Your Snapchat friends have emojis next to their names, and you can customize those symbols. If you’ve ever wondered how to change friend emojis on snapchat, you’re in the right place—this guide walks you through every step, from accessing settings to picking your favorite icons.
Snapchat uses friend emojis to show your relationship status with each contact. The default set includes a yellow heart for best friends, a red heart for BFFs, and a smiley face for mutual best friends. But not everyone likes these default symbols. Maybe you want a star instead of a heart, or a fire emoji for your number one buddy. The good news is that Snapchat lets you swap these emojis for anything in your emoji keyboard.
Changing these emojis is simple once you know where to look. You don’t need to be a tech expert or have any special skills. Just follow these steps, and you’ll have custom friend emojis in under a minute.
What Are Friend Emojis On Snapchat
Friend emojis are small icons that appear next to a friend’s name in your chat list. They indicate how often you snap each other and your friendship level. Snapchat assigns these automatically based on your interaction frequency.
There are several default friend emojis:
- Yellow Heart: You are #1 best friends with each other
- Red Heart: You have been #1 BFFs for two weeks straight
- Pink Hearts: You have been #1 BFFs for two months
- Smiley Face: This person is one of your best friends
- Grimacing Face: You share a best friend with this person
- Fire Emoji: You are on a Snapstreak with this friend
- Hourglass Emoji: Your Snapstreak is about to end
- Birthday Cake: It’s this friend’s birthday
These emojis help you quickly see who you talk to most. But they aren’t permanent—you can change them to anything you like.
How To Change Friend Emojis On Snapchat
Now let’s get to the main event. Here is the complete step-by-step guide on how to change friend emojis on snapchat. Follow these instructions exactly, and you’ll have custom emojis in no time.
Step 1: Open Snapchat Settings
First, open the Snapchat app on your phone. Tap your profile icon in the top-left corner of the camera screen. This takes you to your profile page. Next, tap the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Settings.
Settings is where you control everything about your account. It looks like a small gear symbol. If you can’t find it, look for the three dots or the settings menu in your profile.
Step 2: Find The Friend Emojis Option
Inside Settings, scroll down until you see a section called “Additional Services.” Tap on “Manage” next to “Friend Emojis.” This option is usually near the bottom of the list, just above “Clear Cache” or “Account Actions.”
If you have trouble finding it, use the search bar at the top of Settings. Type “Friend Emojis” and it will appear instantly. This saves time if you have a long settings list.
Step 3: Customize Each Emoji
Now you see a list of all friend emojis. Each one has a current symbol next to it. Tap on any emoji you want to change. A pop-up keyboard will appear showing all available emojis.
Scroll through the emoji keyboard and pick the one you want. You can choose any standard emoji, including hearts, stars, animals, or faces. Tap your chosen emoji to save it. Repeat this for every emoji you want to customize.
Some users prefer to match emojis to their friend’s personality. For example, use a dog emoji for your best friend who loves dogs. Or use a star for your top friend. There are no limits—pick what feels right.
Step 4: Save Your Changes
After you finish customizing, simply close the Settings menu. Snapchat saves your changes automatically. You don’t need to press a “Save” button. Go back to your chat list and you’ll see the new emojis next to your friends’ names.
If the emojis don’t update right away, try closing and reopening the app. Sometimes it takes a few seconds for changes to appear. Restarting the app usually fixes this.
Why Change Friend Emojis
You might wonder why anyone would bother changing these emojis. There are several good reasons. First, personal preference. Not everyone likes the default yellow heart or smiley face. Maybe you prefer a different symbol that means more to you.
Second, clarity. The default emojis can be confusing. For example, the grimacing face means you share a best friend, but many users don’t know that. By changing it to something more intuitive, you can understand your friendships at a glance.
Third, fun. Customizing your Snapchat experience makes it more enjoyable. You can use inside jokes or favorite symbols. It adds a personal touch to your social media.
Fourth, organization. Some users assign specific emojis to different friend groups. For instance, use a star for family members and a heart for close friends. This helps you quickly identify who is who.
Common Friend Emojis And Their Meanings
Before you start changing emojis, it helps to know what each default symbol means. Here is a quick reference table:
- Yellow Heart: #1 Best Friend (you snap each other the most)
- Red Heart: BFF (you’ve been #1 for two weeks)
- Pink Hearts: Super BFF (you’ve been #1 for two months)
- Smiley Face: Best Friend (one of your top friends)
- Grimacing Face: Mutual Best Friend (you share a best friend)
- Fire: Snapstreak (you’ve snapped for consecutive days)
- Hourglass: Streak ending soon (send a snap now)
- Birthday Cake: Friend’s birthday
When you change these emojis, the new symbol replaces the old one for that specific category. For example, if you change the yellow heart to a star, your #1 best friend will now have a star next to their name.
Tips For Choosing New Emojis
Picking new emojis is fun, but you want to make sure they work well. Here are some tips:
- Use distinct emojis for each category. Avoid using the same emoji for multiple relationships
- Pick emojis that are easy to recognize at a small size
- Consider using emojis that reflect your friendship, like a pizza emoji for a foodie friend
- Test a few options before settling on your favorites
- Remember that emojis appear differently on different devices, so choose common ones
Some popular choices include using a crown for your top friend, a rocket for a streak, or a heart for close friends. You can also use seasonal emojis like a snowflake in winter or a flower in spring.
Troubleshooting: Emojis Not Changing
Sometimes you follow all the steps but the emojis don’t change. Here are common issues and fixes:
- App not updated: Make sure you have the latest version of Snapchat from your app store
- Cache issues: Clear your Snapchat cache in Settings > Clear Cache
- Restart required: Close the app completely and reopen it
- Account sync: Log out and log back in to refresh your settings
- Emoji not supported: Some custom emojis from third-party keyboards may not work
If none of these work, try reinstalling the app. This usually resolves any persistent bugs. Remember to back up your memories before reinstalling.
How Friend Emojis Affect Your Snapchat Experience
Friend emojis are more than just decoration. They help you understand your social connections on the app. When you change them, you’re customizing how you see your friendships.
For example, if you use a fire emoji for your Snapstreak partner, you’ll instantly know who you need to snap to keep the streak alive. If you use a heart for your best friend, you’ll see them clearly in your chat list.
This customization can make Snapchat easier to use. You don’t have to remember what each default emoji means. Instead, you create your own system that makes sense to you.
Some users even use friend emojis as a way to prioritize who to snap first. If you see a special emoji, you know that person is important to you.
Can You Change Emojis For Individual Friends
No, you cannot change emojis for individual friends. The customization applies to all friends in a category. For example, if you change the yellow heart to a star, all your #1 best friends will have a star next to their name.
This is a limitation of Snapchat’s system. You can only change the emoji for each relationship type, not for specific people. If you want a unique emoji for one friend, you would need to use a different method, like a nickname or custom wallpaper.
Some users wish for more granular control, but for now, this is how it works. It’s still a useful feature for personalizing your app.
Resetting Friend Emojis To Default
If you change your mind and want the original emojis back, you can reset them easily. Go back to Settings > Friend Emojis. Tap “Reset to Default” at the bottom of the screen. This will restore all emojis to their original symbols.
Resetting is useful if you don’t like your custom choices or if you want to start fresh. You can always customize again later.
Note that resetting only affects friend emojis, not other settings. Your streaks, best friends, and other data remain unchanged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Change Friend Emojis On Snapchat Without Updating The App?
No, you need the latest version of Snapchat to access the Friend Emojis setting. If your app is outdated, update it from your app store first. The feature is available on both iOS and Android.
Why Don’t I See The Friend Emojis Option In Settings?
This option is located under “Additional Services” in Settings. If you can’t find it, try using the search bar at the top of Settings. Type “Friend Emojis” and it should appear. If it still doesn’t show, your app may be outdated or your account may have restrictions.
Do Friend Emojis Change Automatically Over Time?
Yes, the default emojis update based on your interaction with friends. For example, the yellow heart can become a red heart after two weeks. But if you customize them, your custom emojis stay the same for each category. The category itself still changes based on friendship level.
Can I Use Custom Emojis From Third-party Keyboards?
Snapchat only supports standard emojis from your device’s keyboard. Custom emojis from third-party apps may not appear or may show as blank squares. Stick to emojis that come with your phone for best results.
Will Changing Friend Emojis Affect My Snapstreaks?
No, changing friend emojis has no effect on Snapstreaks. Streaks are based on snapping frequency, not emojis. Your streaks will continue normally even after you customize emojis.
Advanced Customization: Using Emojis For Organization
Beyond personal preference, you can use friend emojis to organize your Snapchat contacts. For example, assign a specific emoji to family members, another to close friends, and a third to coworkers. This way, you can quickly see who is who without reading names.
To do this, you need to understand how Snapchat categorizes friends. The app uses your snap frequency to determine best friends. You can’t manually assign categories, but you can influence them by snapping certain people more often.
For instance, if you want a family member to have a special emoji, snap them frequently so they become a best friend. Then change the best friend emoji to something that represents family. This takes some planning but can be effective.
Another method is to use the “Birthday Cake” emoji for friends whose birthdays you want to remember. Since this emoji only appears on their birthday, it’s a natural reminder. You can also change it to a different emoji if you prefer.
How Friend Emojis Differ From Snapchat+ Features
Snapchat+ is a subscription service that offers exclusive features, including custom app icons and story rewatch counts. However, friend emojis are available to all users, not just subscribers. You don’t need Snapchat+ to change them.
Some users confuse friend emojis with other Snapchat symbols like the gold star or the story views icon. Friend emojis are only the ones next to names in your chat list. Other symbols appear in different parts of the app.
If you have Snapchat+, you can also use custom notification sounds and pin a best friend. But these are separate from friend emojis. The emoji customization is free for everyone.
Common Mistakes When Changing Friend Emojis
Even though the process is simple, people make mistakes. Here are common errors to avoid:
- Changing the wrong emoji: Make sure you tap the correct category before picking a new symbol
- Using emojis that look similar: Avoid using two emojis that are hard to tell apart, like two different heart colors
- Forgetting to close settings: Changes save automatically, but some users think they need to press a save button
- Not restarting the app: If emojis don’t appear, close and reopen Snapchat
- Changing emojis too often: It can be confusing if you switch emojis frequently. Stick with a set you like
Take your time when choosing emojis. Once you set them, you can always change them again, but it’s easier to pick wisely the first time.
Final Thoughts On Customizing Friend Emojis
Changing friend emojis on Snapchat is a quick way to make the app feel more personal. It takes less than a minute and gives you control over how you see your friendships. Whether you want to use stars, hearts, or animal emojis, the choice is yours.
Remember that these emojis only appear to you. Your friends won’t see the changes on their end. So feel free to experiment without worrying about what others think. This is your private customization.
If you ever want to go back to the original emojis, just reset them in Settings. The process is reversible and has no impact on your account or friendships.
Now you know exactly how to change friend emojis on snapchat. Go ahead and open your settings, pick your favorite symbols, and enjoy a more personalized Snapchat experience. It’s one of the easiest ways to make the app feel like your own.
If you have any other questions about Snapchat features, check out our other guides. We cover everything from streaks to privacy settings. Happy snapping!