Snapchat lets you create 20 Private Stories simultaneously. A lock symbol appears next to these stories that only selected friends can view.
Regular stories reach all your friends, but Snapchat’s lock feature helps you share special moments with specific people, just like in Instagram’s close friends feature.
Understanding the Lock Symbol on Snapchat
That small lock icon next to someone’s Snapchat story might catch your eye. This tiny symbol means more than you think for your social life on the app.
What the lock icon actually represents
The lock icon shows you’re looking at a Private Story on Snapchat. When you spot this symbol, the creator picked you to see content that’s hidden from most of their friend list. Private Stories let users share their moments with just a few chosen friends instead of their entire Snapchat network.
Users get better control over who sees their content with this feature. A friend who adds you to their Private Story has picked you to see these specific snaps. The best part? Friends left out won’t even know the Private Story exists.
Where you’ll see the lock on your screen
You’ll spot the lock symbol in these places on your Snapchat:
- At the bottom of each Private Story preview in your Discover tab
- In the top left corner when you watch Private Stories back-to-back
- Next to usernames that show a Private Story
A missing lock usually means two things: you’re either looking at a public story everyone can see, or you’re not part of their Private Story audience. The app won’t show Private Stories to friends who aren’t approved.
Different lock colors and their meanings
Lock colors quickly tell you about the story’s status:
Purple lock: Shows a Private Story you haven’t watched yet. You’ll see this purple lock mostly in the Stories tab (marked by a purple circle icon).
Gray lock: The lock turns gray after you’ve seen a Private Story. This shows up in both the Stories tab and your friend’s chat section (marked by a blue circle icon).
No lock: You’re looking at a regular public story that all the creator’s friends can see.
These color codes help you know what’s new and what you’ve already watched. It’s Snapchat’s way of helping users understand content status quickly through visual cues.
How Private Stories Work on Snapchat
Snapchat’s private stories are one of its best privacy features. They let you control exactly who sees specific moments of your life. The lock symbol unlocks a way to share content with a select group of friends.
The difference between regular and private stories
Regular and private stories work differently when it comes to who can see them. Regular stories (called “My Story”) show up to all your Snapchat friends by default. Private stories let you pick exactly who gets to see what you share.
You can spot private stories by their padlock icon (🔒) which regular stories don’t have. This lock tells viewers they’re seeing special content. Only you can add snaps to your private story since it’s not a shared space.
Most users see private story content mixed with regular stories in their feed. Android users might see them displayed separately.
Key differences include:
- Regular stories reach all your friends; private stories reach only chosen friends
- Private stories have a lock icon; regular stories don’t
- Friends left out of private stories won’t know they exist
Who can see your private stories
Private stories work best because they’re exclusive. Only friends you pick when creating the story can see what you share. This creates a closer space to share personal moments.
Your friends won’t know if they’re left out of a private story – they get no notification about being excluded. The same goes for friends you include – they won’t get any special alert. They’ll just see your content with the lock icon.
You can create up to 20 different private stories at once. Each story can have its own unique group of viewers, so you can customize who sees what.
How long private stories last
Private stories disappear just like regular ones. Both types vanish after 24 hours unless you change your settings.
Note that private stories don’t stop viewers from saving your content. Friends can still screenshot or screen record what you share. Be careful with sensitive content.
Private stories strike a perfect balance between Snapchat’s public and private features. They let you share with specific friends without showing everyone on your list.
Creating Your First Private Story
Let’s help you create your first private story now that you know what the lock symbol means on Snapchat. The process is straightforward and new users can easily set up a private story with that distinctive lock icon.
Step-by-step instructions
You can create a private story on Snapchat using two main methods:
Method 1: From Your Profile
- Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top-left corner
- Scroll down to the “My Stories” section
- Tap “+New Story” or “New Private Story”
- Select the friends you want to include
- Tap “Create Story” at the bottom of your screen
Method 2: From the Snap Tab
- Take a photo or record a video in the Snap tab
- Tap “Send To” in the bottom-right corner
- Select “+New Story” followed by “New Private Story”
- Choose which friends can view your content
- Tap the check mark to post your private story
Choosing who can view your private story
The viewer selection is a vital step that adds the lock symbol to your story. Your Snapchat contacts list has sections that make selection easier:
- Best Friends
- Recents
- Groups
- Friends
You can select viewers by tapping each person’s name. A blue checkmark appears next to selected contacts. Each private story can include up to 100 friends.
Note that your friends won’t know about the private story if you don’t include them. The story won’t appear in their feed.
Naming your private story
The next step lets you name your private story:
- Tap on “Private Story Name” at the top
- Type a creative or descriptive name
- Tap “Done” to save
Your story’s name should be 30 characters or less, including spaces. Pick a name that helps you identify the viewer group quickly. The lock icon will appear next to your new private story in your profile section once you’re done.
Managing Your Private Snapchat Stories
The lock symbol on your Snapchat private story gives you control over your exclusive content. You need to become skilled at managing these stories to keep your private sharing smooth. This includes choosing viewers and tracking who sees your content.
Editing viewer lists after creation
Your private story’s viewer list isn’t set in stone. Here’s how you can change who sees your content:
- Tap your profile icon (Bitmoji avatar) at the top left
- Scroll down to locate your private story
- Tap the three dots next to the story you want to edit
- Select “Edit Viewers” from the menu
- Check or uncheck names to add or remove viewers
- Tap “Save” to confirm your changes
You can adjust your audience anytime without deleting the story. Your friends won’t get any alerts if you remove them from your private content.
Deleting a private story
Ready to remove a private story? You have two options – delete individual snaps or the whole story:
To delete a specific snap: View your private story, long-press the snap you want to remove, then tap “Delete Snap”.
To delete the entire private story: Go to your profile, find the private story with the lock icon, tap the three dots, select “Delete Story,” and confirm your choice. Keep in mind that the whole ordeal is permanent once you delete it – no one can recover the content.
Viewing who’s seen your private story
Want to know who’s watching your content? Snapchat makes it easy to track.
Pull up your profile and tap on “My Story”. A simple swipe up shows you everyone who’s viewed it. Snapchat displays up to 200 viewer names before switching to just numbers.
The app also alerts you if anyone takes a screenshot of your private story. This matters especially when you have sensitive content. The lock symbol keeps your story private from most friends, but viewers can still save what you share.
These management features make the lock symbol more than just an icon – it’s your key to controlling private content on Snapchat.
Conclusion
Snapchat’s Private Stories let users control exactly who sees their moments. The lock symbol indicates improved privacy, but selected viewers can still capture screenshots. Private Stories are a great way to balance between public sharing and complete privacy when you share with close friends or specific groups.
The lock features help users make smarter decisions about content sharing. You can start with one Private Story and try different viewer groups to find how this feature matches your social sharing style.
FAQs
Q1. What does the lock icon mean on Snapchat stories?
The lock icon indicates a Private Story, which is only visible to selected friends chosen by the creator. It allows users to share content with a specific group rather than their entire friend list.
Q2. How many Private Stories can I create on Snapchat?
You can create up to 20 different Private Stories simultaneously on Snapchat, each with its own unique audience.
Q3. Will my friends be notified if I add them to or remove them from a Private Story?
No, friends are not notified when they are added to or removed from a Private Story. They will simply see (or stop seeing) the content with the lock icon.
Q4. How long do Private Stories last on Snapchat?
Like regular stories, Private Stories automatically disappear after 24 hours unless you change your settings.
Q5. Can viewers save content from my Private Story?
Yes, viewers can still screenshot or screen record content from your Private Story. While the lock icon offers privacy from your broader friend list, be cautious with sensitive content.
