Snapchat support does not have answers to every question. So, you came here to get the answer to “how long does the hourglass last on Snapchat.” Unfortunately, the answer is related to losing your Snapstreak. So check whether you’re losing your Snapstreak anytime soon.
Snapchat does not officially reveal how long the hourglass emoji remains visible. Most users report seeing it several hours before a Snapstreak expires. The exact timing can vary, so you should send a photo or video Snap as soon as you see the hourglass icon.
Keep reading our article to explore almost everything about Snapchat’s hourglass emoji, and don’t skip any part of the article.
What Does the Hourglass Mean on Snapchat?
Are you new to the hourglass symbol? Don’t know what an hourglass icon means on Snapchat? You can read our article to know more about it. The hourglass emoji means your Snapstreak is about to expire unless both users exchange a Snap soon. You have limited time remaining to keep your streak live and remove the Snapchat streak timer. Here is “how to get a streak back on Snapchat.”
The hourglass icon appears when Snapstreak users are going to lose their streaks. It’s an alert to take immediate action to maintain your current streak on Snapchat. Many users send a Snap immediately after seeing the hourglass icon to their Snapchat friends to keep the Snapchat streaks alive.
A Snapstreak grows longer as two users continue exchanging Snaps every day. So keep taking and sending snaps to other users daily is a must to maintain your streaks. Remember that text messages and sticker messages will not save your streaks.
Both users who are maintaining the Snapchat streak see the hourglass sign. They can send snaps to each other, and the hourglass icon will disappear soon. If either party does not take action, the streak will end.
How Long Does the Hourglass Last on Snapchat?
Another hot question is, “How long does the timer last on Snapchat before you lose your streak.”
If you don’t want to break the Snapstreak, the hourglass icon may horrify you. Instead, play the Snapchat game until you and your friend don’t get bored with the streak.
Snapchat does not publicly disclose the exact duration of the hourglass emoji. Most users report seeing it a few hours before a streak expires, but the timing may vary. There is no official confirmation that the duration depends on the age of the streak.
Related reading– What does a Yellow Heart mean on Snapchat?
How to Avoid Snapchat’s Hourglass ⌛️
Let’s find the time taken to appear the Snapchat hourglass emoji besides knowing, “how long does the hourglass last on Snapchat.” To maintain a Snapstreak, both users must exchange at least one photo or video Snap every 24 hours. Chat messages, Stories, Memories, and Group Snaps do not count toward a streak. Otherwise, the hourglass icon will appear.
You’ve to build some strategies to prevent the hourglass icon. Take help from mine.
Tip #1: Send a snap instead of a text message.
You can maintain your streak by sending snaps instead of chat messages. After all, it is a fun way to stay connected with your Snapchat friends. This way, you avoid the Snapchat streak timer and try to engage another user in the Snapchat game.
If you can convey your thoughts and emotions in snaps, then exchanging snaps is a better way to share what you have in your mind. So why are you still typing text messages?
Tip #2: Send a snap as a morning greeting
Sending a good morning message is a part of the chatting culture. So why not send a snap instead of a text message? It might be your strategy to avoid worrying about the hourglass icon. This way, you can spend your entire day without opening Snapchat on your phone. No worry will hit your mind.
You can start your day by clicking and sending your selfie. This doesn’t take much time but ensures that the Snapchat streak timer won’t appear. Isn’t it cool?
Tip #3: Make A Shortcut For Your Snapstreak Friends
To stay in the streak game, you must send a snap daily. Unfortunately, anyone can forget to do so due to a hectic schedule and workload. Fortunately, you can make Snapchat shortcuts to keep sending snaps to everybody on the list.
You can add the shortcut to your phone’s home screen. It will remind you about your Snapchat streaks whenever you check your phone. It’s a handy feature for those who are slow in sending snaps. You can read our post on how to create a Snapchat shortcut.
How to Create A Snap Streak Shortcut?
Manually choosing your friends to send snaps might be time-consuming. Perhaps, you don’t know how to send your streaks to hundreds of Snapchat friends only in one tap. However, you can create a snap streak shortcut to send Snapchat streaks to your close friends.
Open the snapchat app
- Open the Snapchat app.
- Tap the chat icon on the bottom bar.
- Tap the New (+) icon under the top bar.
Create shortcut
- Enter the name of the New Shortcut.
- Now, you select your friends with whom you have Snapchat streaks.
- Next, tap the Create Shortcut button.
- Lastly, you see the created shortcut under the top bar.
That’s how you can create a custom shortcut and add your streak friends to it. Snapchat’s interface may change over time, but the shortcut feature remains available in the Send To screen.
Use the shortcut
- Open the Snapchat app and tap the chat icon in the bottom bar.
- Tap the name of your Shortcut under the top bar.
- It populates the list of your friends that you’ve added.
- Next, tap the camera icon at the bottom right.
- Click a picture, and sent it to all friend in the shortcut.
This Snapchat streak feature is helpful when you want to send Snapchat streaks to multiple friends or family members. Finally, you know how to create a Snapchat shortcut to send snap streaks to your close friends.
What Counts Toward a Snapstreak?
✅ Photo Snaps
✅ Video Snaps
❌ Chat messages
❌ Voice messages
❌ Video calls
❌ Group Snaps
❌ Stories
❌ Memories
❌ AI chats
Why Is the Hourglass Still Showing After I Sent a Snap?
Sometimes Snapchat’s servers take a few minutes to update streak information.
Try:
- Ensure your Snap was delivered successfully.
- Ask your friend to send a Snap back.
- Close and reopen Snapchat.
- Check for app updates.
- Wait a few minutes for Snapchat to refresh the streak.
What If My Streak Disappears?
How to Restore a Lost Snapstreak
If your streak disappears unexpectedly:
- Open Snapchat.
- Tap the profile picture.
- Go to Settings (the gear icon).
- Scroll to Support and Feedback.
- Tap “I Lost My Snapstreak” and you’ll get more help there.
- Still unhappy, go to Help Center.
- Submit a restoration request through “I lost my Streak” section.
Snapchat now provides limited streak restoration options, though availability may vary by account and region.
Final Words
It’s all about the Snapchat hourglass icon ⌛️ that appears when your streak is going to end.
Perhaps, we have answered all your questions satisfactorily about the Snapchat hourglass emoji. However, after reading our article, you’ll change your strategy regarding sending snaps and staying away from the hourglass icon.
Busy people can create a shortcut to send a snap to multiple friends in one tap. We have covered all the steps for your help.
