installing, open it.

Step 2 — Launch the app & choose Sign Up

1. Open Snapchat. You’ll see two options: Log In and Sign Up.
2. Tap Sign Up.
3. Snapchat will ask for basic information: first name and last name. These appear as your profile’s names (you can change display name later).
4. Tap Sign Up & Accept (or similar) to continue.

Step 3 — Enter your birthday

1. Snapchat requests your birth date. Enter it carefully.
   • This sets age-based features (e.g., minimum age rules).
2. Tap Continue.

Step 4 — Choose a username

1. Snapchat will prompt you to pick a username. This is your unique identifier on Snapchat.
2. Tips for choosing a good username:
   • Keep it short and easy to spell.
   • Avoid personal data (full date of birth, phone number).
   • Use underscores or numbers only if necessary.
   • Think long-term: you might keep this username for years.
3. Enter your desired username; Snapchat will tell you if it’s available. Try slight variations if it’s taken.
4. Confirm the username.

Note: Historically Snapchat usernames could not be changed (only display names could). Policies can change, so check the app’s prompts if Snapchat offers a username-change option during setup.

Step 5 — Create a password

1. Choose a strong password (at least 8 characters, mix of letters, numbers, symbols).
2. Avoid using easily guessed words (your name, “password123”).
3. Tap Continue.

Tip: Consider a password manager to generate and store a secure password.

Step 6 — Verify your phone number or email

Snapchat requires verification to help secure accounts and make account recovery possible.

Phone verification

1. Enter your mobile phone number (include country code).
2. Snapchat will send a verification code via SMS.
3. Enter the code in the app.
4. If SMS is delayed, some devices may show an option to call or resend the code.

Email verification

1. Enter an email address when prompted.
2. Open your email and find the verification message from Snapchat.
3. Click the verification link or enter the code in the app.

You can (and should) verify both phone and email if given the option.

Step 7 — Add friends during setup (optional)

Snapchat will offer multiple ways to add friends immediately:

• Sync contacts: Allow access to your phone contacts to find friends who are on Snapchat.
• Search usernames: Type a username and add that person.
• Scan Snapcode: If someone shows you their Snapcode (a special QR-like code), scan it with your camera.
• Quick Add: Snapchat suggests contacts you might know (based on mutual friends/contacts).

You can skip adding friends now and do this later.

Step 8 — Set up your Bitmoji (optional but fun)

Bitmoji creates a personalized avatar used in chats, stickers, and your profile.

1. Tap Create Bitmoji or Link to Bitmoji.
2. If you already have a Bitmoji account, log in; otherwise, create one via the wizard (choose face, hair, clothing, etc).
3. Your Bitmoji will sync to Snapchat and appear in your profile and stickers.

Pro tip: You can edit your Bitmoji anytime from your profile.

Step 9 — Grant app permissions

Snapchat works best if you grant permissions — camera, microphone, photos, and optionally location:

• Camera: Required for snaps and AR lenses.
• Microphone: To record sound in video snaps.
• Photos / Storage: Allows saving snaps to your camera roll (optional).
• Location: Enables Snap Map and location-based stickers (optional; you can set it to “Ghost Mode” later if preferred).

You can change these in your phone’s Settings later.

Step 10 — Explore your profile and settings

1. Tap your profile icon (top-left corner) to open your profile.
2. Here you’ll see:
   • Your Username and Display Name.
   • Your Snapcode (tap to share or show to friends to scan).
   • Bitmoji and Friends list.
   • Settings gear (top-right) — tap it to manage privacy, notifications, login verification, and more.

Spend a few minutes in Settings to configure privacy and security (next section).

Essential settings — what to set right away

Open Settings (profile → gear icon) and take care of these:

Privacy

• Who Can Contact Me — set to Friends (recommended) or Everyone.
• Who Can View My Story — choose Friends, Custom, or Everyone depending on comfort.
• Who Can See My Location (Snap Map) — choose Ghost Mode to hide location, or Friends or a custom subset if you want to share location.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

• Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (via SMS or an authentication app) to protect your account.
• Follow the setup steps in Settings → Two-Factor Authentication.

Login Verification / Recovery

• Add and verify email and phone for account recovery.
• Consider adding a recovery code if Snapchat offers it.

Notifications

• Adjust which Snapchat alerts you receive (snaps, stories, mentions, reminders).
• On iOS/Android, system notification settings can also block or allow push notifications.

Memories & Save Options

• Configure Memories (where saved snaps are stored).
• Decide whether saved snaps also save to your device.

Display Name vs Username

• Display Name is the friendly name friends see — this is usually changeable.
• Username is the unique handle — treat it like a durable identifier.

Finding & adding friends (detailed)

You can grow your friend list in multiple ways:

1. Using Contacts

• Allow Snapchat to access contacts.
• Tap Find Friends → Add from Contacts.
• Snapchat shows contacts who have linked their phone with Snapchat.

2. Snapcode (scan)

• Each user has a Snapcode (profile screen).
• To scan: Point your camera at a friend’s Snapcode, press and hold camera view, or use the scan button to import directly.

3. Username search

• Tap the search bar, type the username, tap Add.

4. Quick Add

• Snapchat suggests users you may know (mutuals). Tap Add beside their name.

5. Nearby or Snap Map

• If you share location and someone else does too, you might see them on Snap Map and add from there.

Making your first Snap & Story

1. From the main camera screen, tap once to take a photo, hold to record a video.
2. Add text, stickers, Bitmoji, or draw on it with the tools on the right.
3. Swipe left/right for lenses and filters (face filters require camera permission).
4. Tap the blue Send To button to:
   • Send to specific friends (tap names), or
   • Post to My Story to share with friends for 24 hours.
5. To save: tap the save icon (if enabled) to add the snap to Memories.

Safety & privacy best practices

• Set Stories to Friends rather than Everyone unless you intentionally want public exposure.
• Avoid sharing sensitive info (full address, financial info) in snaps or profile.
• Use Ghost Mode on Snap Map if you don’t want your location visible.
• Block and report anyone who harasses you (tap their profile → settings → Block or Report).
• Don’t accept random friend requests from people you don’t know.
• Be mindful of screenshots — Snapchat tries to notify senders when someone screenshots, but it’s not foolproof. Don’t send images you wouldn’t want saved elsewhere.
• Enable two-factor authentication to secure your account.

Troubleshooting common issues

I didn’t receive the verification SMS

• Check you entered the correct country code and phone number.
• Wait a few minutes (SMS can be delayed); request resend if needed.
• Try email verification instead if SMS fails.
• Ensure your phone can receive SMS (not blocked by carrier).

“Username already taken” error

• Try small variations: add numbers, underscores, or initials.
• Avoid special characters not supported by Snapchat.
• If you really need a specific username and it’s taken, consider a professionally branded display name instead.

App crashes or camera not working

• Restart the app and your phone.
• Ensure Snapchat has camera and microphone permissions in your phone settings.
• Update Snapchat to the latest version from the App Store / Play Store.

Forgot password

• On Sign In screen, tap Forgot your password?
• Choose via phone or via email and follow verification steps to reset.

Account locked or temporarily suspended

• Read the lock message — it may explain the reason (e.g., using third-party apps).
• If locked for security, follow on-screen steps or visit Snapchat support to appeal.

How to delete or deactivate your Snapchat account

If you decide to delete:

1. Visit accounts.snapchat.com or go to Settings → Support (depending on app version).
2. Sign in and choose Delete Account.
3. Snapchat usually deactivates the account for 30 days before permanent deletion — during that time you can reactivate by logging in.

Note: Exact steps can vary slightly by app version; check in-app support for the most current procedure.

Advanced tips & extras

• Custom Stories & Private Stories — create Stories visible to select friends only.
• Spectacles & camera hardware — if you own Spectacles or external devices, link them through Settings.
• Snap Originals & Discover — explore curated content and shows in Discover (parents: check suitability).
• Bitmoji Deluxe & wardrobe — update your Bitmoji with new clothing and expressions for richer stickers.
• Memories backup — regularly back up important snaps to your device or cloud if desired.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is Snapchat free?
A: Yes — the app is free to download and use. Some features or promotions may be paid.

Q: Can I use Snapchat on a computer?
A: Snapchat is primarily mobile-first. There have been web/desktop features in some regions; check Snapchat’s official site or app for current availability.

Q: How old do I have to be to use Snapchat?
A: The minimum age is typically 13, but local laws may impose higher limits.

Q: Can I change my username later?
A: Display names are typically changeable; username policies have varied over time. If changing username is important, check the app’s Settings for current options.

Q: What happens if someone screenshots my snap?
A: Snapchat usually notifies the sender of screenshots, but screenshots can still be taken. Don’t share content you wouldn’t want saved elsewhere.

Quick checklist (one-minute setup)

• Download Snapchat from App Store / Play Store
• Tap Sign Up and enter name, birthday
• Pick a memorable username & strong password
• Verify phone and/or email
• Add a Bitmoji (optional)
• Grant camera & microphone permissions
• Configure privacy (Who can contact me, Who can view my story)
• Enable two-factor authentication
• Add friends via Contacts, Snapcode, or username

Final tips — make the most of Snapchat

• Experiment with lenses and AR effects — they’re what make Snapchat playful.
• Use Stories to share your day; use Private Story for close friends.
• Keep an eye on privacy settings after major app updates — platforms sometimes change defaults.
• If you’re using Snapchat for a brand or business, create a consistent username and Bitmoji look, and be deliberate about posting schedules and story content.