What Does the Green Dot Mean on Snapchat?

Snapchat is full of small icons and symbols. Some are obvious. Others, like the green dot, are confusing.

If you’ve been wondering what this dot means—and whether others can see it on your profile—this article has you covered.

Let’s explain it simply.

What Is the Green Dot on Snapchat?

The green dot is Snapchat’s Activity Indicator.

It shows that a user has been recently active on the app—typically within the last 24 hours.

It does not mean someone is online right now.

Snapchat uses this to help people find active users while browsing Quick Add or Add Friends.

Where Do You See the Green Dot?

You won’t find the green dot everywhere. It appears only in select areas of the app.

Snapchat Section	Is the Green Dot Visible?
Add Friends	Yes
Quick Add	Yes
Chat Window	No
Snap Map	No
Friends List	No

So, if you’re already friends with someone, you won’t see this dot next to their name.

What Does the Green Dot Mean on Snapchat Quick Add?

In the Quick Add section, the green dot works the same way.

It means the user was active recently.

Snapchat shows it to let you know that this person might respond if you send them a request.

This is helpful when deciding whom to add.

What Does It Mean on Snapchat for iPhone Users?

There’s no difference between Android and iPhone.

The green dot on Snapchat iPhone means the same thing—it shows recent activity, not live presence.

As long as you’re using the latest version of the app, the feature works the same on both platforms.

What About the Yellow Dot?

Snapchat also uses a yellow dot, but it has a different purpose.

The yellow dot usually shows:

• New notifications
• Pending friend suggestions
• Updates in Quick Add

So, it’s not about activity. It’s more about alerts or interactions that need your attention.

Can You Turn the Green Dot Off?

Yes, you can disable the green dot.

Here’s how:

1. Open Snapchat
2. Tap your profile icon (top left)
3. Tap the gear icon (top right)
4. Scroll to Privacy Control
5. Tap Activity Indicator
6. Toggle it off

Once disabled, no one will see the green dot on your profile.

But you’ll still see it on others—unless they’ve turned it off too.

Want More Privacy? Use Ghost Mode

The green dot hides recent activity. But Ghost Mode hides your live location.

Here’s how to enable it:

1. Tap the map pin at the bottom
2. Tap the gear icon on Snap Map
3. Toggle on Ghost Mode
4. Choose how long to keep it on (3 hours, 24 hours, or until turned off)

This keeps both your location and presence private.

Did You Know?

The green dot only shows up to people who are not yet on your friends list.

So your existing Snapchat friends won’t see it.

This feature is mainly for Quick Add and Add Friends, helping you discover active users.

Final Thoughts

The green dot on Snapchat is simple. It means someone has used the app recently.

It doesn’t reveal exact online times. And it’s only visible in select parts of the app.

You can disable it anytime through your settings. And if you want to hide even more, Ghost Mode has your back.

In short—it’s a helpful feature, but one you’re fully in control of.

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