Finding people on social media used to be so simple. You'd search a name, hit a button, and boom—you were connected. But Snapchat? Snapchat is its own beast. It doesn’t even call it "following" most of the time. Usually, you’re "adding" someone. But then there are public profiles where you actually can hit a follow button. It’s confusing, honestly.
If you’re wondering how can you follow someone on Snapchat without feeling like you need a degree in UI design, you’re in the right place.
The Search Bar Is Your Best Friend
The most direct way to find anyone is that little magnifying glass at the top left of your screen. It’s always there, staring at you. You just tap it and type.
But here is the thing: usernames on Snapchat are permanent. Display names? Those change whenever someone feels like being "✨Manifesting✨" instead of "Sarah." If you have their exact username, they’ll pop up instantly. If you only have their real name, you might have to scroll through a dozen Sarahs to find the right one.
Once you see them, there is usually a "+ Add" button. Tap it. Now, you’ve sent a friend request. They have to accept it before you can see their private stories or send them snaps that don't just sit in "Pending" limbo forever.
The Mystery of the Public Profile
Sometimes you search for a celebrity or a big creator, and instead of "+ Add," you see a "Subscribe" or "Follow" button. This is different. When you follow a public profile, you’re basically a fan. You can see their public stories in your Discover feed, but they probably won't see your snaps. They might not even know you exist.
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Snapcodes are Basically Magic
Remember QR codes? Snapchat was doing them before they were cool. Every user has a "Snapcode"—that yellow square with the black dots that looks like a ghost has the measles.
If you’re standing next to someone, have them open their profile. You just point your Snapchat camera at their code and press and hold on the screen. It feels like you’re scanning a secret agent’s badge. Your phone vibrates, and their profile pops up.
You can also do this with photos. If someone sends you a screenshot of their Snapcode, save it to your camera roll. Go to the "Add Friends" screen, tap the ghost icon in the search bar, and select that photo. The app scans the image and finds them. It’s a lifesaver when you can't remember if their username has two underscores or three.
What Happened to Quick Add?
Snapchat recently rebranded Quick Add to "Find Friends," which is a lot more literal, I guess. It’s that list of people the app thinks you know. It uses "signals"—which is tech-speak for looking at your contacts and seeing who your other friends are following.
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If you see someone in that list, just tap "Add." But be careful. Sometimes the algorithm gets weird and suggests your ex’s cousin’s roommate. Check the "Mutual Friends" count underneath their name. If it says "10+ Mutual Friends," you’re probably safe. If it says 0, maybe think twice before clicking.
Syncing Your Contacts
If you’re new to the app and your friend list is a ghost town, you should probably just sync your phone’s contact list.
- Tap your Bitmoji (the little cartoon version of you).
- Tap "Add Friends."
- Look for the "All Contacts" or "Contact Sync" option.
Snapchat will cross-reference the phone numbers in your phone with its database. It’ll show you exactly who is already on the app. It's the fastest way to populate your feed, but it also means everyone with your number might get a notification that you just joined. Privacy is a trade-off.
Following People from Stories and Mentions
Let’s say you’re watching a friend’s story and they mention another person using a tag (like @username). You don't have to go search for that person. You can just swipe up on that snap.
A little menu appears at the bottom with a "+ Add" button for the tagged person. It’s very seamless. You can also do this in the "Discover" section. If you see a creator you like on the Spotlight feed, there is almost always a "Follow" button right there on the video. No searching required.
Why Can’t I Follow Some People?
This is the part that trips people up. If you try to add someone and it won't let you, or if your messages stay "Pending" with a grey icon for weeks, they probably have strict privacy settings.
A lot of users set their "Contact Me" and "View My Story" settings to "My Friends Only." This means if they haven't added you back, you are basically invisible to them. You can't "follow" them in the traditional sense because they’ve turned their profile into a digital fortress.
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Also, if you’re under 18, Snapchat has extra guardrails. They won't show you in search results to people you don't have mutual friends with. It's a safety thing. If you’re wondering how can you follow someone on Snapchat and they just won't appear in search, it might be because the app doesn't think you have a real-world connection to them.
Fine-Tuning Your "Following" Feed
Once you’ve followed a bunch of people, your "Stories" page can get messy. You can actually manage this. If you press and hold on a friend's name in your chat list or story feed, you can go to "Story Settings."
From there, you can mute them. Muting is great. You stay friends, but their 40-snap-long story about their cat won't automatically play every time you open the app. You can also "Pin" your best friends to the top of your chat list so you never have to search for them.
Getting Your Own Followers
If you want people to follow you, you have to make it easy for them.
- Share your Snapcode on your Instagram or Twitter.
- Set your Story to Public (if you’re over 16) so people can see what you’re about before they add you.
- Create a Public Profile. This adds a "Subscribe" button to your account, allowing people to follow your content without you having to see their private snaps.
In 2026, the app is much more creator-friendly than it used to be. The line between a "friend" and a "follower" is blurrier, but the "Add" button remains the king of the platform.
To get the most out of your Snapchat experience, start by cleaning up your "Find Friends" list to see who the algorithm is currently surfacing for you. If you're looking to grow an audience, ensure your "Public Profile" is fully set up with a bio and a profile picture to appear more legitimate in search results. For those just looking to stay connected, periodically checking your "Added Me" section ensures you aren't leaving real-world friends in the "Pending" queue.