Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms, offering users a unique way to communicate with friends and family through snaps, chats, and stories. However, it can be frustrating when you send someone a friend request and don’t know if they’ve accepted or declined it. In this guide, we’ll break down how to tell if someone declined your friend request on Snapchat, making it simple for anyone—even beginners—to understand.
What Happens When You Send a Friend Request on Snapchat?
When you send a friend request on Snapchat, it’s an invitation to connect with another user. Snapchat allows you to add someone as a friend by searching for their username, scanning their Snapcode, or syncing your contacts. Once you’ve sent the request, the person will receive a notification that someone has added them as a friend. However, whether they accept, ignore, or decline your request is up to them.
If the person accepts your request, you’ll immediately be able to see their stories, snaps, and other content they share publicly (or with friends only, depending on their privacy settings). But what happens if they don’t accept your request? Let’s explore how to figure out if your friend request was declined.
How to Check If Your Friend Request Was Declined
Snapchat doesn’t explicitly notify users if their friend request has been declined, but there are several subtle indicators you can watch for. By observing the following signs, you can get a pretty good idea of whether someone has decided not to accept your request:
The Pending Status Never Changes
After sending a friend request on Snapchat, the app will show a “Pending” status next to the person’s name if they haven’t accepted it yet. This is indicated by a gray arrow beside their name instead of the usual colorful arrows (e.g., blue for chats, purple for video snaps). If the “Pending” status stays for a long time without any updates, it’s likely that your request has been ignored or declined.

Can’t See Their Snapchat Score
Another clear sign that someone has declined your friend request is if you’re unable to view their Snapchat score. A person’s Snapchat score is the total number of snaps they’ve sent and received, and it’s usually visible to their friends. If you’ve added someone as a friend but can’t see their score, this could mean they haven’t accepted your request—or they’ve chosen to decline it.
Their Profile Disappears
In some cases, when a user declines your friend request, their profile may disappear from your “Added” or “Pending” list. This happens because Snapchat doesn’t want to overwhelm users with a cluttered list of pending requests. If you search for the person’s username and can’t find their profile anymore, they may have either declined your request or blocked you.
Signs Someone Declined Your Request on Snapchat
- No Notification of Acceptance: Normally, when someone accepts your friend request, Snapchat sends you a notification. If you don’t receive any notification after a long time, it’s safe to assume they haven’t accepted it.
- They Haven’t Added You Back: If you check their profile and see that it says “Added” instead of “Friends,” this means they haven’t added you back. This could indicate that they’ve declined your request or simply haven’t gotten around to accepting it.
Why Would Someone Decline Your Friend Request?
It’s normal to wonder why someone would decline your friend request on Snapchat, especially if you thought you had a good relationship or connection with them. Here are a few common reasons why this might happen:
- They Don’t Recognize You: If you’ve added someone who doesn’t recognize your username or name, they may choose to decline the request to avoid adding a stranger.
- Privacy Concerns: Some people prefer to keep their Snapchat friend list limited to close friends and family. They may decline requests from acquaintances or people they don’t talk to often.
- Inactive Account: The person you’re trying to add might not be active on Snapchat anymore. They could have stopped using the app altogether or deleted their account.
- Personal Reasons: There could be personal reasons for declining your request, such as a past disagreement or the person simply not wanting to connect with you on Snapchat.
How to Avoid Getting Your Friend Request Declined
While you can’t force someone to accept your friend request, there are steps you can take to increase the chances of getting accepted. Here are some helpful tips:
Use a Recognizable Username
Your username is one of the first things someone sees when you send them a friend request. If your username is random or hard to recognize, the person may hesitate to accept your request. Using a recognizable username—especially one that includes your real name or nickname—can help the other person identify you.

Send a Friendly Message First
Before sending a friend request, consider reaching out to the person on another platform (if possible) and letting them know you’re adding them on Snapchat. A friendly message like, “Hey, I’m adding you on Snapchat! My username is [YourUsername],” can make your request feel more personal and less random.
Make Sure You Know Them
It’s always a good idea to only send friend requests to people you know. Adding random strangers can come across as spammy, and many people are hesitant to accept requests from users they don’t recognize. Focus on building connections with people you already have some level of interaction with.
What to Do If Your Request Was Declined
If you suspect that your request was declined, don’t take it personally. Instead, consider reaching out to the person in a polite and non-intrusive way to ask if they received your request. If they choose not to add you, respect their decision and move on.
Thoughts on Snapchat Friend Requests
Snapchat is designed to make connecting with friends and family easy and fun, but not everyone will want to connect with you on the platform. It’s important to respect other people’s boundaries and not take it personally if someone declines your friend request. There are plenty of other ways to stay in touch with the people you care about, and a declined Snapchat request doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t want to communicate with you.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, knowing if someone declined your friend request on Snapchat isn’t always straightforward, but there are signs you can look for—like a persistent “Pending” status, inability to see their Snapchat score, or their profile disappearing. While it’s natural to feel a little disappointed, remember that people have their reasons for declining requests, and it’s not always personal. By following best practices—such as using a recognizable username, sending a friendly message first, and focusing on adding people you know—you can improve your chances of building connections on Snapchat.
Snapchat is a great tool for sharing moments and staying in touch, but it’s important to use it respectfully and responsibly. If a request doesn’t go your way, there’s always another opportunity to connect with friends and family, whether on Snapchat or other platforms. Happy snapping!