What Does the Red Heart Mean on Snapchat?
Snapchat has several friend emojis that represent your relationship with different people on the app. Among them, the Red Heart ❤️ is one of the most recognized and desired friendship emojis. Many users wonder what it means, how to get it, and why it sometimes disappears.
If you’ve noticed a red heart next to someone’s name, it’s actually a sign that you and that person have been consistently interacting with each other. However, there are specific rules behind it.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what the Snapchat Red Heart means, how to earn it, how long it takes, why it disappears, and how it compares to other Snapchat friendship emojis.
What Does the Red Heart Mean on Snapchat?
The Red Heart ❤️ on Snapchat means that you and another person have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two consecutive weeks.
In simple words:
- You send the most Snaps to them.
- They send the most Snaps to you.
- This relationship continues for 14 straight days.
The red heart is Snapchat’s way of rewarding consistent interaction between two users.
Unlike regular chats, Snapchat mainly counts photo and video Snaps when determining Best Friend status.
How Do You Get the Red Heart on Snapchat?
Getting the Red Heart is simple, but it requires consistency.
Step 1: Become Best Friends
First, you and another person must become each other’s #1 Best Friend.
This happens when you exchange more Snaps with each other than with anyone else.
Step 2: Stay #1 Best Friends for 14 Days
Once you’ve remained each other’s top friend for two weeks, Snapchat automatically changes the friendship emoji from the Yellow Heart to the Red Heart.
You don’t have to enable anything manually.
The emoji appears automatically.
Snapchat Heart Emoji Progression
Snapchat friendship emojis follow a progression.
| Emoji | Meaning |
| 💛 Yellow Heart | #1 Best Friends |
| ❤️ Red Heart | #1 Best Friends for 2 weeks |
| 💕 Pink Hearts | #1 Best Friends for 2 months |
The longer you maintain your friendship streak, the more special your friendship emoji becomes.
Does the Red Heart Mean You’re Dating?
No.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions.
The Red Heart does not mean:
- You’re in a relationship.
- You’re secretly dating.
- Snapchat knows your romantic status.
It only reflects your Snapchat activity.
Many people earn the Red Heart with:
- Best friends
- Siblings
- Cousins
- Classmates
- Gaming partners
- Coworkers
It is purely based on interaction.
How Long Does It Take to Get the Red Heart?
It usually takes:
- A few days to become #1 Best Friends.
- 14 consecutive days to unlock the Red Heart.
The exact timing can vary slightly because Snapchat continuously updates friendship rankings based on your activity.
The important part is remaining in contact with each other every day.
Can You Lose the Red Heart?
Yes.
The Red Heart can disappear if your friendship ranking changes.
Common reasons include:
You Stop Sending Snaps
If you stop snapping each other regularly, another friend may become your top contact.
Someone Else Becomes Your #1 Best Friend
If you send more Snaps to someone else, Snapchat updates your Best Friend ranking.
They Snap Someone Else More
The same applies to the other person.
If they interact more with someone else, the Red Heart disappears.
Inactive Accounts
If either account becomes inactive for several days, friendship rankings may change.
How to Keep the Red Heart
Maintaining the Red Heart isn’t difficult if both people stay active.
Here are some helpful tips:
Send Snaps Every Day
Photo and video Snaps matter the most.
Try sending at least a few Snaps daily.
Reply Consistently
Don’t let conversations go one-sided.
Both users should exchange Snaps regularly.
Avoid Prioritizing Other Friends
If you suddenly begin snapping someone else much more often, your Best Friend ranking may change.
Stay Active
Consistency is more important than sending dozens of Snaps in one day.
Does Chat Count Toward the Red Heart?
Text messages have very little influence compared to actual Snaps.
Snapchat primarily looks at:
- Picture Snaps
- Video Snaps
Simply chatting all day usually isn’t enough to earn or maintain the Red Heart.
Do Snapchat Streaks Affect the Red Heart?
Not directly.
A Snapstreak and the Red Heart are different features.
A Snapstreak measures how many consecutive days you’ve exchanged Snaps.
The Red Heart measures whether you’re each other’s top Snapchat friend.
You can have:
- A long Snapstreak without a Red Heart.
- A Red Heart without an extremely long Snapstreak.
Although regular streaks often help because they encourage consistent snapping.
What’s the Difference Between Yellow Heart, Red Heart, and Pink Hearts?
Yellow Heart 💛
This appears when you’re each other’s #1 Best Friend.
It is the first friendship milestone.
Red Heart ❤️
After maintaining that top friendship for two weeks, Snapchat upgrades the emoji to the Red Heart.
Pink Hearts 💕
If you continue being #1 Best Friends for two months, Snapchat rewards you with the Pink Hearts.
This is considered the highest friendship emoji on Snapchat.
Why Did My Red Heart Turn Back Into a Yellow Heart?
This usually means your friendship ranking reset.
Possible reasons include:
- You snapped other people more.
- They snapped someone else more.
- Activity decreased.
- Your #1 Best Friend status changed.
The good news is that you can earn it back by becoming each other’s top friend again.
Why Did My Red Heart Completely Disappear?
If the Red Heart disappears without becoming Yellow, your Best Friend status has likely changed significantly.
This often happens when:
- Someone new becomes their top friend.
- You become closer to another Snapchat contact.
- One person becomes inactive.
Friend emojis update automatically based on recent activity.
Can Multiple People Have a Red Heart With You?
No.
The Red Heart is exclusive.
You can only have one #1 Best Friend at a time.
Since the Red Heart represents your single top friendship, only one person can receive it.
Can Snapchat Plus Change the Red Heart?
No.
Even with Snapchat+, the rules for friendship emojis remain the same.
Snapchat Plus adds extra features like customization and exclusive tools, but it does not let users manually assign or edit the Red Heart emoji.
Friendship emojis are still determined automatically by Snapchat’s algorithm.
Does Blocking Someone Remove the Red Heart?
Yes.
Blocking or removing someone from your friends list ends your friendship status.
If you add them again later, you’ll need to rebuild your friendship ranking from the beginning.
Can You Hide Friendship Emojis?
Yes.
Snapchat allows users to customize or disable certain emoji settings depending on their device and app version.
However, changing the emoji style does not change your actual friendship ranking.
It only changes how the emoji is displayed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Red Heart better than the Yellow Heart?
Yes.
The Red Heart shows a stronger and longer-lasting friendship because you’ve remained #1 Best Friends for two weeks.
Is the Red Heart permanent?
No.
It only stays as long as both people remain each other’s top Snapchat friend.
Can I manually get the Red Heart?
No.
There is no shortcut or setting to unlock it.
The only way is through consistent Snapchat activity.
Do group chats count?
No.
Group chats don’t significantly affect friendship emojis.
Direct Snaps between two users matter the most.
Can I have both a Snapstreak and a Red Heart?
Yes.
Many users have both simultaneously because they regularly exchange Snaps every day.
Final Thoughts
The Red Heart ❤️ on Snapchat is one of the app’s most meaningful friendship emojis. It shows that two people have consistently stayed each other’s #1 Best Friend for two consecutive weeks through regular Snap exchanges.
Unlike many social media badges, the Red Heart can’t be purchased, unlocked instantly, or manually assigned. It reflects genuine, ongoing interaction between two users.
If you want to earn or keep the Red Heart, focus on sending Snaps consistently, staying active, and making each other your top Snapchat contact. With enough consistency, you can even upgrade your friendship to the coveted Pink Hearts 💕, representing two months as each other’s #1 Best Friend.
