- To turn off location tracking on Snapchat, you should turn on "Ghost Mode."
- Ghost Mode in Snapchat will hide your location on the map, so contacts won't be able to see where you are.
- You can also turn off location tracking through your iPhone or Android device's settings, where you can revoke location permissions.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
While it's sometimes convenient to let everyone know where you are, there may come times when you want more privacy.
In the location Settings on the Snapchat app, you can enable Ghost Mode so that no one can see where you are. This will make it so you don't appear on the Snapchat Map, hiding your location from friends and followers.
Additionally, you can override these app settings altogether by heading to your iPhone or Android's settings. There, you can turn off location services for Snapchat, which will trump any settings in the app.
Here's how to turn off location tracking on Snapchat for both iPhone and Android devices.
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How to turn off location tracking on Snapchat
1. Open the Snapchat app on your iPhone or Android device and tap on your profile icon in the upper-left corner
2. Tap on the settings gear icon in the upper-right corner.
Open the Settings menu. Marissa Perino/Business Insider3. Scroll down to the "Who Can..." section and tap "See My Location." The default setting is for only your friends to see your location.
The "Who Can..." section contains most of your privacy settings. Marissa Perino/Business Insider4. In your location settings page, you'll find options to change the "My Friends" default to "My Friends, Except…" or "Only These Friends…" Tap either of those options to select names from your Snapchat contact list.
5. To enable Ghost Mode so no one can see your location, tap the switch at the top of the screen. A pop-up will appear that allows you to choose a duration. You can turn this on temporarily, but if you'd like to turn it on indefinitely, select "Until Turned Off."
Choose your location settings. Marissa Perino/Business Insider6. Return to Snapchat's main page, where your camera is on and you can take pictures or videos. Swipe down to open the Map.
7. Your location will be marked with a blue-and-white Snapchat ghost if you're currently private. This will let you know that you successfully turned off location tracking. You can now tap the gear icon in the upper-right corner to jump straight back to the location settings page. (Snapchat may even point it out to you with a pop-up that reads, "Share your location with select friends!")
You can jump right to the location settings page. Marissa Perino/Business InsiderYou can also skip all of this by simply revoking Snapchat's location permissions. For information on how to do this, check out our articles on how to turn off location tracking on both iPhone devices and Android devices.
Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:
'Why won't my Snapchats send?': How to troubleshoot Snapchat if it's not working
How to see who added you as a friend on Snapchat in 2 ways
How to enable and use Snapchat filters and lenses on an iPhone or Android phone
How to delete or block friends on Snapchat on an iPhone or Android
How to find and add someone on Snapchat on iPhone or Android, in 3 different ways
Marissa Perino is a former editorial intern covering executive lifestyle. She previously worked at Cold Lips in London and Creative Nonfiction in Pittsburgh. She studied journalism and communications at the University of Pittsburgh, along with creative writing. Find her on Twitter: @mlperino.
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Social media apps are always looking for new ways of customizing content. One way of doing this is to offer regional-based subjects to users.
Snapchat is one such app that includes several features based on location. It is also one of the most popular social media apps available, with 293 million daily active users worldwide.
In 2017, Snapchat released the “Snap Map.” As well as letting your friends know your exact whereabouts, this GPS-based feature also offers filters, stickers, and more based on your location.
However, some safety concerns may be raised when considering the app’s tracking feature. In this article, we’ll be showing you how to change your location on Snapchat.
One way to change your Snapchat location on your iPhone is to install ExpressVPN. This software enables privacy and security by changing or hiding your IP address.
Using ExpressVPN to change a virtual location is a great way of ensuring your location will be changed on Snapchat.
The first thing you need to do is download ExpressVPN:
- Go to Chrome or Safari, then head to the
“ExpressVPN” setup page and create an
account.
- Sign in and enter the verification code that was sent to your email
address.
- Beneath
“Setup,” select “Complete ExpressVPN manual setup for
iOS.”
- A new tab will open, explaining that the ExpressVPN settings are loading onto your iPhone. If prompted, tap
“Allow.”
Next, the VPN configuration needs to be installed:
- Go to
“Settings.”
- Tap
“General.”
- Hit “Profile.”
- Select “ExpressVPN” to start installing. You will be asked to confirm your identity by entering your device’s passcode.
- Select “Install”
in the pop-up that
appears.
The final step to changing your location is to connect to a VPN server.
- Go to
“Settings.”
- Choose
“General.”
- Tap
“VPN.”
- From the
VPN menu, you’ll see a list of server locations. Select the location you wish to connect to, then switch the toggle on to activate
it.
Once these steps are complete, your Snapchat location will automatically be updated to your chosen location.
How to Change Your Location in Snapchat on an Android Device
Fortunately, there is a way to change your Snapchat location using your Android device.
One way of doing this is by downloading the ExpressVPN app on your Android device.
- From Chrome (or your chosen browser), head to the ExpressVPN
website.
- Set up an account, then proceed
to log in using your
credentials.
- Scroll down to the download
section and tap “Android” or “Setup
ExpressVPN.”
- Tap the “Get It On Google
Play”
button.
- Use Google Play to install the app and allow access.
- In the app, tap the green“OK” button to complete the
configuration.
- Confirm that
you give the app permission to intercept network
traffic.
- Once all the previous steps are complete, you’ll
notice two round buttons. The smaller button allows you to change
location.
- Change your
location to your desired one and log in to your Snapchat account. The location should be changed on the app
automatically.
How to Change Your Location on Snapchat Filters
Snapchat users can often find the filters available to people only within certain geographical areas. For example, New Yorkers will have different filters available to people in Paris.
Snap Map automatically detects your location by pinning your Bitmoji onto a world map.
But how do you fake your location to gain access to more filters?
The first thing to do is to enable Snapchat Filters in the first place. To do this:
- On your smartphone device, go to
“Settings.”
- Tap on “Privacy,” then “Location
Services.”
- Switch the toggle to
“OK.”
- Head to Snapchat and open “Settings” by pressing the cog
icon.
- Tap
“Manage” and enable “Filters” by pressing the
toggle.
- The location filters will now be ready to use!
Now, it’s time to change your location on Snap Map. One way of doing so is by changing your location through ExpressVPN.
- From your chosen browser, open the ExpressVPN
website.
- If you haven’t already, set up an account.
- Proceed to log in using your
credentials.
- Select the option for “Setup ExpressVPN.”
- Install the ExpressVPN app on your
phone.
- Hit
the red “OK” button to complete the configuration in the
app.
- Once all the
previous steps are complete, select the smaller round button titled “Change
Location.”
- Choose the
location you wish to use, then log in to your Snapchat
account.
- You will now have access to the filters in that location.
Additional FAQs
Can Snapchat Location Ever Be Wrong?
Yes, the location can sometimes be wrong due to misconfiguration. Also, if somebody else is signed into Snapchat using your account details, the wrong area being shown on Snap Map can be shown.
Does Snapchat Update Location on the Snap Map?
Unlike apps like Google Maps, Snap Map doesn’t automatically update in the background when you change location. The only time Snapchat updates your location is when the app is actively open on your chosen device.
How Do You Hide Your Location Using Snap Map?
If you wish to hide your location on Snapchat, it’s relatively easy to do directly through the app. The process is the same whether you’re using an iOS device or Android.
1. Launch the Snapchat app on your device.
2. Select “Camera,” “Friends,” or the “Discover Screen.”
3. Tap the magnifying glass icon.
4. Select “Map,” then hit the cog icon to access “Settings.”
5. In your “Settings,” set your location visibility to “Ghost Mode.”
6. You’ll then be given three options for how long you’d like to stay hidden: “3 hours,” “24 hours,” or “Until Turned Off.”
Where in the World Are You?
Whether you’re looking to change your location for safety or just to access more filters, knowing how to do so is a great hack.
With our lives becoming more and more virtual, we must stay up to date with all the latest features on social media apps. The Geo-tracking features available on Snapchat were part of an automatic update.
While the Snap Map offered by Snapchat can be helpful at times, I’m sure you don’t want your whereabouts to be tracked all the time. This may be especially true if you aren’t too close to all your Snapchat friends or don’t know some of them.
Have you tried changing your Snapchat location? What was your reason? Tell us more about your experience in the comments section below.
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