How to Half Swipe on Snapchat: A Simple Guide

Snapchat, with its numerous functionalities, presents numerous ways for users to interact.

One such feature is half swiping which allows you to read a message (not a snap) without notifying the other person.

What is Half Swiping?

When you half swipe on Snapchat, you essentially open the chat window halfway, just enough to view what the message says, but without fully opening it, this means they will not be notified that you have seen their message.

Half-swiping cannot be done on Snaps, it only works on messages.

a hand demonstrating how to half-swipe on Snapchat

Steps to Half-Swipe on Snapchat:

To half-swipe on Snapchat follow these simple steps..

1. Open Snapchat

Open your Snapchat app on your smartphone. You’ll find yourself on the Camera screen by default.

2. Access The Chat Screen

Swipe right from the Camera screen to access the Chat screen. This is where you’ll see your ongoing chats.

3. Identify The Snap

Find a chat you want to preview that has a new message waiting to be read.

4. Gently Tap Their Bitmoji Image

Gently press the person’s Bitmoji image, take care not to long press it as this will open your friendship menu, also don’t just tap it as this will take you to their profile.

5. Swipe To The Right

Instead, gently drag your finger to the right of the screen, this will reveal the content of their message without notifying them that it has been read.

keep sliding to reveal more of the message

Be aware you may not be able to view all of the words on the left of the screen as they will likely not fit into your view frame, but you should be able to read enough to work out what they are saying.

6. Return To The Chat Screen

Without lifting your finger, swipe back to the left to return to the Chat screen.

The snap will remain unopened, and the sender won’t be notified that you’ve viewed it.


Mastering the half-swipe technique on Snapchat is a handy way to preview a snap without notifying the sender. It might require a bit of practice, but with this guide, you should be able to get the hang of it in no time.

Remember, Snapchat is meant for fun, respectful communication, so use this feature wisely and ethically. Now, go forth and half-swipe with confidence!

Half Swipe FAQs:

  1. Q: Does Half Swiping Still Work?
    A: Yes, as of the 26th May 2023, this feature still works, but it is not an official feature so it could be removed next time the app is updated, we will keep checking and update this article accordingly.
  2. Q: Can the sender tell if I half-swipe to view their Message?
    A: No, when you half-swipe to view a Message, the sender doesn’t receive a notification. The Message is considered unread.
  3. Q: What happens if I accidentally open the Message while trying to half-swipe?
    A: If you accidentally open the Message while trying to half-swipe, the sender will be notified that you’ve read their message.
  4. Q: Can I half-swipe on both individual and group chats?
    A: Yes, the half-swipe feature works for both individual and group chats on Snapchat.
  5. Q: Will the Message still disappear after viewing it via half swipe?
    A: No, as you’re not officially ‘opening’ the Message, it won’t disappear after viewing it through a half swipe.
  6. Q: I can’t seem to get the hang of half-swiping. Any tips?
    A: Practice is key. It might take a few attempts to half-swipe without fully opening the Message. Try practicing with different chats to get comfortable with the motion.
  7. Q: Does the half-swipe feature work for viewing Stories without alerting the user?
    A: No, the half-swipe feature only works for Messages in individual or group chats. There is currently no method to view Stories without alerting the user.
  8. Q: Does half-swiping work on all devices?
    A: Yes, as long as you have the Snapchat app installed and updated to the latest version, the half-swipe feature should work on all devices.
  9. Q: If I screenshot a half-swiped Message, will the sender be notified?
    A: Yes, even if you’ve only half-swiped the message, Snapchat still recognizes the screenshot action and notifies the sender. Therefore, if you screenshot a half-swiped message, the sender will receive a notification. Always respect the privacy and consent of others when using Snapchat.