Snapchat Hacked? Signs Your Account Is Compromised and What to Do

Does this match what you see?

• Snapchat alerted you to a login from a device or place you don’t recognize.
• Your email, phone number or display name changed.
• Friends say you’re sending spam or strange messages.
• Posts appeared on your Story or Spotlight that you didn’t make.
• You keep getting logged out.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on Snapchat Support “My account is compromised” and “I can’t access my account”, plus its passkeys article (supplied by the site owner).

Why this happens: the possible causes

Common ways accounts get compromised (the causes and how likely each is are our estimate).

• Someone got your passwordCheck this first

  Our view: the most common way in. Snapchat says to change it immediately if you suspect anything.

• You shared your password or My Eyes Only passcodePossible

  Our view: another way in. Snapchat says never to share them, even with Snapchat.

• You shared a login codePossible

  Snapchat says an unrequested login code means someone used your password but was blocked, and not to give the code to anyone.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Signs your Snapchat may be hacked

Snapchat lists these signs:

• An email or in-app alert about a login from a place, IP address or device you don’t recognize.
• A session or device you don’t recognize in Session Management.
• Your email address or mobile number was changed without your permission.
• Your display name is different.
• Someone else turned on two-factor authentication.
• Spam is being sent from your account, or friends report strange friend requests or messages.
• You keep having to log in again.
• New friends were added without your permission.
• Posts on your Story or Spotlight that you didn’t make.
• Someone contacts you outside Snapchat about your account, with details only you would know.
• A notice about a data export (Download My Data) you didn’t start.

Got a login code or sign-in alert you didn’t ask for?

Snapchat says this means someone may be trying to get into your account:

• A login code you didn’t request (email or SMS): Snapchat says someone used your password on a device it didn’t recognize, and it blocked them by asking for extra verification. Don’t give the code to anyone, and reset your password.
• “Attempted Log In”: a suspicious sign-in was blocked. If it wasn’t you, reset your password.
• “Just logged in!” from a new device you don’t recognize: change your password immediately.
• No Snapchat account but got a code? Snapchat says someone may have typed your email or number by mistake. Don’t interact with it or share the code.

Add a passkey (and fix passkey errors)

Snapchat says a passkey lets you log in without a password, using your phone’s own security such as Face ID, your passcode, fingerprint or PIN, and that it’s safer than a password. Snapchat says it can’t access your biometric data. Passkeys are rolling out slowly, so you may not have the option yet.

1. In My Account, tap the gear icon to open Settings.
2. Scroll to My Account and find Passkey.
3. Tap Add Passkey and follow the steps. Your passkeys are listed here too; tap the X next to one to remove it, then also delete it from your phone.

Error when adding a passkey (Android)

Snapchat’s fixes:

• Set Google as your passkey provider: make sure you’re signed in to a Google account, then in your phone go to Settings > Passkeys (or Passwords, passkeys & autofill) and turn on Google Password Manager under All services.
• Clear cache and update Google Play services: Settings > Apps > Google Play services > Storage > Clear cache, then App details in store > Update.
• Set up a screen lock: Settings > Screen Lock, using a PIN, fingerprint, password or pattern.

Then reopen Snapchat and try Add Passkey again. If the passkey pop-up doesn’t appear when you log in, Snapchat says to close and reopen the app or use another login method.

Keep your phone number and email up to date

Snapchat says phone numbers get reassigned. If your account still uses a number you no longer have, the new owner of that number may try to log in with it, and it’s more likely with numbers from free SMS services. Snapchat says to keep your number up to date and add a passkey or an email address as a second check; with an email on the account, you may get a suspicious login warning you can use to undo changes.

Add or verify your email address

Snapchat says a valid email lets you get back into your account if you forget your password. To add or change it: Settings > under Shortcuts, My Account > under Change My Info, Email, enter it, tap Continue and confirm. If your settings gear is red, your email isn’t verified: tap your email (shown in red) in Settings and follow the instructions in the email Snapchat sends. Snapchat says verifying only works in the app, not on the web. By default, people can find you by your email; you can turn that off in Settings.

Change or verify your mobile number

1. Tap the gear icon on My Account to open Settings.
2. Under Shortcuts, tap My Account, then under Change My Info tap Mobile Number.
3. Enter your number and tap Verify, then Send via SMS (or Call me instead). On some Android phones, a Google prompt verifies the number with your carrier instead, with no code.
4. Enter the code and tap Continue.

Snapchat says only one account can have a given email or number verified: verifying it on a newer account removes it from the older one. You can’t remove a verified number, only change it.

You logged into someone else’s account by mistake

Snapchat says this can happen if your new number used to belong to someone else, and logging into another person’s account without permission is against its Terms. Log out and remove it: Settings (gear icon) > scroll down > Log Out > Remove account under their Bitmoji and username. Then sign up for your own account with your number.

A friend suggestion looks like someone pretending to be your friend

Snapchat says if a friend changed numbers and their old one was given to someone else, you may see that person’s account with your friend’s old name, which comes from your own contact list, not from their account. Keep your contacts up to date, and report the account for impersonation if they’re actually pretending to be someone you know.

You can’t log in any more

Snapchat says to try Snapchat Support Bot. When you contact Snapchat, include an email address you can access so you can get a reply. Snapchat says it will ask for details to confirm it’s you, such as your username and when you lost access.

If your account was locked because it looked compromised, see Snapchat account locked. For other login problems, see can’t log in to Snapchat.

How to know it worked

• You’ve changed your password, your details are correct, and unknown sessions are gone.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Locked out for another reason? See can’t log in to Snapchat.

Frequently asked questions