Snapchat is one of the most famous short-form social media platforms right now. Here you can send snapshots, share memories, add friends and much more. There are some issues though, and one of them is when you can’t add people. If you are wondering why you cannot add anyone on Snapchat and if there is a way to fix the problem, this article is for you.
Some of the reasons why you cannot add anyone on Snapchat can be bad internet connection, you have either exceeded your limit for adding friends, the account you are trying to add is private and so on. Read on to learn how to try this and add friends on Snapchat as you please.
However, if you don’t know how to add a friend on Snapchat, skip ahead to the next section before we dive into the fixes.
How to add people on Snapchat
Before we start fixing the issue, let’s take a quick look at how to add people using the Snapchat app for Android and iOS. To do this, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open Snapchat on your device.
Step 2: Then tap on the profile icon on the top left corner.
Step 3: From here, tap Add Friends.
Step 4: From here, tap on the search bar and type in the name of the friend you want to add.
Step 5: Then tap Add.
Step 6: Alternatively, tap All Contacts. This will open a list of all the contacts currently saved on your device.
Step 7: Then tap “Add” for all the contacts you want to add.
If a contact isn’t currently on Snapchat, you’ll see an Invite option instead of Add. In this case, you can get in touch with that person and ask them for an alternative contact number or ID registered with Snapchat and then add them using the above method.
8 ways to fix problems adding friends on Snapchat
While adding friends is easy, there may be times when you are unable to add friends on Snapchat. It can be an error message saying the contact isn’t available, or the Add button just doesn’t work. But where there are problems, there are also solutions. So let’s look at what to do if you can’t add anyone on Snapchat.
1. Force quit and restart Snapchat
Recurring app issues like Snapchat not working properly or unable to add friends can be due to a temporary error or glitch opening the app. To fix this, you can force close the app and thus end its background functions. Then restart the app and try the function again.
Follow the steps below to do this on Android and iOS devices.
On iOS
Step 1: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold. Alternatively, you can press the home button twice if available.
Step 2: Then press and hold the app and swipe up until the Snapchat app window disappears from the screen.
Then tap the Snapchat icon again to open the app and check if the problem is resolved.
On android
Step 1: On your Android device, either tap on the Recents icon or swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Once Snapchat appears, press and hold the app and delete it by swiping up.
Additionally, Android allows you to force close the app and stop it from running in the background entirely. Do this if you think Snapchat might not be completely closed on your device.
Step 1: Open Settings.
Step 2: Then scroll down and tap Apps.
Step 3: Here, tap on Snapchat.
Step 4: Tap Force stop.
Step 5: Then tap on OK.
Once the app is closed, restart it and see if you still have trouble adding friends on Snapchat.
2. Check your internet connection
A slow internet connection could be at the root of your recent Snapchat issues. If this is indeed the case, first check the internet speed on your device. Then, to fix the problem, either switch from cellular data to WiFi or, if you’re already using WiFi, try moving your device closer to the router to increase signal strength.
3. Check your friends count
Snapchat limits the number of friends you can add to an account. And while that limit is set at an astronomical 6000 friends, certain public accounts may unknowingly exceed that limit. In this case, you cannot add more friends. So, follow the steps below to check the number of friends you currently have on Snapchat.
Step 1: Open Snapchat.
Step 2: Then tap on your profile icon.
Step 3: From here, tap on “My Friends”.
This will open a list of all friends currently added to your Snapchat in alphabetical order. If the number of friends exceeds 6000, you should think about deleting some friends from Snapchat.
4. Verify that the account you are adding is public
While adding public accounts on Snapchat is as easy as tapping the add button, private accounts limit who can add them. So if you’re having trouble adding friends on Snapchat for certain contacts, it might be worth checking whether their account is public or not. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile picture.
Step 2: From here, tap Add Friends.
Step 3: Then tap on All Contacts.
Step 4: Tap on the contact you want to add.
Step 5: Next, tap on their story.
If you can’t see her story, there’s a good chance her profile has been set to private. Additionally, since private profiles cannot be added directly, you may have to wait for their approval even after sending them a request to add them on Snapchat.
So if you open their chat window after adding them, Snapchat will tell you that you are not their friend.
5. Check if you have been blocked
One of the reasons why Snapchat doesn’t allow you to add friends may be that the person you’re trying to add has blocked you. If that’s really the case, you’ll get an error message when adding friends on Snapchat. To make sure this doesn’t happen, here’s how to tell if someone has blocked you on Snapchat. And if that’s indeed the case, you might have to ask the person to unblock you first.
6. Clear Snapchat app cache
Over time, app cache accumulates on your device. When this happens it actually does more harm than good to the app as it slows down the app functions and can be responsible for errors especially when this cache gets corrupted. To prevent this from happening, it is always a good idea to clear the app cache from time to time. Follow the steps below to clear Snapchat cache.
On android
Step 1: Open Settings.
Step 2: Then tap on Apps.
Step 3: Here, tap on Snapchat.
Step 4: Tap on Storage.
Step 5: Scroll down and tap Clear Cache.
On iPhone
While you can only clear cache on Android through the settings menu, you can also clear cache on iOS devices through Snapchat’s settings menu. Check out our guide to learn how to clear Snapchat cache on iOS devices.
7. Check for app updates
Outdated apps can also cause problems when adding friends on Snapchat. To fix this, you can install the latest Snapchat app updates on your Android and iOS devices. Here’s how.
On iOS
Step 1: Open the App Store and tap on the search bar.
Step 2: Here, type “Snapchat” and tap on the app.
Step 3: Tap Refresh if available.
Then open Snapchat again and try to add friends.
On android
Step 1: Open the Play Store on your device.
Step 2: Then tap on the search bar.
Step 3: Type “Snapchat” and tap “Snapchat” from the search results.
Step 4: From here, tap Refresh if available.
Wait for the update to finish installing. Then open Snapchat and see if you can add someone. If not, move on to the next fix.
8. Contact Snapchat support
If you are still unable to add friends on Snapchat after trying all the above methods, then contact Snapchat support team. All you have to do is fill out the support form and the Snapchat team will get in touch with you once the request is received. Find out how to do it.
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon.
Step 2: Here, tap on the gear icon.
Step 3: Then scroll down and go to the “Support” section.
Step 4: From here, tap on “I need help”.
Step 5: Tap on the hamburger icon on the top right corner.
Step 6: Then tap on “Contact Us”.
Step 7: Choose the option “I need help with a Snapchat feature”.
Step 8: Tap Friends.
Step 9: Here select “Add, delete or block friends”.
Step 10: Enter the relevant details.
Step 11: When done, tap Submit.
This will send a request to Snapchat regarding the issue. Once your case has been reviewed, Snapchat will get back to you accordingly.
FAQs on Adding Friends on Snapchat 1. Can you check if Snapchat is unavailable?
Yes, you can visit Downdetector to see if Snapchat is currently unavailable. Because if Snapchat is currently experiencing downtime, it can also cause problems when using certain services like adding friends.
2. Can you get banned on Snapchat for adding friends too quickly?
To reduce spam and make sure you’re not a bot account, Snapchat can ban you for “adding friends too quickly.” If this happens to your account, you’ll have to wait at least 24 hours before you can add friends on Snapchat again.
Add your friends
We hope this article answered all your questions about adding friends on Snapchat, especially when you were unable to add anyone on Snapchat. Don’t forget to leave your comments and let us know which fix worked for you!
