Snap Map Guide: How It Works and Who Sees You

What you need before you show up on the map

Snap Map does not broadcast your live coordinates automatically. Four things must happen on your phone before anyone sees your Bitmoji.

• Mutual friends: You and the other person must add each other back. If you added someone but they did not add you, they never see your Bitmoji.
• Device location enabled: Your iPhone settings must allow Snapchat to access location services while using the app.
• Open the map once: You have to load the map screen at least one time to activate location sharing for your account.
• Ghost Mode off: Ghost Mode hides your marker from everyone. Turn it off to share where you are.

Step by step: open Snap Map and turn on location sharing

Getting your Bitmoji onto the map takes less than a minute. If you already share your coordinates on other apps, this setup works much like how to share your location on iPhone with friends.

1. Open the Map tabOpen Snapchat and tap the Map pin icon in the bottom-left corner of the camera screen.
2. Open Map SettingsTap the gear icon in the top-right corner to open your location settings menu.
3. Disable Ghost ModeToggle Ghost Mode to off so the switch turns gray instead of green.
4. Pick your audienceChoose who can view your marker: My Friends, My Friends Except, or Only These Friends.

Who sees you: Ghost Mode and audience settings

Snapchat has no setting to share your location with the public on Snap Map. Strangers cannot see your Bitmoji pin. Only the mutual friends you select can.

What your friends actually see

Your friends do not see a constant, moving blue dot. Snapchat shows your 3D Bitmoji resting on the map at the last place you opened the app.

Your avatar also changes with your activity. Move fast and your Bitmoji might drive a car or ride a plane. Plug in or pair headphones and it might wear them.

Your marker only refreshes when you open Snapchat, so if you close the app and leave it shut for several hours, your Bitmoji gradually fades and disappears from the map entirely.

Sharing location vs submitting a Snap to Snap Map

People constantly confuse sharing their location with submitting a Snap to the public map. They are separate features.

Sharing your location puts your personal Bitmoji on the map for selected mutual friends. Submitting a Snap sends a photo or video to a public geographic feed that anyone nearby can watch.

1. Take a SnapCapture a photo or video using the normal Snapchat camera.
2. Tap Send ToTap the yellow arrow button in the bottom right corner.
3. Select Snap MapCheck the circle next to Snap Map under the Stories header.
4. Post publiclyTap Send to share your clip to the public map feed for that area.

When you post to the public Snap Map, people outside your friend list can view the clip. They still cannot see your personal profile location or follow your Bitmoji.

How to stop sharing: switch on Ghost Mode in a few taps

Ghost Mode removes your Bitmoji from your friends’ screens right away.

1. Open Map SettingsTap the Map tab, then tap the gear icon in the top-right corner.
2. Turn on Ghost ModeToggle the Ghost Mode switch so it turns green.
3. Choose a durationSelect 3 hours, 24 hours, or Until Turned Off.

Snapchat does not notify your friends when you activate Ghost Mode. Your Bitmoji simply disappears from their map over time, just like it does when you go inactive.

Troubleshooting: friends can’t see you or you can’t see them

Your crew cannot find your Bitmoji? Run through these fixes.

• Check mutual friendship: You must both be friends on Snapchat. If either of you unfriended the other, your markers disappear.
• Check iOS location permissions: Go to iPhone Settings, tap Snapchat, then tap Location. Make sure it is set to ‘While Using the App’.
• Open the map directly: If you only open chats, your location does not refresh. Swipe into the Map tab to force a location ping.
• Check your audience list: Go back to Map Settings. Make sure you did not accidentally place your friend on the ‘My Friends Except’ list.
• Update the app: Running an outdated build can cause map sync errors. Check the App Store for updates.

Prefer a status over a pin? Where Bobble fits

Sharing your exact street coordinates on a map all day feels like too much. Group chats often just want to know what everyone is doing, not stare at a satellite view.

Bobble is a free social app where you and your close friends are 3D bobbleheads living at the top of your phone. Instead of placing a pin on your house, Bobble shows what your crew is up to through automatic statuses like gym, asleep, work, coffee, or vibing to music. You can also tap four reactions called bobbles (fire, kiss, slap, or wave) or use Ghost Mode to freeze your figure under a sheet.

If you want to stay in sync without broadcasting your street address, look at our list of Zenly alternatives and friend widgets, or explore other apps like Snapchat for close friends to find what works best for your group.

Make your Bobble →