In this era of digitization, privacy is slowly becoming a myth. However, there are steps that you can take to ensure you still retain control over some aspects of your digital information. Snapchat has such a feature that allows you to stop random people from adding you on Snapchat by search or other means.
While Snapchat is a great tool to connect with your friends through snaps and stories, the problem starts when random people start appearing in your add friend lists and the chat window. However, here’re 4 ways to stop random people from adding you on Snapchat. Let’s explore those.
1. Disable Add by Email and Mobile Number on Snapchat
If you have this option enabled, anyone who knows either your phone number or email ID will be able to add you on Snapchat. To disable this setting and restrict random users from adding you on Snapchat, follow the below steps.
Step 1: Open Snapchat on your mobile.
Step 2: Then, tap on your profile icon.
Step 3: Here, tap on the cogwheel icon in the top right corner.
Step 4: Tap on Mobile Number.
Step 5: Uncheck the ‘Let others find me using my mobile number’ option.
Step 6: Then, go back to the settings page and tap on Email.
Step 7: Here, disable the ‘Let others find me using my email address’ by unchecking the box.
This will make sure no one will be able to randomly add you on Snapchat using your mobile number or email ID.
2. Change Snapchat Contact Me Settings
Usually, Snapchat has Everyone as the default setting for the Contact Me section. This way, anyone who has added you can also contact you on Snapchat. To make sure this does not happen, you can restrict this to your friends or mutual contacts. This can help prevent random people or bot accounts from contacting you on Snapchat. Follow the below steps to do it.
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon.
Step 2: Then, tap on the cogwheel icon.
Step 3: Scroll down to the Privacy Control section and tap on Contact Me.
Step 4: Here, tap on Friends to make sure only the people you’ve added on Snapchat can contact you.
Tip: You can also select ‘Friends and Contacts’ if you also want the contacts that you share mutual friends with can get in touch with you.
This will limit the number of people that can contact you on Snapchat.
3. Turn off Quick Add on Snapchat
The Quick Add feature makes you appear in other people’s lists. These can be the people that you share mutual friends or interests with. This can be helpful if you’re looking to meet like-minded people. However, it can also lead to random people finding your profile and adding you on Snapchat. To make sure this doesn’t happen, you can disable Quick Add. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open Snapchat.
Step 2: Then, tap on your profile icon.
Step 3: Here, tap on the gear icon.
Step 4: Scroll down and tap on ‘See Me in Quick Add’.
Step 5: Here, make sure the ‘Show me in Quick Add’ box is unchecked.
This will turn off Quick Add and make sure you don’t appear in random people’s add lists.
4. Block Unwanted Snapchat Accounts
The last, but the most effective, way to stop random people from adding you on Snapchat is by blocking the account. Blocking someone on Snapchat has consequences, one of which is the inability to send you add request.
Using the Add friends and Chat window, you can easily find users who are not your friends but have either been automatically added by Snapchat using your contact list or sent add requests. You can then proceed to block them.
Here’s how to do it.
Using Add Friends Window
Step 1: Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon.
Step 2: Then, scroll down to the Friends section and tap on Add Friends.
Step 3: Here, you can see all the users who have sent you add requests.
Step 4: Tap on the user you wish to block.
Step 5: Then, tap on the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
Step 6: Here, tap on Block.
Step 7: Tap on Block again to confirm.
This will block the user and remove them from your add list. You can also repeat the steps if you wish to block more than one user.
Using Chat Window
Step 1: Open Snapchat.
Step 2: Here, tap on the chat icon.
Step 3: Once the Chat window opens, scroll through the page to look for the users that have an x in front of them.
Step 4: Then, go to the relevant username and tap on the x.
Step 5: Here, tap on Block.
Step 6: Tap on Block to confirm.
This will block the user and disable random add requests from them as well.
Tip: If you’re unable to find an account on Snapchat, you can also check our article to know if someone has blocked you on Snapchat.
FAQs on Random Add Requests on Snapchat
Yes, you can unblock previously blocked accounts on Snapchat. To do this, tap on your profile icon > tap on the cogwheel icon to open the Settings menu. Here, scroll down and tap on Blocked. This will open a list of previously blocked accounts. You can then proceed to unblock the user by tapping on the x in front of their account.
Yes, you can remove a previously added account on Snapchat. To do this, open Snapchat and tap on the chat icon. Then, from the chat window, tap on the user you wish to delete. Once their profile opens, tap on the three-dot icon in the top right corner. Then, tap on Manage Friendship > Remove Friend > Remove.
Yes, you can delete your Snapchat account. You will need to go into your account settings and submit a request for the account to be deleted. Post this, Snapchat will give you a 30-day grace period to decide whether you want to keep or delete the account. After this, your Snapchat account will be deleted. Here’s how to delete your Snapchat account.
Beware of Stranger Danger
While it’s fun to meet new people, they might not always have the best of intentions. So, to help limit that, these were all the ways you can stop random people from adding you on Snapchat. Additionally, check out our other article to know more about what happens when you report someone on Snapchat.
Last updated on 13 April, 2023
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