Snap Map: Who Can See Your Location on Snapchat
Snap Map can show friends where you are. Here is how to check who can see you, how to hide with Ghost Mode and what still ends up public.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 18, 2026Only Snapchat friends you choose can see your location on Snap Map, and only if you allow location sharing. To hide, open the Map, tap the settings gear and turn on Ghost Mode for 3 hours, 24 hours or until you turn it off. Snaps you submit to Snap Map are public content and can still appear on the map, even in Ghost Mode.
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Snap Map shows your Bitmoji on a map so friends can see where you are. It is popular with teenagers, which is why parents often search for it. Used carefully it is fine. Used carelessly, it can show your home, school and daily routine to people you barely know.
Who can see your location
According to Snap’s privacy page for Snap Map, people only see you on the map if you are friends with each other, you have opened the Map, you have given Snapchat location permission on your device, and you have chosen to share. You can change who sees your location in Map settings.
Your location also fades. Snap says that if you do not open the app for 24 hours, friends will not see you on the map until you open it again, unless you have shared your live location without a time limit.
How to turn on Ghost Mode
1Open the Map
From the camera screen, open the Map view.
2Open Map settings
Tap the gear icon.
3Turn on Ghost Mode
Switch on the Ghost Mode toggle.
4Choose how long
Snap’s Ghost Mode help page lists three options: 3 hours, 24 hours or Until Turned Off. For privacy, choose Until Turned Off.
Snap says your location is still sent to Snap in Ghost Mode, but other users cannot see it on the map. Your Bitmoji shows a ghost icon.
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Snaps on the map are public
This is the part many people miss. Snaps you submit to Snap Map are public content. Snap says they can appear on the map, may also appear outside Snapchat and can stay visible for years. Ghost Mode does not hide them.
Live location is separate
Snapchat also lets you share your live location with chosen friends for a set time. That is separate from the general map setting. If you share live location indefinitely, you can stay visible even when you have not opened the app. Review who you share it with in the Map settings.
Tips for parents
- Check together who is on your child’s friends list. Only real-life friends should be able to see their location.
- Turn on Ghost Mode until turned off, and turn location sharing on only for specific trusted friends if needed.
- Talk about not submitting Snaps that show home or school.
Our parents’ guide to children’s digital footprints covers other apps too.
Who is on your friends list?
Location sharing only goes to friends, so the friends list is the real control. Over time, it can fill with people met once, friends of friends and accounts added through suggestions. Remove anyone you would not want to know where you are. A short list of real friends makes Snap Map far safer than any single setting.
Turn off location access completely
If you do not use Snap Map at all, you can stop Snapchat accessing your location in your phone’s settings. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Snapchat, then Location. On Android, open the app permissions for Snapchat. Some features, such as location filters, will stop working, but your location will no longer be sent to Snapchat.
Location leaks elsewhere
Snap Map is not the only app that can reveal where you live. Fitness apps, photo metadata and tagged posts can do the same. See how fitness apps can reveal your home.
Sources
- Snap: Snap Map privacy by product (who can see you, 24-hour lapse, public Snap Map submissions)
- Snapchat Support: How do I turn on Ghost Mode? (steps, durations, what Ghost Mode hides)
Frequently asked questions
Can strangers see me on Snap Map?
Not your location, unless you are friends and you chose to share with them. Snaps you submit to Snap Map are public, though.
Does Ghost Mode stop Snapchat knowing my location?
No. Snap says it still receives your location, but other users cannot see it on the map.
How long does Ghost Mode last?
You can choose 3 hours, 24 hours or Until Turned Off.
Why does my friend still see my old location?
Your location lapses after 24 hours without opening the app, unless you share live location without a time limit.
Can I share location with just a few friends?
Yes. Snapchat lets you change who sees your location in Map settings, and live location can be shared with chosen friends.
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