How to view Snapchat stories without being friends
TL;DR & Summary
If you want to view a story from someone who isn't a friend, you can create a secondary Snapchat account and follow them. However, this is against Snapchat's terms of service and your account may be banned if you are caught using a fake account. It's recommended to avoid using a fake account and instead try to connect with the person in a different way, such as through other social media platforms or in person.
Table of Contents
What are Snapchat stories?
Snapchat Stories are a feature of the Snapchat app that allows users to share pictures & experiences with their friends, family, and followers in a fun and interactive way. Stories are collections of snaps (photos or videos) on your Snapchat profile that disappear after 24 hours and can be viewed multiple times by each of a user's friends.
To use Snapchat Stories, a user simply takes a photo or video and then has the option to add filters, lenses, text, and other creative elements to their snaps. Once the snaps have been edited, the user can choose to share them as part of their story. Stories can be viewed by tapping on a user's name on the Snapchat camera screen, or by accessing the "Stories" section of the app.
Snapchat Stories have become a popular way for people to share their experiences with their followers. For example, people might use Snapchat Stories to document their daily lives, showcase their adventures, or provide behind-the-scenes looks at their work or hobbies. Additionally, many businesses and organizations use Snapchat Stories to engage with their audiences and promote their products or services.
If you're interested in using Snapchat Stories to your benefit, there are a few tips to keep in mind. First, consider the content that you share and make sure it's relevant to your audience. Second, use filters and lenses to enhance your snaps and make them more engaging. Third, try to share stories regularly to keep your followers interested and engaged. And finally, experiment with different types of content and see what works best for you.
Overall, Snapchat Stories are a fun and creative way to share your experiences and connect with others on the platform. Whether you're using Snapchat for personal or professional reasons, incorporating stories into your strategy can be a great way to reach your audience and build your brand.
Note: If you care about your Snapchat score (displayed under your Snapchat username), viewing public stories will not help much. Snapchat score increases when you view a person's story who's your friend. When you view the latest stories of your friends on the snap map, even that increases your Snapchat score.
Related: Can your Snapchat score go up without opening snaps?
How to view Snapchat stories without being friends?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to view someone's Snapchat story if you are not friends with them. Snapchat is designed in such a way that only people who are friends with each other can view each other's stories.
If you want to view someone's story, you need to send a friend request to that person and wait for them to accept it. If the person accepts your friend request, you will then be able to see their stories in the "Stories" section of the app.
Some third-party apps claim to offer the ability to view Snapchat stories without being friends, but these apps are not authorized by Snapchat and may not work as intended.
In addition, using third-party apps to access someone else's Snapchat account without their permission is a violation of Snapchat's terms of service and could result in your account being permanently banned.
Here are a few methods you can explore to view people's stories without being friends:
#1 View public stories [Snapchat discover]
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Open Snapchat app, log in if required
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On the home screen, swipe left to open the Snapchat discover page
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Scroll through the public story feed and tap on the story you want to see
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Tap on three dots in the top right corner to open the story settings
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You can subscribe, add to favorites, edit snaps, and send the snap with friends
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You can even read more about the story if the publisher has added a link to that Snapchat story
#2 Third-party apps
Snapchat doesn't allow to watch private stories without being friends on the Snapchat app. If you want to watch someone's Snapchat story without being friends with them, you have to use third-party apps.
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Snapchat++ for iOS devices
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Casper for both iOS and Android
Related: How to view Snapchat stories without being friends?
#3 Create fake account/secondary account
It is not recommended but if you want to watch all the stories, including the private stories. Creating a fake account on Snapchat to watch private stories can be tempting, but it is not recommended. Not only is it against Snapchat's terms of service, but it is also considered spammy behavior. Creating fake accounts can result in your account being permanently banned by Snapchat.
Additionally, using a fake account to spy on others is unethical and can erode trust in relationships. If you're trying to see someone's private stories, it's best to simply ask if you can follow them or to try to build a genuine connection with them.
It's also important to consider the potential consequences of using a fake account. Not only are you breaking the terms of service, but you are also putting your own privacy and security at risk by creating an account with false information.
In conclusion, it's not advisable to create a fake account on Snapchat just to watch someone's private stories. Instead, it's best to respect others' privacy and to engage in ethical and respectful behavior when using social media.
#4 Watch from a friend's phone
If you really want to watch a Snapchat story without letting your friends know to watch it on someone's phone. You can ask any of your mutual friends for their phone for this.
#5 Watch on Snap map
Just like the Snapchat Discover feature, you can watch someone's Snapchat stories on Snap maps as well. You can't watch a private story on Snap Maps, but if you turn on the ghost mode for Snap Maps, when you watch a person's Snapchat story, they will not be able to know about that.
Snap Story are the bread and butter for all social media platforms, so viewing Snapchat stories without knowing who viewed them is a bad user experience for the Snapchat users
Related: What happens if I delete the Snapchat app?
Frequently asked questions
Can you view Snapchat stories without being friends?
Yes, you can watch Snapchat stories without being friends with the user. There are third-party apps and tools that allow you to do this, but it is important to note that using such apps is against Snapchat's terms of service and can result in your account being banned.
What are the risks of using third-party apps to view Snapchat stories?
Using third-party apps to view Snapchat stories can put your Snapchat account at risk. Snapchat actively monitors for and bans accounts that use such apps, which could result in your account being permanently banned from the app. Additionally, these apps often require you to give them access to your Snapchat account information, which could lead to your information being compromised.
Is it possible to view Snapchat stories anonymously?
No, it is not possible to view Snapchat stories anonymously. Even if you use a third-party app to view a story, the user who posted the story will still be able to see that you have viewed it.
What are some alternatives to using third-party apps to view Snapchat stories?
If you don't want to use a third-party app to view Snapchat stories, you can try creating a fake Snapchat account. This way, you can follow the user and view their stories without them knowing it's you. However, it is important to note that this is also against Snapchat's terms of service and could result in your fake account being banned.
Can you view private Snapchat stories without being friends?
No, you cannot view private Snapchat stories without being friends with the user. Private stories can only be viewed by users who are friends with the user who posted the story.