Why Can’t I Add People On Snapchat? 

Written By Alex Cherry

Have you ever tried to add someone on Snapchat, only to find out that they can’t be added? If so, you might have been left wondering why. After all, it seems like a simple enough process – just enter their username or scan their Snapcode and hit “Add.” So what could possibly be the problem? 

It could be because they’ve blocked you, or their account has been deleted. Even though the deleted account might remain visible on Snapchat temporarily, you won’t be able to add them. Fortunately, you can resolve this issue by logging out and logging back into the app.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the possible reasons why you can’t add someone on Snapchat, as well as how to resolve the issue. Keep scrolling!

Why Can’t I Add People On Snapchat?

When you add someone on Snapchat, you’re actually sending them a request to be friends. The other person then needs to accept your request before you can officially become friends and see each other’s Snaps. 

So, if someone has blocked you or made their profile private, your request won’t go through because they won’t be able to see it. Another possible reason for not being able to add someone is if they changed their username since the last time you added them. 

If this happens, you won’t be able to find them with their old username. But don’t worry, you can still re-add them with their updated name.

Moreover, if you’ve tried to add someone with the correct details but they don’t appear in the search results, it’s possible that they’ve deleted their account permanently. Unfortunately, there’s no way to re-add them with the same information once an account is deleted.

Common Reasons Why You Can’t Add People on Snapchat

There are many possible reasons why you can’t add someone on Snapchat. Below are just ten out of hundreds many reasons:

1. Your Account Has Been Suspended

If you have violated the Snapchat community guidelines or terms of service, your account may have been suspended or locked by Snapchat. This indicates that you won’t be able to use any of the app’s features, including adding people.

If, upon attempting to login, you receive a notification that states “Oh no! Your account has been temporarily locked” then this signifies that your account has been suspended temporarily.

To unlock your account, you need to follow the instructions on the screen or visit https://accounts.snapchat.com. You may have to wait for 24 hours before you can access your account again.

However, if the notification states “Oh no! Your account has been permanently locked” then this means that Snapchat have banned your profile and it will not be accessible again in the future. 

To appeal a ban, you need to contact Snapchat support at https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/requests/new and explain why you think your account was wrongly banned.

2. The User Has Blocked You

Another reason why you can’t add someone on Snapchat is that they have blocked you. This means that they have prevented you from contacting them or viewing their content on the app.

To check if someone has blocked you on Snapchat, try searching for their username or snapcode in the app. If you can’t find them or see their profile picture, then they have blocked you.

Alternatively, you can try sending them a snap or a chat message. If you see a message that says “Failed to send” or “Pending”, then they have blocked you.

Unfortunately, there is no way to unblock yourself from someone else’s account. The only way to get unblocked is to ask them to unblock you through another platform or in person.

3. Your Snapchat App Needs An Update

Sometimes, the reason why you can’t add someone on Snapchat is that your app is outdated. This means that your app may not have the latest features or bug fixes that are required for adding people.

To check if your app needs updating, go to the App Store or Google Play Store and search for Snapchat. If you see an option to update the app, then tap on it and wait for the update to finish.

Alternatively, you can enable automatic updates for your app by going to your device settings and turning on the option for automatic updates.

4. You May Have Reached the Maximum Number of Friends

Snapchat has a limit on how many friends you can have on the app. The exact number may vary depending on your account age and activity level, but it is usually around 5,000.

If you have reached the maximum number of friends, then you won’t be able to add any more people until you delete some of your existing friends.

To delete a friend on Snapchat, go to your friends list and tap and hold on their name. Then press on “More” and choose “Remove Friend”. You can also swipe left on their name and tap on the trash icon.

5. The User Has Disabled the Ability to Add Them

Some users may have disabled the ability for others to add them on Snapchat. This means that they have changed their privacy settings to only allow their existing friends or people who know their phone number or email address to add them.

To check if someone has disabled the ability to add them, try searching for their username or snapcode in the app. If you see a message that says “This user cannot be found” or “This user is not accepting new friends”, then they have disabled the ability to add them.

The only way to add someone who has disabled the ability to add them is to ask them to change their privacy settings or send you an invite link through another platform or in person.

6. Your Account Is Experiencing Technical Issues

Sometimes, the problem is not with the other person’s account, but with your own. If your account is experiencing technical issues, such as glitches, bugs, or errors, you may not be able to add people on Snapchat

To fix this, you can try logging out and logging back in to your account, updating the app to the latest version, clearing the app cache and data, or reinstalling the app.

7. You Are Not Entering the Correct Username or Snapcode

Another common reason why you can’t add someone on Snapchat is that you are not entering their correct username or snapcode. Usernames and snapcodes are case-sensitive and unique to each user, so make sure you are typing them correctly and without any typos or spaces. 

You can also scan their snapcode from their profile or from a screenshot using your camera.

8. Your Network Connection Is Poor

Snapchat requires a stable and strong internet connection to work properly. If your network connection is poor, slow, or unstable, you may not be able to add people on Snapchat

To fix this, you can try switching to a different network, such as Wi-Fi or mobile data, or moving to a location with better signal.

9. The User Has Deleted Their Account

If you can’t add someone on Snapchat, it could be because they have deleted their account. When a user deletes their account, their username and snapcode become invalid and unavailable for other users to add. 

You can check if a user has deleted their account by searching for their username on Snapchat or on other social media platforms. If you can’t find them anywhere, it’s likely that they have deleted their account.

10. Your Account Has Been Hacked or Compromised

One of the worst-case scenarios why you can’t add someone on Snapchat is that your account has been hacked or compromised by someone else. If this happens, you may lose access to your account or have your settings changed without your permission. 

You may also notice suspicious activity on your account, such as messages sent or received from unknown users, snaps posted or viewed by someone else, or changes in your friends list. 

To fix this, you should immediately change your password and enable two-factor authentication on your account. You should also contact Snapchat support and report any unauthorized activity on your account.

Why Can’t I Add Someone on Snapchat but I’m Not Blocked?

Sometimes, you may not be able to add someone on Snapchat even if they have not blocked you. This could be because they have changed their privacy settings to only allow friends or mutual friends to add them. If this is the case, you will need to find another way to contact them and ask them to add you back or change their settings.

Key Takeaways

  • There are many possible reasons why you can’t add someone on Snapchat, such as technical issues, incorrect username or snapcode, poor network connection, deleted account, or hacked account.
  • To fix these problems, you can try logging out and logging back in to your account, updating the app, clearing the app cache and data, reinstalling the app, switching to a different network, scanning their snapcode from their profile or screenshot, changing your password and enabling two-factor authentication, or contacting Snapchat support.
  • Sometimes, you may not be able to add someone on Snapchat even if they have not blocked you because they have changed their privacy settings to only allow friends or mutual friends to add them.