Quick answer
Open My Account and tap your submitted Snap. Submitted = not live in Spotlight yet; Live = on Spotlight, where more people can see it. Snapchat says Spotlight Snaps must follow its Community Guidelines, Spotlight Guidelines, Terms of Service and Spotlight Terms. Manage comments in Settings > Privacy Controls > Comment Settings.
Does this match what you see?
- Your Spotlight Snap is stuck on Submitted with no views.
- Your comment on someone’s Spotlight says Pending.
- People’s comments don’t appear on your Spotlight videos.
- You can’t find your Reposts tab.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Based on Snapchat Support’s Spotlight articles supplied by the site owner. Reposts, trend labels and context cards are rolling out gradually; trend labels and context cards aren’t in every country yet.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Why a Spotlight Snap or comment isn’t showing.
| You see | What Snapchat says it means |
|---|---|
| Your Snap says Submitted | Not live in Spotlight |
| Your Snap says Live | Posted to Spotlight; more people can see it |
| Your comment says Pending | Waiting for the creator to approve it |
| No Reposts tab | You need at least one Saved Story or Spotlight post on your Public Profile |
- Your Snap didn’t make it into SpotlightCheck this first
Snapchat says not every Snap will make it into Spotlight, and Spotlight Snaps must follow its guidelines and terms.
- The creator approves comments manuallyCheck this first
Snapchat says creators may have to approve comments before they show.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Open My Account and tap the Snap to check whether it says Submitted or Live.
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.
Fix 1: Spotlight Snap has no views? Check its status and the rules
Snapchat says not every Snap makes it into Spotlight. A Snap marked Submitted isn’t live in Spotlight yet, so it won’t reach the wider Spotlight audience.
- Open My Account and tap your submitted Snap to see its status.
- Submitted: Snapchat says it’s not live in Spotlight. Live: it’s posted and more Snapchatters can see it.
- Check it follows Snapchat’s Community Guidelines (external site, opens in a new tab), Spotlight Guidelines (external site, opens in a new tab), Terms of Service (external site, opens in a new tab) and Spotlight Terms (external site, opens in a new tab), then keep trying, as Snapchat suggests.
What gets recommended: Snapchat’s Spotlight Guidelines say that to be eligible for recommendation beyond your friends or subscribers, content must meet its Content Guidelines for Recommendation Eligibility. Snapchat says only Snapchatters with a Public Profile can have their display name shown on their Spotlight Snaps (see Public Profile). Our tip: if you think a Snap was restricted, check your Account Status; restricted Spotlight content can sometimes be appealed.
Did it work? The Snap shows Live.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Post to Spotlight from a computer
Snapchat lets you upload Spotlight videos from a desktop browser.
Computer (browser)
- Go to profile.snapchat.com (external site, opens in a new tab) and sign in.
- Drag and drop your video onto the upload area, or click Choose video.
- Under Send to, tick Spotlight Snaps, and add any #Topics.
- Agree to the Creator Terms and click Post to Snapchat.
Did it work? Our tip: check its status in My Account.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Why your Spotlight isn’t being recommended
Snap’s Content Guidelines for Recommendation Eligibility (external site, opens in a new tab) decide what can be recommended beyond your friends or subscribers, on Spotlight, Public Stories (Discover) and Snap Map. They don’t apply to chats or private Stories.
- Allowed isn’t the same as recommended: Snap says some content may stay on Snapchat but be limited to friends, subscribers or other narrower audiences. Content that breaks the Community Guidelines may be removed.
- “Sensitive” content: Snap says content that isn’t against the rules but may upset some people (its examples: hunting, sexually suggestive swimwear) may not be recommended to minors, new users or people in some countries, and is limited for everyone else.
- Your whole account counts: Snap says it looks at accounts holistically. Severe harms lead to a lock; repeated non-severe violations or breaking these guidelines may reduce an account’s reach.
- “Limited distribution” notice: Snapchat says this means your Snap isn’t being shown to some or all non-followers because it doesn’t meet these guidelines. You can appeal moderation for Spotlights and Saved Stories in the app (not Public Stories at the moment).
- Other signals: Snap says it may restrict or decline to recommend content based on moderation history, user feedback, engagement or editorial discretion. Some users’ content may also reach a narrower audience because of age or region.
Commenting on Spotlight (and why it says Pending)
- Pending: Snapchat says creators may have to approve comments. Yours shows Pending until they approve it, then it’s public.
- Who sees your name: the public sees the first name of your Display Name; creators you’re friends with see your full Display Name.
- Delete your comment: press and hold it > Delete Comment.
- Snap Comments: on some posts, open the comments, tap the Camera icon and post a video Snap. To react to a text comment, press and hold it > Quote Comment. Snapchat says Snap Comments also become Spotlight posts, may be reviewed first, and may need the creator’s approval.
Manage comments on your Spotlight videos
- Approve or reject: tap the comments icon on your video. Approved comments are under Live, others under Pending. Tap Approve to make one public or the X to reject it.
- Comment Settings: Settings ⚙️ > Privacy Controls > Comment Settings, then choose Auto-Approve My Friends, Auto-Approve Everyone or Manual Approval.
- Turn comments off? Snapchat’s way is Manual Approval (its settings article spells it “Manually Approval”): only comments you approve appear, so if you approve none, none show. Snapchat says when comments are off for a post, no text comments or Snap Comments can be added.
- Snap Comments hidden? Snapchat says if your settings require approval or limit comments to friends, others may not see Snap Comments on your posts.
- Delete a live comment: press and hold it > Delete Comment. Pin one: press and hold an approved comment > Pin Comment (unpin or replace any time).
- Stop comment notifications: Settings > Notifications (under My Account) > turn off Comments.
- Report a comment: press and hold it > Report Comment.
Reposts, Favorites and trending labels
- Repost: tap the repost button on a Spotlight Snap; tap again to undo. Snapchat says reposts are public. Find them on your Public Profile’s Reposts tab, which only appears once you have at least one Saved Story or Spotlight post there.
- Favorite: tap the ❤️ heart to see more like it; Snapchat says favorites are only visible to you. Find favorites and reposts in your Profile under My Favorites & Reposts (also called Spotlight Favorites & Reposts).
- Event or trend labels (the event name, or Live/Trending plus a name): on Snaps about an event or trend, tap the label to search more Snaps about it. Trending Lens or sound labels: tap a Lens label to open the Camera with that Lens, or a sound label (music icon) to see posts using that sound. Snapchat says these labels are rolling out gradually and aren’t in every country. Our note: these labels aren’t the same as your own Snap’s Live status.
- Watch on the web: web.snapchat.com (external site, opens in a new tab) or snapchat.com/spotlight (external site, opens in a new tab).
How to know it worked
- Your Snap shows Live, and comments you approve appear under Live in the comments tray.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Want to earn from Spotlight or work with brands? See Snapchat creator tools. Snapchat itself not loading? See Snapchat not working.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
- Snapchat Support: What is Spotlight?Snapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Snapchat Support: Why haven’t I received any views on my Spotlight Snaps?Snapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Snapchat Support: What makes Snaps eligible for Spotlight?Snapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Snapchat Support: How can I see the status of my Spotlight submission?Snapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Snapchat Support: How do I submit a Snap to Spotlight from the web?Snapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Snapchat Support: How do I change the auto-approval setting for my Spotlight comments?Snapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Spotlight not getting views?
Snapchat says not every Snap makes it into Spotlight. Check its status in My Account: Submitted means it isn’t live. Make sure it follows the Community Guidelines, Spotlight Guidelines, Terms of Service and Spotlight Terms, and keep trying.
What does Submitted mean on Spotlight?
Snapchat says Submitted means your Snap is not live in Spotlight. Live means it’s posted and more Snapchatters can see it.
Why does my Spotlight comment say Pending?
Snapchat says the creator may need to approve it. Once approved, the Pending status disappears and the comment is public.
How do I turn off comments on my Spotlight videos?
Snapchat says to turn on Manual Approval in Settings > Privacy Controls > Comment Settings. Only comments you approve will show, so if you approve none, none appear.
Are Spotlight favorites and reposts public?
Snapchat says favorites are only visible to you, but reposts are public, on your Public Profile and in the Spotlight feed.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- What is Spotlight? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- About Context Cards on Snapchat (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I repost a Spotlight Snap? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- What happens when I comment on a Spotlight Snap? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I approve or reject my Spotlight comments? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I change the auto-approval Setting for my Spotlight comments? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I disable comments on my Spotlight videos? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I delete a Spotlight comment that’s already live? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I turn off notifications for my Spotlight comments? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I comment on Spotlight with a Snap Comment? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I pin a comment on my Spotlight video? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I report a Spotlight comment? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I add or view my Spotlight and Stories Favorites? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Why haven’t I received any views on my Spotlight Snaps? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- What makes Snaps eligible for Spotlight? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How can I see the status of my Spotlight submission? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I submit a Snap to Spotlight from the web? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Spotlight Guidelines (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Content Guidelines for Recommendation Eligibility (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Is Stories content on Snapchat moderated? (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 6 November 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 6 February 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 6 November 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Snap Inc.. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.