Snapchat Streaks: How They Work and How to Get One Back
A Snapchat streak counts the days you and a friend both send a photo or video Snap. What the fire and hourglass mean, group streaks, and how to restore one.
A Snapchat streak counts how many days in a row you and a friend have both sent each other a photo or video Snap. Snapchat Support puts it this way: "When you and your friends Snap back and forth with each other at least once a day, every day, you're on a Streak!" A fire emoji shows next to the chat, with a number for the days. Chats don't count, only Snaps. If you lose one, you can sometimes restore it with the Restore button, but only for a short time after it ends.
We read Snapchat Support's three pages on streaks through our server on October 23, 2026.
How do Snapchat streaks work?
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| A fire emoji | You're on a streak |
| The number next to it | How many days old the streak is |
| An hourglass | The streak is about to expire |
| A Restore button | A recently ended streak can still come back |
Snapchat Support, "How do Streaks work and when do they expire?" and "I lost my Streak," read October 23, 2026.
Snapchat says "The number next to the fire emoji shows how many days old your Streak is." Guides like wikiHow's August 2026 explainer say the fire shows up after about three days of Snapping both ways.
What counts toward a streak?
Only photo and video Snaps. Snapchat says "both of you need to send a photo or video Snap in the chat every day." Text messages don't keep it alive. Snap Orbit Lab's 2026 guide says the same: "text chats don't count."
Group chats can have streaks too. Snapchat says "most members of the group must send a photo or video Snap (not Chat) in the Group Chat every day."
Why did my Snapchat streak end?
Snapchat says that if your streak expired, "more than a day passed without a new Snap from everyone in the Chat." Watch for the hourglass. When you see it, Snapchat's advice is that "you and your friends each send each other a photo or video Snap ASAP."
How do you get a Snapchat streak back?
- Open your chats. Look for a Restore button next to the chat that had the streak.
- Tap Restore. Then follow the steps in the app.
- No button? Snapchat says the streak "cannot be restored," and "This is usually because the Streak ended too long ago to bring back."
- Restore didn't work? Snapchat has a form for that, but notes "only recently expired Streaks can be restored."
Restores can cost money. Snapchat's help page has a section for when you "can't complete the Streak restore purchase," pointing to iOS and Android help. "How to get snapchat streak back" gets about 6,600 searches a month, up 24%.
How do you keep a Snapchat streak going?
- Send a Snap every day, a photo or a short video.
- Make sure they Snap back. Both of you have to send one.
- Watch for the hourglass and Snap right away when you see it.
- In a group, remind people, since most members need to Snap.
Streaks also feed your Snapchat score, since Snaps sent and opened count toward it. Our guide to increasing your Snapchat score explains what counts, and our guide to Snapchat planets explains the Best Friends solar system. Hclout sells Snapchat followers, so weigh that the way you'd weigh any seller.
Frequently asked questions
How does a Snapchat streak work?
You and a friend both send a photo or video Snap every day. The fire emoji and number show how many days you've kept it up.
Do chats count for Snapchat streaks?
No. Only photo and video Snaps count.
What does the hourglass mean on Snapchat?
Your streak is about to expire. Send a Snap soon.
Can you get a lost Snapchat streak back?
Sometimes. Look for the Restore button, which only appears for a short time after a streak ends.
How long do you have to keep a streak?
At least one Snap from each of you every day. If more than a day passes, it ends.
Sources
- Snapchat Support, "How do Streaks work and when do they expire?", "I lost my Streak. How do I restore it?" and "I'm having trouble restoring my Streak in the app," read through our server on October 23, 2026
- wikiHow, August 28, 2026, and Snap Orbit Lab, 2026, as Google showed them on October 23, 2026
- Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 23, 2026
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