How to Turn Off Location in Snapchat

Snapchat has plenty of convenient options to help you connect with friends and other users on the platform. However, many default features track your device and expose your whereabouts to unknown profiles. If protecting your privacy is a significant concern, the process begins with hiding your location.

In this article, you’ll learn how to turn off your location using Ghost Mode and your phone on Snapchat.

Turning Off Snap Map

Snap Map is a feature that allows users to track other profiles through the Snapchat platform. While many find this feature helpful and convenient, others may find it threatens security and privacy. Fortunately, there are multiple ways you can configure the component and stop it from showing your location on the app.

Here’s how to use Ghost Mode while using the Snap Map feature on the app:

1. Launch your Snapchat app and tap on the “Location.” option. It’s located at the bottom left of the screen.
   
2. Snapchat will take you to the “Snap Map.” Select the settings option at the top right corner displaying a cog on it.
   
3. Find the “Ghost Mode” option and switch it on.
   

Once you turn on Ghost Mode, nobody can track your location through the feature. You can switch it on indefinitely or through the next three or 24 hours. The feature also offers to keep Snap Map on for just your friends. Your choice depends on your personal preferences regarding privacy.

Turning Off Location Through Your Device

If you’re especially thorough regarding privacy, you can also turn off your location through your phone’s settings. This will give you greater control over what information Snapchat will have when you launch the app.

Here’s how to turn off your location through the settings on an Android device:

1. Navigate to the general settings and select “Apps.”
   
2. Locate the Snapchat icon and app and then tap on it.
   
3. Tap on “Permissions.” The interface will display options and sliders.
   
4. Turn off the “Locations” permission.
   

Here’s how to turn off the location permission with an iPhone:

1. Select your iPhone’s settings option and tap “Apps.”
   
2. Locate and tap on the Snapchat app.
   
3. Choose “Never” on the locations tab.
   

Once you complete the steps above, Snapchat won’t be able to see your location. While in the permissions interface, you can turn off any other permission you don’t want Snapchat to have. However, doing this may interfere with the app’s main functionalities. For example, disabling the camera wouldn’t let you take snaps.

How to Change the Privacy Settings on Snapchat

When wanting to maximize privacy, location isn’t the only information you can control. The platform offers varying customizable privacy settings. These options will influence your app’s visibility to other profiles and what information they can send you.

Here’s how to access and change your privacy settings. For the purposes of this article, we’ll use “Who can view my story” as an example:

1. Launch the profile and select “Settings” from your primary interface.
   
2. Locate and tap on “Privacy Controls.”
   
3. Select “Who can view my story” and tap “Friends.”
   

You can also select “Custom” and then type in the names of profiles you’d like to see your story. There are multiple other privacy settings to choose from: who can contact me, who can send me notifications, and who can see my location.

Extra Things You Can Do to Keep Your Snapchat Profile Secure

Privacy settings and hiding your location are great ways to keep your profile safe and secure. However, there are things you can do while using the app to ensure a higher degree of safety. Snapchat etiquette with friends, snaps, and messaging plays a valid role.

Here are a few things you can do to make your security on Snapchat (and any app, for that matter) even better:

• Enable Snapchat’s two-factor authentication. This is a commonly overlooked feature that offers additional security when logging into your profile. After typing in your phone number, Snapchat will send you an SMS code which you can use to log in even after using your password.
• Create a strong password. As with any account, we recommend making a robust password using capital and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers.
• Be careful who you add on Snapchat. Connecting with new people can be exciting but consider only adding people you already know if you want optimal security while using the app.
• Don’t share any personal or sensitive information. Avoid disclosing your location on either your snaps or your stories. Consider only sending snaps to people and profiles you trust.
• Make sure you’re using the latest version of the app. Keeping your Snapchat updated is crucial because new features regarding privacy settings can appear.
• Report or block any inappropriate or suspicious activity. If someone you don’t know won’t leave you alone, the safest action is first to report the user and then block them so they can’t contact you.
• Take the time to log out of the app on your phone. Instead of just exiting the app, log out and put your phone in a safe place to ensure nobody can get to it.

How to Stop Strangers from Contacting You on Snapchat

Now that we’ve covered some extra things you can do to keep your Snapchat profile safe and private, it’s time to start experimenting with some of the standard functions.

This includes clearing profiles from your friends, blocking them, and reporting them, as we’ve mentioned in the points above. This has more to do with the strangers that may or may not contact you using the app.

Unfriending Those Who Bother You

For example, here’s how to unfriend someone you don’t like pestering you on the app:

1. Enter the app and swipe to the right interface. This is your friends list.
   
2. Look for the person you want to get rid of by scrolling until you find them.
   
3. Tap and hold down their profile name. A menu should appear.
   
4. Tap on the “Remove Friend” option and confirm the action once more.
   

Snapchat will have a lot more piece of mind once you tidy up your friends list. Given that you’ve configured some of the privacy settings above, that person won’t be able to contact you or send you snaps. You can check to make sure by navigating back to the privacy settings and selecting the option that allows only friends to contact you.

Blocking Profiles for No Communication

If it’s too much of a hassle to back in the app’s settings, you can always block a person you don’t really care for. This will ultimately stop them from seeing any of your amazing stories. They won’t be able to contact you either.

Here’s how to go about blocking that annoying somebody:

1. Find the person you want to block. Look for them in your chat list and then hold their profile name down after tapping on it.
   
2. The same menu that allows you to remove a friend will also let you block the person. Tap on the “Block” option.
   
3. Select the block option again and the person will be erased from the interface.
   

Once you block someone on the Snapchat app, you can unblock them through the settings if you think you’ve made a mistake.

Save Reporting as a Drastic Measure

Before blocking the profile, you may want to report them for their behavior. This involves the Snapchat staff in the incident, so make sure you have a credible reason for reporting the person other than just not liking them.

Good reasons to report someone is when they try and harass or bully you. Avoid reporting anyone for non-serious reasons. The platform might ban your profile for false accusations.

Here is how to submit a report to Snapchat about the chat:

1. Look for the chat with the person you want to report and select it.
   
2. After entering the conversation, go to the three dots icon in the very corner of the screen.
   
3. Tap on the “Report” option.
   
4. Snapchat will direct you to a submission form. Select “Submit” once you’re done.
   

When you type out the report, be sure to be as detailed as possible. Be transparent, don’t hide anything, but don’t exaggerate the report either. This makes it easier for Snapchat to settle the problem for future reference. They might even follow-up with you later.

Logging Out Just In Case

If you’re still worried about your security after all the steps we mentioned above, there’s still another simple precaution you can take. Make sure to log out of your account whenever you’re finished using it. Sure, the process can take a little time and is less convenient, but it’s a simple way to stay safe.

Here’s how to do it most straightforwardly:

1. Select the profile icon. You should find it to the left of your camera section on Snapchat.
   
2. Then select the gear icon, which is located to the right.
   
3. Out of the options, tap on “Log Out.” You will find this under the tab “Ma account.”
   
4. Confirm the same action and select “Log out.”
   

Once you log out, you’ll have to manually log back in for further use with the double-layered verification if you’ve enabled it.

FAQs

Does Snapchat always know my location?

If you don’t turn off the location permission on your phone, Snapchat can see your location.

Can users who aren’t my friends use Snap Map to find me?

No, only friends can use the Snap Map to find you. And enabling Ghost Mode stops even them from finding you.

Will Snapchat use my private information??

Snapchat is like all other social media/messing apps in this sense. It will collect your email, full name, and other main points of your profile. You can check the privacy policy to see how the platform uses this data type.

Can I somehow delete Snap Map from my Snapchat profile?

You can go into Ghost Mode, making your location invisible to your friends, but you can’t delete the feature as it’s built on the platform.

Is Snapchat safe for private messaging?

Yes, Snapchat’s messages are private and disappear after 24 hours, making it more private than other apps. However, we still recommend not sharing sensitive information through the app.

Optimizing Your Snapchat Safety

If you don’t want Snapchat to uncover your location, there are plenty of tricks you can use. The first line of defense includes using “Ghost Mode” and also play with the privacy settings within your application. As an app user, you can go even further by using your device settings, not Snapchat’s. Once you do so, try and use the app safely with the tips we’ve mentioned above. Always report profiles that are harassing you and then block them for good measure.

Did you find it easy to turn off the location for Snapchat? Do you prefer going to Ghost Mode or just changing the privacy settings? Let us know in the comments section below.