What Does the X on Snapchat Mean? [2025 Quick Guide]
The mysterious X symbol on Snapchat puzzles many users. This common question has helped more than 163,000 people understand the app better. The small X beside someone’s name could mean different things – from a pending friend request to someone who unfriended you. Let me walk you through each possibility and show you exactly what to do about it.
What the X on Snapchat Means in Different Scenarios
That mysterious X symbol you see on Snapchat can mean different things based on the context. Let’s help you become skilled at understanding these Snapchat social connections better.
The X next to someone’s name usually means you’re not friends with them on the platform. This happens if one of you sent a friend request that hasn’t been accepted. You can check this by tapping their name to accept or decline their pending request.
There’s another reason you might see an X – someone removed you from their friend list. You might still see their name in contacts, but the X shows they’ve cut the connection from their end. This removal can be either temporary or permanent, based on what they intended. But this doesn’t mean they’ve blocked you completely – you might still be able to message each other.
Technical issues could also cause the X to appear. To name just one example, if someone temporarily deactivates their Snapchat account, an X shows up by their name. App glitches after software updates or server problems can also make the X icon appear wrongly, which creates confusion about your friendship status.
The X appears if both of you are in each other’s phone contacts but haven’t added each other as Snapchat friends yet. It also shows up if you haven’t exchanged any snaps or chats with a particular friend.
In stark comparison to this, seeing an X doesn’t automatically mean someone blocked you. A blocked contact’s chat vanishes completely from your list instead of showing an X indicator.
How to Respond When You See the X
That X next to someone’s name on Snapchat might worry you. No need to panic though – you can take several practical steps based on your situation.
A pending friend request usually causes the X to appear. Just tap the person’s name with the X to see two options: “Okay” to accept their request or “Report or Block” if you want to avoid connecting. You can also tap the X directly to see options to report, block, or clear the conversation.
The X might show up even when you were friends before. Here’s what you can do:
- Add them as a friend again – Send a new friend request. The X should change back to the camera icon once they accept.
- Clear your app cache – The X sometimes stays even after adding someone again:
- Go to Settings (find the cog icon in your profile)
- Scroll down and select “Clear Cache”
- Tap “Continue” (Android) or “Clear All” (iOS)
- Update your Snapchat app – An old app version often causes the X symbol. Look for the latest Snapchat update in your app store.
- Restart the app – Close Snapchat completely and open it again. This reconnects the app to Snapchat’s servers and fixes temporary glitches.
- Check your internet connection – Bad signal can cause Snapchat problems. Connect to Wi-Fi or find a spot with better reception.
The nuclear option might help if nothing else works: remove the person from contacts and add them again. A fresh start often clears stubborn problems.
A blocked user will see block, report, and clear options with the X – this reveals your status clearly. In such cases, it’s better to respect their privacy than try to reconnect.
Why the X Might Appear Even If You’re Still Friends
You might notice an X symbol next to your friend’s name on Snapchat even though you’re still connected. This odd situation happens quite often and needs a closer look.
Your friend’s privacy settings could explain this puzzling scenario. The X might show up when they adjust their privacy controls to limit incoming snaps or messages. This creates an unusual situation where both users see different friendship indicators while staying connected.
The app sometimes experiences technical glitches that affect friendship icons. These temporary errors can display an X by mistake, which usually goes away after you restart the app. The app’s interface doesn’t always show your actual friendship status correctly.
Snapchat’s servers sometimes lag in updating friend status changes. This delay can make your friend list show one status while the chat interface shows another. The problem typically fixes itself once the app refreshes or the servers catch up.
The X can also appear because of:
- A pending friend request from either person
- Recent app updates causing display issues
- Account changes affecting status indicators
- Unopened snaps or messages from either user
The X symbol doesn’t always mean someone unfriended or blocked you. Try some simple troubleshooting first: refresh your app, check your internet connection, or give it a few hours to update.
Note that the X icon rarely means the end of a friendship. The app sometimes just hiccups when showing connections between users.
Conclusion
The X symbol on Snapchat should not cause social anxiety. This icon might appear due to friendship status changes, though technical glitches can trigger it too. Note that simple troubleshooting steps might resolve the issue. Users can fix most cases by updating their app or
clearing the cache.
Snapchat’s friendship indicators may occasionally malfunction. These glitches rarely indicate permanent loss of connections. A quick friend request can easily clarify any uncertainty about your social connections.
FAQs
Q1. What does the X symbol next to someone’s name on Snapchat usually indicate?
The X symbol typically means you’re not friends with that person on Snapchat. This could be due to a pending friend request, recent unfriending, or because you haven’t added each other as friends yet.
Q2. Can I still interact with someone if there’s an X next to their name?
In most cases, you can still send a friend request or message to a person with an X next to their name. However, your ability to interact may be limited depending on their privacy settings.
Q3. How can I remove the X and become friends with someone on Snapchat?
To remove the X, simply tap on the person’s name and select “Add Friend” or accept their friend request if one is pending. Once the request is accepted, the X should disappear.
Q4. Does an X always mean I’ve been unfriended or blocked?
No, an X doesn’t always indicate unfriending or blocking. It can also appear due to technical glitches, privacy settings, or if you haven’t interacted with the person yet. If you’re blocked, you typically won’t see the person in your chat list at all.
Q5. What should I do if the X persists even after adding someone as a friend?
If the X remains after adding someone, try clearing your app cache, updating Snapchat to the latest version, or restarting the app. If the issue persists, it might be a temporary server synchronization problem that will resolve on its own.