Snapchat is a popular app that allows people to send pictures and videos that usually disappear after they’ve been viewed, typically within 24 hours. It’s known for being quick and fun, and lots of young people use it. In this article, we’ll explain the different symbols, icons and emojis you see on Snapchat, so you can use it easily.
Meanings of Snapchat Symbols and Icons on The Camera Screen
The Camera Screen in Snapchat is the first thing you see when you open the app. It’s where you can take pictures or record videos to send to your friends or share on your profile.
We have labeled all the symbols and icons with numbers on the screenshot below for ease of explaining:
1. Person with a + icon: Lets you add a new friend to your Snapchat contacts.
2. Two arrows in a looping rectangle: Switch between front and back cameras.
3. Thunderbolt with an “X” icon: Lets you turn on and adjust the on-screen flash, which comes in three different colors and two shapes.
4. Camcorder icon (Director Mode): Represents the video recording option, or Director Mode. When you tap it, it takes you to another screen with separate icons for video recording. (More details of this video recording screen later below)
5. Beamed pair of eighth notes icon: Lets you add music or sounds to your Snap.
6. Plus icon: Provides access to additional options such as timer, focus mode, multi-snaps, tones, and more.
7. Pair of cards: Tap this icon to access your Snapchat Memories. Same function as swiping upwards from the Camera screen to open your Memories.
8. Your profile icon: Tap this icon to go to your profile page.
9. Magnifying glass icon: Search over Snapchat.
The Bottom of Screen (Icons #10 – #14)
There are five labeled icons located at the bottom of the camera screen. These symbols and icons are identical on other screens within Snapchat. Let’s quickly go through each of them from left to right.
10. Map: Tap this icon to go to your Snap Map.
11. Chat: Allows you to open your Chat screen.
12. Explore: Tap this to go to Snapchat Top Lenses and Filters page.
13. Stories: Tap this icon to view Snapchat stories. Alternatively, you can swipe left from the camera screen to see Snapchat stories.
14. Spotlight: Tap this icon to open the Spotlight screen which reveals the most entertaining Snaps, no matter who created them.
The Video Recording Screen a.k.a. Director Mode
Remember the Camcorder icon on the Camera screen? Tap it, and you’ll go to the video recording screen also known as Snapchat’s Director Mode. We captured a quick screenshot of Snapchat’s video recording screen (see below), where each icon’s name briefly appears for a moment. Lets go through these icons from top to bottom:
1. Flip camera icon: Toggle front and back camera to create your snap.
2. Beamed pair of eighth notes icon: Add music or sounds to your snap.
3. Lenses: Use Lenses while you create snaps and transform the way you look and the world around you.
4. Green Screen: Allows you to choose a background for your snaps.
5. Timer: Lets you set the length of your recording.
6. Flash: Lets you turn on and adjust the on-screen flash, which comes in three different colors and two shapes.
7. Import Media: Allows you to add saved photos and videos from your phone to your snaps.
The Snap Preview Screen
After recording a snap, your next step is to preview and make any necessary edits. Below, you’ll find a screenshot of the snap’s preview screen along with explanations of Snapchat symbols and icons:
1. Capital “T”: Allows you to enter text, or write ideal captions for your snaps.
2. Pen icon: Use it to draw and doodle on your snaps. You can also select various colors.
3. Sticker icon: Pick from a variety of stickers to include in your snap.
4. Scissors icon: Use it to clip a part of your snap and turn it into a custom sticker.
5. Beamed pair of eighth notes icon: Add music or sounds to your snap.
6. Loudspeaker icon: Press and hold on to add a voice filter to a snap and remix the way it sounds. Tap to mute all audio.
7. Quotation mark symbol: Automatically generate closed captions for the audio in your snap. You can then edit, drag, resize, and rotate the captions as needed.
8. Microphone icon: Tap to add a voiceover.
9. Paper clip icon: Lets you attach a link to your snap.
10. Crop icon: Lets you rotate and resize your snap.
11. Bounce playback mode icon: Tap to decide whether your snap should play once or keep looping until your friend closes it.
12. Yellow “Next” button: Tap to send the current snap to your friends.
13. Pause button: Pause the snap preview.
14. Plus button: Takes you back to the video recording screen.
Meanings of Snapchat Symbols and Icons on The Snap Map
Tap the Map icon to go to the Snap Map screen. Refer to the Snap Map screenshot below; the given numbers and their respective meanings are listed accordingly.
1. Gear icon: First icon on the top right. It’s the universal symbol for Settings. It allows you to access and adjust various settings for your Snapchat account.
2. Hot spots icon: Toggle to turn on/off hot spots – areas where many people are using Snapchat. Enabling hot spots can be helpful for discovering events and popular places among Snapchat users.
3. White satellite on a green button: Toggle on/off satellite images on the map.
4. Pair of cards on a yellow button: Open and explore your Memories on the map.
5. Navigation arrow icon: Tapping the Navigation arrow icon will return you to your current location on the map.
6. My Bitmoji icon: Located at the lower left corner of the screen and displaying your Bitmoji face/head, allows you to customize your outfit, clear your ghost trail (so no one can track you on the map), and choose a different Bitmoji from the available options.
7. Places icon (3-Buildings Symbol): This is where you can discover cool places to hang out and explore in your current area or location.
8. Friends icon: Allows you to see where all your friends are on a map, but only if they are sharing their live location with you.
Meanings of Snapchat Symbols and Icons on The Chat Screen
Tap the Chat icon to go to the Chat Screen. The Snapchat’s Chat Screen is where you connect with your friends. You can chat, view their Snaps, organize your friend list, and start audio or video calls.
Match the numbers from the screenshot above with their respective meanings below:
1. Person with a + icon: Lets you add a new friend to your Snapchat contacts. A red dot indicates there’s a new friend suggestion, or a new friend request.
2. 3-dots icon: Opens the chat menu where you can create new chats, shortcuts, manage chats and friendships and customize best friend emojis.
3. Camera icon at the end of a person’s name: Create and send a snap to this person only.
4. X symbol at the end of a person’s name: If a profile looks suspicious, you’ll see an “X” symbol. Tap it to report, block, or clear the conversation with that person.
5. Chat bubble with a pen in a blue button: Tap this icon to send chat or make a call to your friends.
6. 2-person icon: Tap and it’ll turn blue to show you friends with unwatched Stories.
7. + symbol: Go to your Choose Emoji to select the Shortcut that represents a friend. This make it easier to send Snaps to specific friends.
Colored Snapchat Icons on The Chat Screen, Explained
The Chat screen can be a bit confusing with its other colorful symbols and icons, each representing the types of snaps or chat messages sent, received or viewed. Check the table below to understand what these icons mean on the chat screen.
| Icons | Meaning |
 | You sent a snap without audio. |
 | You sent a snap with audio. |
 | You’ve sent a chat. |
 | Person you sent the snap to hasn’t accepted your friend request. |
 | Your friend opened your snap without audio. |
 | Your friend opened your snap with audio. |
 | Your friend opened your chat message. |
 | You’ve received a snap without audio. |
 | You’ve received a snap with audio. |
 | You’ve received a chat message. |
 | Your snap without audio has been viewed. |
 | Your snap with audio has been viewed. |
 | Your chat message has been viewed. |
 | Your snap or chat message is pending and may have expired. |
 | Your snap was screenshot without audio. |
 | Your snap was screenshot with audio. |
 | Your chat message was screenshot. |
 | Your snap sent without audio was replayed. |
 | Your snap sent with audio was replayed. |
Read also: How to Screenshot Snapchat Secretly and Without Notification
Meanings of Snapchat Emojis on The Chat Screen
You’ll see these emojis very often. Snapchat shows these emojis next to profile names, and they may change occasionally. But what exactly do they mean?
Check the table below for the complete list of Snapchat emojis and their respective meanings.
| Emojis | Meaning |
| 💛 | The person is your best friend on Snapchat, and you exchange the most snaps with them. |
| ❤️ | You’ve been best friends for two weeks. |
| 💜 | Signifies that it’s their birthday month. |
| 💕 | Indicates that you’ve been best friends for two months. |
| 😊 | Signifies that the person is one of your best friends on Snapchat. |
| 😬 | Suggests that your number one best friend on Snapchat is also their number one best friend. |
| 😏 | Indicates that you are their best friend on Snapchat, but they are not your best friend. |
| 😎 | Suggests that one of your best friends on Snapchat is also one of their best friends. |
| 👶 | Displayed when you add someone as a friend on Snapchat. |
| ⭐ | Displayed when someone replays someone else’s snaps within the last 24 hours. |
| 🔥 | You’ve been snapping with this person every day, and they snap back to you. |
| ⌛ | Means your snap streak is about to end. Just send a snap to keep it going. |
| 🎂 | Displayed next to a name on Snapchat if today is their birthday. |
| 💯 | Appears if you’ve snapped for 100 days in a row. |
Read also: How to Restore a Lost Snapstreak on Snapchat
Snapchat Astrological Sign Icons
You may see your friends’ astrological signs next to their names if they’ve added their birthday on Snapchat. These signs appear along with the birthday cake emoji, and here are their corresponding dates:
| Astrological Sign Icons | The Dates Correspond With |
| ♒ Aquarius | Jan 20 – Feb 18 |
| ♓ Pisces | Feb 19 – Mar 20 |
| ♈ Aries | March 21 – April 19 |
| ♉ Taurus | April 20 – May 20 |
| ♊ Gemini | May 21 – June 20 |
| ♋ Cancer | June 21 – July 22 |
| ♌ Leo | July 23 – Aug 22 |
| ♍ Virgo | Aug 23 – Sept 22 |
| ♎ Libra | Sept 23 – Oct 22 |
| ♏ Scorpio | Oct 23 – Nov 21 |
| ♐ Sagittarius | Nov 22 – Dec 21 |
| ♑ Capricon | Dec 22 – Jan 19 |
Symbols and Icons on The Start-a-Chat Screen
To start a chat with a friend, tap the friend’s name. The meanings of symbols and icons on this screen are listed below:
1. Phone icon: Call the person.
2. Camcorder icon: Start a video call with the person.
3. Camera icon: Send a Snap.
4. Microphone icon: Record and send a voice message.
5. Smiley: Send emojis.
6. Pair of cards icon: View all photos in Snapchat Memories, whether sent or received.
7. + sign in a circle: Share your current/live location with the person.
Meanings of Snapchat Symbols and Icons on The Stories Screen
Tap the Stories icon to visit the Stories screen. This is where you find new stories and snaps. When you open a story, it’s what you see.
Match the numbers from the screenshot above with their respective meanings below:
1. Profile pic icon: Tap this icon to see the profile of the story’s creator.
2. Black star in a yellow button: This user has Snap Star status. Indicates his/her profile is verified.
3. Bookmark icon: Tap this icon to bookmark the current story.
4. 3-Vertical dots: Opens a menu which allows you to add to favorites, report and send the current story.
5. Camera with a clockwise arrow: Reply the current story with a story of your own.
6. Right-pointing arrow: Send the current story to your friends.
Note: If you see someone with this icon ✪ (White star in a black button) next to their names, it means that person is a Snapchat+ subscriber.
Meanings of Snapchat Symbols and Icons on The Spotlight Screen
Open Spotlight by tapping the Spotlight icon at the bottom of your screen. Lets go through the icons on this screen real quick:
1. Bookmark with a + icon: Tap to subscribe to the account or channel that posted this snap.
2. Heart icon (Love symbol): Lets you save this snap for later.
3. Chat bubble icon: See the replies and comments on this snap.
4. Right-pointing arrow: Share the current snap with friends.
5. 3-Horizontal dots: Allows you to report, remix, or share the current snap with someone.
Read also: My Snapchat Account is Locked – Why and How to Fix
Conclusion
Snapchat’s symbols, icons and emojis are the keys to a richer and more expressive experience on the app. From the camera to emojis, each symbol serves a unique purpose, enhancing your journey through the Snapchat universe. Happy Snapping!
