Ever noticed a tiny green dot next to a friend’s profile on Snapchat and wondered what it really means?
Does it mean they’re online? Does it mean they read your Snap but ignored you? Or is Snapchat just messing with your head?
Let’s break down the truth about the Snapchat green dot, how it works, and how you can control it.
What Does the Green Dot Mean on Snapchat?
The green dot on Snapchat is an Activity Indicator—but it doesn’t work like Instagram’s or WhatsApp’s online status.
What it actually means: The person has been active on Snapchat in the last 24 hours.
What it DOESN’T mean: They’re currently online at this very moment.
So if you see a green dot next to someone’s Bitmoji or profile on the Quick Add page, it just means they’ve opened the app at some point in the past day. It’s not real-time.
Where You’ll See the Green Dot:
- On Quick Add Suggestions (suggested new friends)
- Next to a friend’s Bitmoji in the Chat section
- When viewing someone’s full profile
How to Hide the Green Dot on Snapchat
Don’t want people knowing when you’ve been active? Turn off the Activity Indicator in seconds!
1️⃣ Open Snapchat and tap your Bitmoji in the top-left corner.
2️⃣ Tap the ⚙️ Settings icon in the top-right.
3️⃣ Scroll down to Privacy Controls → Activity Indicator.
4️⃣ Toggle it OFF.
Important:
- Turning this off means no one can see your green dot.
- But you ALSO won’t see other people’s green dots anymore—Snapchat plays fair!
How to Tell If Someone Is Online on Snapchat
The green dot isn’t real-time, but here’s how to spot if someone is online:
1️⃣ Check Their Snap Map Location
- Open the Snap Map (bottom-left icon).
- If their Bitmoji says “Active just now”, they’re online!
- If it says “Active 3h ago”, they were last seen 3 hours ago.
Note: This only works if they haven’t enabled Ghost Mode!
2️⃣ Look for Recent Snap Score Updates
Snapchat updates a user’s Snap Score when they send or receive a Snap. If you notice a sudden score increase, they’re actively using the app.
3️⃣ Check If They’ve Viewed Your Story
If they watch your Snapchat Story right after you post, they’re likely online.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Snapchat’s Green Dot
Q: Does the green dot mean someone is online RIGHT NOW?
A: ❌ No. It only means they were active within the last 24 hours.
Q: Why do some friends never show a green dot?
A: They disabled their Activity Indicator in settings.
Q: Can I see when someone was last active if they turned off their green dot?
A: No, unless you check Snap Map, their Snap Score, or their Story views.
Q: Can I see the green dot in Group Chats?
A: ❌ No. Snapchat doesn’t show green dots in group messages.
Q: Will people know if I turn off my green dot?
A: No. Snapchat doesn’t notify anyone when you disable it.
Should You Care About the Green Dot?
The Snapchat green dot isn’t a real-time online status, but it does give you a hint if someone’s still active on Snapchat.
Want full privacy? Turn it off.
Want to spy on your friends’ activity? Check their Snap Map & Snap Score.
Either way, now you know exactly what it means—so no more overthinking!