What Does the X Mean on Snapchat? (2026 Easy Guide)

Are you wondering if the X icon appearing next to someone’s profile name on Snapchat means that person has blocked you? Then you’re wrong. The X next to their name on Snapchat means the person you’re chatting with isn’t in your friends list. This may be because the other person has unadded you or you haven’t responded to their pending request.

No need to worry, as you’ve landed on the right article. This article has covered everything you need to know about the X icon on Snapchat. From answering your question about what does the X mean on Snapchat to guiding you on how you can get rid of it easily, this guide has got your back. So, without wasting time, let’s dive in!

what does the X mean on Snapchat

What Does the X Mean on Snapchat?


Wondering why there is an X next to someone on Snapchat? The grey X icon on Snapchat shows that someone who’s messaged you isn’t on your friends list. This might be because the other person sent you a friend request you haven’t responded to yet, you’ve never added them before, or they have removed you from their friends list. Removing a friend doesn’t mean you’re blocked; it just shows that you and the other person were friends before and now aren’t.

The X icon next to someone’s name isn’t a bug or a glitch; it’s just a visual cue, like the purple circle on Snapchat, that indicates different features. Tapping the name with the X gives you two options: accept the friend request with the OK button, or report and block the user. Once you accept the request, the X icon is replaced with a camera icon, indicating you can now send snaps to each other.
x snapchat icon meaning

Does the X on Snapchat Mean Someone Blocked Me?


No, the little X on Snapchat doesn’t mean someone has blocked you because if someone blocks you, you can’t find their profile even by searching their username. Their profile and chats completely disappear from your account. The X icon means the opposite: someone you were friends with may have unfriended you, or someone has seen your profile and sent you a friend request. If the other person blocks you on Snapchat, you cannot view their profile.

Does the X Mean Someone Removed or Unadded Me?


This can happen sometimes, but not always. The X icon may appear if someone you were friends with has unfriended you and has requested to be friends again. This triggers an X icon beside their name, indicating a friend request is waiting for you. If you really want to see if someone has unfriended you, check their Snap Score; if it appears, you are friends, and if not, something has changed.

Can You Send Snaps to Someone with an “x” Icon?


Yes, you can send snaps and messages to people with an X icon next to their name only if you’ve sent or received a friend request from that person. The message will appear in the inbox with an X next to their name, and you can choose to accept, report, or block it. If someone has removed you from their friend list, you can’t chat with them, as the chat will not be delivered and will be deleted automatically. Messages will be visible to them only once the other person adds you back.

Where Does the X Appear on Snapchat?


The X icon on Snapchat appears in different places, and each appearance has its own meaning:

X in the Chat List

The X icon appears in the Snapchat chat section when someone who is not on your friends list sends you a message or a request. It’s the most common place the X icon appears instead of the camera icon.

X in Search Results

If the X icon appears while searching someone’s username, it means the app hasn’t finished syncing the connection. Try refreshing the app to fix it.

X in Quick Add

If you see the X icon next to someone’s profile in Quick Add, then it means they added you and are waiting for you to add them back.

X in Group Chats

If an X icon appears next to someone’s profile in group chats, it means the person isn’t fully in the group, or their invite is still pending.

What Happens When You Tap the X on Snapchat?


If you tap the X icon appearing next to someone’s profile on Snapchat, then you’ll get these options:
  • You can accept the request.
  • You can report the profile.
  • You can block the person.
  • You can clear the conversation from the chat list. Clearing the chat doesn’t block the person; it means you won’t see the message again until they message you.
options appear after tapping x on snapchat

What Do the Other Icons on the Chat Screen Mean?


Snapchat uses several visual cues, including icons, emojis, and color themes, to make the app more attractive. Snapchat uses red for snaps without audio, purple for snaps with audio, and blue for chat messages. The icons also have their own meanings, which are described below:

Icon

Meanings

Color

Filled Arrow

Snap you sent but not opened yet

Red, Purple, or Blue

Outlined Arrow

Snap you sent was opened

Red, Purple, or Blue

Filled Square

Unread snap or chat received

Red, Purple, or Blue

Outlined Square

Snap or chat you already viewed

Red, Purple, or Blue

Gray Arrow

Sent to someone who has not accepted you

Gray

Gray Outlined Square

Pending or expired chat

Gray

Two Overlapping Arrows

Someone took a screenshot

Red, Purple, or Blue

Circular Arrow

Snap was replayed

Red, Purple, or Blue

How to Confirm If You Are Still Friends on Snapchat


If you are in doubt whether your friend has unfriended you or not after seeing the X icon on their profile, then confirm with these checks:

Check Their Snapscore

Snapchat hides the Snapscore number from users who are not friends, so open your friends’ profiles and check the Snapscore number. If the Snapscore is visible, you are friends, and if not, your friend has unfriended you.

Look at Their Stories

Friends can see each other’s stories by default, and if your friend’s story appears in your feed, you’re friends.

Open Their Profile

You can confirm whether your friendship on Snapchat is alive by exploring your friend’s profile. If you can see your friend’s Bitmoji, friendship charms, and profile details, you’re connected.

Send a Snap

Try sending a Snap. If it gets delivered, the connection is live; if it says pending, it is probably a sync issue or your friend unfriended you.

How to Remove the X Icon on Snapchat


There are several ways to remove the X icon on Snapchat. Below are all of them:

Accept the Friend Request

The X icon may be removed automatically if you accept the pending request from that user. Check for a pending request by tapping the add icon in the top right corner. The pending request will appear under the Added Me section; if it’s from that user, accept it.

Clear Unwanted Conversations

You can remove the X icon by clearing the chat, which removes the entire chat history. This will also remove the user’s profile that appears with the X icon. You can clear the chat by going to the chat section of the app and holding down the conversation you want to clear. Now, go to the navigation settings option and select Clear From Chat Feed. Confirm it by selecting Clear.

Refresh Snapchat

The easiest way to remove the X icon is to refresh the app by swiping down on the screen, which forces the app to update chat and friends data.

Clear Snapchat Cache

The X icon can also appear because of the app cache, which can cause display issues. You can clear the cache by going to Settings and scrolling down to Clear cache. Tap Confirm and restart the app.

Update the App

The X icon may also appear in older versions because of display bugs. Check for app updates in the Google Play Store or App Store, and update as soon as possible if there is any.

Restart Your Phone

You can also restart your phone, as it’ll clear background sync issues. Many users say this method fixes stuck icons instantly.

Log Out and Log Back In

The X icon on your Snapchat may also be stuck due to server latency. You can fix this by logging out of your Snapchat account and logging back in, which will reload your profile from scratch.

Reinstall Snapchat

If nothing works, the last option is to reinstall the Snapchat app, as it’ll remove corrupted app files and may also make the X icon disappear.

Does the X on Snapchat Look Different on Android vs iPhone?


The X icon appears and functions the same on both devices. However, Android devices with strict battery optimization may not remove the X icon as quickly as iPhones, as it may take longer to sync friend-status changes.

snapchat x icon on different devices

Comparison Between X on Snapchat vs Blocked vs Unadded


Below is the table comparing the X icon on Snapchat vs. blocked vs. unadded:

Situation

What You See

Can You Still See Profile?

Pending friend request

Grey X icon next to name

Yes

Someone unfriend you

No icon or re-add option

Yes

You are blocked

Profile disappears

No

Unadded then re-added you

Grey X icon next to name

Yes

FAQs


It depends on you. If you know the person, then accept the request, and the X will vanish. If you don’t know the person, simply ignore, report, or block them.

The X on Snapchat means the person you’re chatting with isn’t in your friends list. This may be because they have unfriended you or you haven’t accepted their pending request yet.

Snapchat displays only a grey X icon, with no other colored version. The grey color indicates a pending state, which means the person is waiting for your response.

The X icon is triggered by another person’s action. If a friend un-adds you and then adds you back, their new request will appear as an X, even if you haven’t done anything.

No, clearing the chat will not remove or block anyone. It just removes the conversation from the chat section, and it can reappear if the other person messages you.

No, the X icon will not affect your Snap Score. However, streaks may be affected because if you’re no longer friends, it’ll be harder to maintain communication and exchange streaks.

Conclusion


The X icon next to a name on Snapchat is a visual cue that appears when someone you’re chatting with isn’t in your friends list and has sent you a friend request. You can easily get rid of this icon by accepting the person’s pending request or blocking them. Now you’ve got the answer to your question about what does the X mean on Snapchat; you can do whatever you want with a person’s request.