How to Send Text Messages on Snapchat

When Snapchat rolled out, everyone was more interested in posting photos and videos than using the app’s instant messaging (IM) feature. Many users even thought that there was no IM option in Snapchat because of how crude the app was and how unintuitive it was to find the IM chat.

These days, Snapchat has a great interface that allows users to quickly send texts in a few different ways. Whether you want to browse your contact list or look into your message history and reply from there, instant messaging is always two or three simple steps away from the Snapchat home screen.

If you’re still new at using the app, the following paragraphs should guide you through the process of sending texts, saving them, and marking them for deletion. You’ll also learn how to add text overlays, if that’s something you are interested in doing.

Snapchat Messaging Features

1. Go to the message inbox (tap the square icon below the shutter button)
   
2. Select one of your contacts
   
3. Type in your message and tap Send
   

You can also send a message from your contact list. The message inbox feature won’t allow you to send messages to people you haven’t contacted previously.

Another alternative is to send a direct message from a Snapchat Story. Keep in mind that the message will disappear after the recipient reads it.

1. Swipe left to view Stories
   
2. Tap on a story
   
3. Look for the Chat box at the bottom of the page. Tap on it
   
4. Text and tap Send
   

Another useful thing you can do is save the message. If you tap and hold on the message, a notification will appear after a few seconds. When you see the word Saved pop up on screen, it means that the message was saved to your Snapchat Memories.

You can also un-save a message if you tap on it once. As soon as it becomes unbolded, you’ll know that it’s no longer saved and that it will disappear when you close the chat screen.

Adding Text to a Snap

1. Snap a photo
2. Press and hold the T icon (top right corner)
3. Type in text
4. Tap the T icon again if you want to change the text’s appearance
5. Tap Done

This feature allows you to add a text overlay on a photo or video you’ve uploaded to Snapchat. Note that there’s an 80-character limit, which includes punctuation signs and spaces.

Sending Photos

Snapchat’s messaging feature works like any other IM app. From the chat screen, you can send text as well as files such as photos and videos. You can also browse your photo library and choose to send something from there.

What’s even cooler is that you can add filters, text overlays, and emojis on top of the photo before you send it. This allows you to customize and personalize your media files.

Snapchat Privacy

Although you may want to send a text message to a friend or a stranger on Snapchat, be aware that that message may not reach its destination. Users can set strict privacy settings, which include limiting the ways in which they can be contacted.

If someone has disabled chat on their end, you can still send them a message from the inbox or chat feature, they just won’t receive it. You won’t be notified that that chat was blocked.

You will only be able to know if someone has disabled text messages on their profile if you try to send a text from a Story. If a Snapchat Story doesn’t feature a Chat link at the bottom of the page, it means that the feature was disabled by the user. There’s no way to get around this.

Why Would You Use Text Messages on Snapchat?

A photo may say a thousand words but a thousand words won’t replace a two-way conversation. Snapchat, like many other IM apps, offers the option of making video calls. But no matter how good your connection is, this service is somewhat sub-par.

Therefore, if you want to convey something with more than just a picture or a video, you may have to resort to instant messaging to get your point across. That’s why it’s important to know all the shortcuts you can take to send a text message. It’s still the most effective means of communication on the app.

Just remember that some users prefer to keep conversations to a minimum and use Snapchat only for its original intended use. Don’t assume that you can just shoot a text to anyone, even those from your contact list.