Best Snapchat location settings (UK parent walkthrough)
How to configure Snap Map, Ghost Mode and the Family Centre on Snapchat so your child's location is not shared with strangers or wider friend groups.
Snapchat's Snap Map shows the live location of friends on a public-style map view. Defaults vary by account age and region, and have changed several times — so checking is more reliable than assuming. The simplest safe state for under-16s is Ghost Mode on, location sharing off, and Family Centre linked.
Walk through the steps below in order. Each takes under a minute.
Step-by-step
Open Snap Map
From the camera screen, swipe down or tap the map pin icon to open Snap Map. Tip: If your child is already on the map, their Bitmoji and last-seen location are visible to whoever they share with. That is the situation we are about to lock down.
Turn on Ghost Mode
Snap Map → settings cog (top right) → Ghost Mode → On. Tip: Ghost Mode hides your child's location from everyone on the map. Choose Until turned off rather than a timed expiry.
Set Who can see my location
Profile → Settings → Privacy controls → See My Location → Only Me (Ghost Mode). Tip: This is the master switch behind the Snap Map setting. Confirm both screens agree.
Switch off Show me in Quick Add
Profile → Settings → Privacy controls → See me in Quick Add → Off. Tip: Quick Add can suggest your child to strangers based on shared phone contacts. Disabling it reduces the chance of unknown friend requests appearing.
Link a Family Centre account
Family Centre → Set up Family Centre. A parent and teen both need Snapchat accounts; the teen accepts the invite. Tip: Family Centre lets you see who your teen is friends with and who they have messaged in the last 7 days, without seeing the message content.
Disable location for the app at OS level
iPhone: Settings → Privacy and Security → Location Services → Snapchat → Never. Android: Settings → Apps → Snapchat → Permissions → Location → Don't allow. Tip: Belt and braces. Even if an in-app setting is changed, the OS still refuses to give Snapchat a location.
Review every term
Snap Map settings can reset after app updates. Re-check Ghost Mode and See My Location every school holiday. Tip: Set a reminder. Snap has changed these defaults multiple times.
Settings to check
- Ghost Mode
- See My Location
- See me in Quick Add
- Family Centre
- OS-level location permission
What not to do
- Do not rely on Ghost Mode alone — confirm with the OS-level permission.
- Do not link your child's Snapchat to their Apple ID / Google account in a way that re-enables location.
- Do not assume "my friends only" is safe — friend lists for teens often include people they have not met.
- Do not allow location sharing only to a single "best friend" account without checking who controls that account.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.