Red Heart on Snapchat ❤️: What It Means and How to Get It
If you see a red heart on Snapchat next to someone’s name, it means you and that person have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two weeks in a row. Snapchat calls this the BFF Friend Emoji. It is based on your activity with each other, and it can change when your Snapchat habits change.
The red heart does not automatically mean you are dating or that the person has romantic feelings for you. On Snapchat, it has a specific Friend Emoji meaning.
What Does the Red Heart Mean on Snapchat?
The red heart ❤️ means you and another Snapchatter have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two consecutive weeks.
In simple terms, you have both been each other’s top Snapchat connection during that period. Snapchat says Best Friends are people you Snap and Chat with most frequently and most recently, and Friend Emojis are assigned based on how you and your friends use Snapchat.
The red heart is part of Snapchat’s Friend Emoji system:
- 💛 Yellow heart: You are each other’s #1 Best Friend.
- ❤️ Red heart: You have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two weeks in a row.
- 💕 Pink hearts: You have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two months in a row.
So, if your yellow heart changes to a red heart, Snapchat is showing that the mutual #1 Best Friend status has continued long enough to reach the BFF milestone.
How Do You Get the Red Heart on Snapchat?
You do not manually add a red heart to a friend. Snapchat assigns Friend Emojis automatically based on your activity.
The basic progression is:
- You and another person become each other’s #1 Best Friend.
- Snapchat shows the yellow heart 💛.
- You both maintain that #1 Best Friend position for two weeks in a row.
- Snapchat changes the Friend Emoji to a red heart ❤️.
Snapchat’s current support information does not give a specific number of Snaps you must send each day to earn the red heart. It says Friend Emojis are based on how you and your friends use Snapchat, and its Best Friends system changes as your communication habits change.
That means you should be careful with websites claiming that you need an exact number of Snaps, chats, or other actions to get the heart. Snapchat does not publish a detailed scoring formula for the Friend Emoji system.
Can you force the red heart to appear?
No. There is no button that lets you turn the red heart on manually.
The practical way to reach it is to keep using Snapchat naturally with the person while maintaining the mutual #1 Best Friend status. Snapchat’s system determines when the Friend Emoji changes.
Snapchat Heart Emoji Progression
If you are confused about the different heart colors, this is the easiest way to understand them:
| Snapchat emoji | What it means |
|---|---|
| 💛 Yellow heart | You and the other person are each other’s #1 Best Friend |
| ❤️ Red heart | You have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two weeks in a row |
| 💕 Pink hearts | You have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two months in a row |
These meanings come directly from Snapchat’s current Friend Emoji guide.
💛 Yellow heart
The yellow heart means you are each other’s #1 Best Friend. Snapchat explains that you have sent the most Snaps to that person, and they have sent the most Snaps to you.
❤️ Red heart
The red heart means that mutual #1 Best Friend status has continued for two weeks in a row.
💕 Pink hearts
The pink hearts mean that you have remained each other’s #1 Best Friend for two months in a row. Snapchat calls this status Super BFF.
The progression is therefore:
💛 Yellow → ❤️ Red → 💕 Pink
However, these are not permanent relationship badges. They depend on your current Snapchat activity.
Does the Red Heart on Snapchat Mean You Are Dating?
No. A red heart beside someone’s name on Snapchat does not prove that you are dating, that you are in a relationship, or that the other person has romantic feelings for you.
On Snapchat, the ❤️ has a specific technical meaning: mutual #1 Best Friends for two consecutive weeks.
It can appear between:
- Two close friends
- Best friends
- Classmates
- Siblings
- Partners
- Anyone who reaches the required Snapchat Best Friend status
The normal red heart emoji can certainly have romantic or affectionate meanings when someone sends it in a message. But that is different from the red Friend Emoji displayed beside a person’s name.
So if you see ❤️ next to someone’s name, don’t use that emoji alone as proof that they have romantic feelings for you.
Does the Other Person See the Red Heart Too?
The red heart is connected to a mutual Best Friend status, but Snapchat does not make your entire Best Friends list public.
Snapchat says you can have up to eight Best Friends, and the Best Friends list itself is private. It also says people may be able to see that they are among your Best Friends, while other people cannot see your full list.
Friend Emojis are also personal to the friendship rather than being public profile badges.
There is another detail that can cause confusion: Friend Emojis can be customized. Snapchat lets users replace the standard Friend Emoji symbols with other available emojis in their settings.
So if someone’s Friend Emoji looks different from the standard ❤️, that does not necessarily mean the underlying friendship status is different.
How Long Does the Red Heart Stay on Snapchat?
The red heart does not have a fixed expiration date.
It stays while the underlying Best Friend status continues to meet Snapchat’s requirements.
Snapchat says Friend Emojis can change regularly and that Best Friends are updated over time as your communication habits change.
For example, you could have a red heart today and lose it later if you and that person are no longer each other’s #1 Best Friend.
The important point is that two weeks is the requirement to reach the red heart, not a guarantee that the heart will remain for a particular number of additional days.
Why Did My Red Heart Disappear on Snapchat?
There are several possible reasons.
The most likely explanation is that your mutual #1 Best Friend status changed.
Snapchat says Friend Emojis are based on how you and your friends use the app and can change over time. Its support information also says Best Friends change as you change who you communicate with most frequently.
A red heart can therefore disappear if:
- You or your friend becomes more active with another person.
- Your mutual Best Friend ranking changes.
- Your Snapchat interaction patterns change.
- The Friend Emoji system updates.
You should not assume that a disappearing heart means someone blocked you, unfriended you, or suddenly dislikes you. The emoji reflects Snapchat’s Best Friend system, not the full state of a personal relationship.
Can Snapchat Support restore a lost red heart?
No. Snapchat currently says that Support cannot add, restore, or replace changed BFF or Super BFF Friend Emojis.
If the status changes, there is no official support option that lets you simply ask Snapchat to put the red heart back.
Can You Get the Red Heart Back?
You cannot manually restore it.
If you and the same person become each other’s #1 Best Friends again and maintain that status for the required period, the Friend Emoji can progress again.
Snapchat’s official guidance says Friend Emojis are assigned based on how you and your friends use Snapchat and can change organically with your Snapping habits.
So the best approach is not to look for a hidden “restore heart” button. If the underlying Best Friend status returns and stays in place long enough, Snapchat can assign the appropriate Friend Emoji again.
Red Heart vs. Yellow Heart vs. Pink Hearts
These three emojis are easy to mix up, but they represent different stages of the same Friend Emoji system.
💛 Yellow heart
You are currently each other’s #1 Best Friend.
❤️ Red heart
You have remained each other’s #1 Best Friend for two weeks in a row.
💕 Pink hearts
You have remained each other’s #1 Best Friend for two months in a row.
Snapchat officially identifies these as Besties, BFF, and Super BFF, respectively.
Red Heart vs. Snapchat Streak
A red heart ❤️ and a fire emoji 🔥 are not the same thing.
❤️ Red heart
Shows a mutual #1 Best Friend status that has lasted two consecutive weeks.
🔥 Fire
Shows that you and a friend have an active Snapstreak. Snapchat says the fire emoji appears next to the number of days that you and your friend have continually Snapped each other.
You can therefore have a Streak with someone without having a red heart with them.
Likewise, the red heart is not simply a longer version of a Snapstreak.
Does Chatting Count Toward the Red Heart?
Snapchat says Best Friends are friends you Snap and Chat with most frequently and most recently.
However, Snapchat’s Friend Emoji guide specifically describes the yellow, red, and pink heart stages in terms of mutual #1 Best Friend status and Snaps.
Snapchat does not publish a complete public formula explaining exactly how every Snap, Chat, or other interaction is weighted.
Because of that, claims such as “you need exactly X Snaps” or “one Chat equals X Snaps” should not be treated as official Snapchat rules.
The safest answer is that your Best Friends and Friend Emojis are determined automatically from your Snapchat activity, and the exact ranking formula is not publicly documented.
Can You Have a Red Heart With More Than One Person?
The red heart represents being each other’s #1 Best Friend.
Snapchat says users can have up to eight Best Friends, but the #1 position is different from simply being on the Best Friends list.
Because the red heart requires a mutual #1 Best Friend relationship, it should not be treated as a general badge for everyone on your Best Friends list.
In other words, being one of someone’s Best Friends is not the same as being their #1 Best Friend.
Can You Change the Red Heart Emoji?
Yes, Snapchat allows users to customize Friend Emojis.
In current Snapchat settings, the customization options are found through your profile and settings under the app customization area. The exact available options can vary by device, and Snapchat notes that not every emoji can be used.
This is important because changing the emoji does not mean you changed the underlying Best Friend relationship.
For example, if someone replaces their red heart with another available emoji, the symbol you see may not look like the standard ❤️ even though the Friend Emoji category has not necessarily changed.
What Other Snapchat Friend Emojis Mean
The red heart is only one part of Snapchat’s Friend Emoji system.
Some of the other common emojis include:
- 💛 Yellow heart: You are each other’s #1 Best Friend.
- ❤️ Red heart: You have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two weeks.
- 💕 Pink hearts: You have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two months.
- 😊 Smiling face: The person is one of your Best Friends, but not your #1 Best Friend.
- 😎 Sunglasses: One of your Best Friends is also one of that person’s Best Friends.
- 😬 Grimacing face: Your #1 Best Friend is also their #1 Best Friend.
- 🔥 Fire: You have a Snapstreak.
- ⌛ Hourglass: Your Snapstreak is about to end.
- 🎂 Birthday cake: It is your friend’s birthday.
These emojis can change as your Snapchat activity changes.
Does the Red Heart Mean They Snap You More Than Anyone Else?
The red heart means you and that person have reached the mutual #1 Best Friend status for two consecutive weeks.
Snapchat’s support information says the yellow heart appears when you send the most Snaps to that person and they send the most Snaps to you. It then describes the red heart as the result of keeping that mutual position for two weeks.
So the red heart is more specific than simply saying, “You talk to this person a lot.”
It indicates that your connection has reached Snapchat’s #1 Best Friend milestone.
What Happens After the Red Heart?
If you and the same person remain each other’s #1 Best Friend for two months in a row, the red heart progresses to 💕 pink hearts, which Snapchat calls Super BFF.
The basic progression is:
💛 Besties → ❤️ BFF → 💕 Super BFF
This progression depends on maintaining the underlying Best Friend status. It is not a permanent achievement that stays regardless of future activity.
Quick Answer: What Does ❤️ Mean on Snapchat?
The red heart ❤️ on Snapchat means you and another person have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two weeks in a row.
It is a Snapchat Friend Emoji, not a direct statement about romantic feelings. The emoji is assigned automatically based on your Snapchat activity and can change over time. If you maintain the mutual #1 Best Friend status for two months, Snapchat says the red heart becomes pink hearts 💕.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a red heart mean on Snapchat?
It means you and another person have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two consecutive weeks.
How long does it take to get a red heart on Snapchat?
You need to maintain the mutual #1 Best Friend status for two weeks in a row. Snapchat does not publish an exact number of Snaps required.
Is a red heart better than a yellow heart?
It represents a later stage of the Friend Emoji system. Yellow means you are currently each other’s #1 Best Friend, while red means you have maintained that status for two weeks.
What comes after the red heart on Snapchat?
After two months of being each other’s #1 Best Friend, the red heart can progress to 💕 pink hearts.
Does a red heart mean someone likes you?
Not necessarily. On Snapchat, the red Friend Emoji specifically represents mutual #1 Best Friend status. It should not be used by itself as proof of romantic interest.
Can you lose a red heart on Snapchat?
Yes. Friend Emojis can change when your Snapchat activity and Best Friend rankings change.
Can Snapchat bring back my lost red heart?
Snapchat says Support cannot manually add, restore, or replace changed BFF or Super BFF Friend Emojis.
Is the red heart the same as a Snapstreak?
No. ❤️ represents a mutual #1 Best Friend status, while 🔥 represents an active Snapstreak.
Can I change how the red heart looks?
Snapchat allows users to customize Friend Emojis, and the available customization options can vary by device.
Can the red heart disappear even if you are still friends?
Yes. Being friends and being each other’s #1 Best Friend are different things. Your Friend Emoji can change when your Best Friend status changes.
Final Answer
The red heart on Snapchat ❤️ means you and another person have been each other’s #1 Best Friend for two weeks in a row. It is part of Snapchat’s automatic Friend Emoji system and is based on how you use Snapchat with your friends.
It does not automatically mean you are dating or that the person has romantic feelings for you. If you keep the mutual #1 Best Friend status for two months, the red heart progresses to 💕 pink hearts.
And if the red heart disappears, it does not necessarily mean anything is wrong between you. Snapchat’s Best Friend rankings and Friend Emojis can change as your activity changes.
