Snapchat, one of the most popular social media platforms, basically has three different types of messages. As the platform values privacy, it uses different icons to denote different things. Mostly, users need to be aware of the Sent, Received, and Delivered icons, which have different icons to show for each action within them.
- Snap without sound
- Snap with sound.
- Chat Message
In all of these, there are different types of message statuses.
When it comes to an opened message, it shows a hollow red arrow for snaps without sound. However, a purple-colored red arrow is used for Snap with Sound, and lastly, the hollow blue icon is used for hats. Similarly, other success rates are indicated by different colors and icons. Check out the following guide to understand this better.
| Status | Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Opened | Hollow arrow | Message read or seen |
| Sent | Solid arrow | Message sent to recipient |
| Received | Solid Circle | Message received by recipient |
| Viewed | Hollow Circle | Message opened by recipient, but not read yet |
| Screenshot | Red Eye | Screenshot taken of message by recipient |
| Replayed | Double arrow | Message replayed by |
Meaning of “Opened” on Snapchat
It shows whether a message you sent was opened or not. If you see the following indicators, this is what they mean:
| ⮞ Red Hollow Arrow | Snap opened without audio |
|---|---|
| Purple Hollow Arrow | Snap opened with audio |
| Skyblue Hollow Arrow | Friend opened a chat |
To check the status of a Snapchat message:
- Open Snapchat and tap on the chat icon.
- Look for the conversation you want to track.
- Look for the icon next to the contact’s or group name.
| Hollow Arrow | Message has been opened |
|---|---|
| Solid Arrow | Message sent but not opened yet |
| Solid Circle | Message received but not opened yet |
| “Message has opened” | If a message has been opened, Snapchat also displays the time along with the contact. |
Note: This Snapchat screen shows all the people or groups you have talked to on Snapchat. If the icon is empty, this means the message was opened by the person or group.
Meaning of “sent” on Snapchat
This is the first message status you will see after sending a message. It indicates that your message has been sent but has not yet been delivered. The message status will remain “sent” until the recipient receives and opens the message. Along with the “sent” status, the timestamp of when you sent the message will appear below the recipient’s name in your chat list.
| Red arrow | Snap without sound |
|---|---|
| Purple arrow | Snap with sound |
| Blue arrow | Chat message |
| Gray arrow | Recipient |
Meaning of “Received” on Snapchat
Once your friend receives your message, the status changes from “sent” to “received.” A new icon appears on the left side of the contact’s name in the chat list, along with the date and time the message was received. The arrow’s color changes to a solid color instead of an outline.
| Message Type | Icon |
|---|---|
| Snap without sound | Red square |
| Snap with sound | Purple square |
| Chat message | Blue square |
Meaning of “Viewed” on Snapchat
After the recipient receives your message, when your friend views a snap or chat you sent, the status changes from “received” to “viewed.” The time and date of when the message was viewed will appear below the contact’s name in your chat list.
| Message Type | Icon |
|---|---|
| Snap without sound | Red empty square |
| Snap with sound | Purple empty square |
| Chat message | Blue empty square |
| Pending chat message | Gray chat icon |
| Expired chat message | Gray chat icon |
Meaning of a screenshot on Snapchat
Snapchat does keep track of who takes screenshots of messages. If your friend takes a screenshot of your message, Snapchat will notify you of the time and date. Taking a screenshot is against the platform’s rules, and offenders could get into trouble.
The icon for a screenshot is a two-way hollow arrow, and the color corresponds to the type of message that was screenshotted. There is no grey screenshot icon.
Meaning of replayed on Snapchat
It means your friend has watched your snap more than once. This type of notification only applies to snaps with and without audio. It is indicated by a circular arrow icon, with red for Snap without sound and purple for Snap with sound.
Your friend can only replay a snap once. If you want to prevent a snap from being replayed, you can disable replays in your settings. If you see a pending status for your chat or snap, it means the receiver has blocked or closed their Snapchat account. Also, Snapchat expires chats or snaps after a specific timeframe, whether they were opened or not. We would also like to note that if you send a chat or snap to multiple individuals, it will disappear in 24 hours. If you send it to only one user, it will expire after 30 days.