Snapchat lets you pin up to 7 people at the top of your chat list, not just 3
Snapchat's pinning feature allows you to keep your most-contacted people at the top of your friends list for quick access. The app's default setting shows 3 pinned friends, but you can pin up to 7 people total. This means you can add 4 more friends beyond the initial 3 if you want a larger group of frequently messaged contacts visible at all times.
Pinning works the same way regardless of how many people you pin — the contacts you choose stay at the top of your chat list in the order you pinned them, and they remain there until you unpin them. This is useful if you message a rotating group of people or want quick access to friends you talk to most often. The pinned section appears above your regular friends list every time you open the app, so your most important contacts are always one tap away.
Key Takeaways
- You can pin up to 7 people on Snapchat by long-pressing each contact's name and selecting the pin option from the menu.
- Pinned friends appear at the top of your chat list in the order you pinned them, making them easier to find and message.
- You can change which friends are pinned at any time by unpinning someone and pinning a different person in their place.
- Pinning a friend does not notify them — they cannot see that you have pinned their chat or know you did so.
- Both individual chats and group chats can be pinned, and each one counts toward your total of 7 pins.
How to pin a fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh person
To add more than 3 pinned friends, open Snapchat and look at your chat list. Long-press (hold your finger on) the name of the person you want to pin. A menu will appear with several options, including a pin icon or the word "Pin." Tap that option, and the person will move to your pinned section at the top.
Repeat this process for each additional friend you want to pin. After you pin the fourth person, you will notice they appear at the top of your chat list alongside your first three pinned contacts. Continue adding friends until you reach 7 pinned contacts — Snapchat will not let you pin more than that number. If you try to pin an eighth person, the app will show a message indicating you have reached your limit.
The process is identical whether you are pinning your fourth contact or your seventh. There are no special steps or settings to unlock additional pin slots — the limit of 7 is built into the app and applies to all users.
The order of your pinned friends matters
Snapchat displays pinned friends in the order you pinned them, from left to right at the top of your chat list. The first person you pinned appears first, the second person appears second, and so on. If you want to change the order, you will need to unpin everyone and pin them again in your preferred sequence, since Snapchat does not offer a drag-and-drop reordering feature.
To unpin someone, long-press their name and select "Unpin" from the menu. Once unpinned, they move back into your regular friends list below the pinned section. You can then pin a different person or re-pin the same person in a new position. This gives you full control over who appears at the top and in what order, though reorganizing requires a few extra taps if you want to rearrange multiple people.
When pinning more people is useful
Pinning 5, 6, or 7 people works best if you have a consistent group you message regularly — a close friend group, family members, or coworkers you snap with every day. Rather than scrolling through your full friends list each time, you see these contacts immediately when you open Snapchat. This saves time if you are messaging the same people repeatedly throughout the day.
If your messaging habits change and you no longer talk to someone as often, unpinning them frees up space for someone else. There is no limit to how many times you can change your pinned list, so you can adjust it whenever your communication patterns shift. Some people pin different groups depending on the time of day or day of the week, though you can only have one pinned list active at a time.
Pinning does not send notifications
When you pin someone's chat, they do not receive a notification or any indication that you have done so. Pinning is a private feature that only affects what you see on your own device. The person you pinned will not know unless you tell them directly.
Similarly, if someone pins you, you will not be notified. Pinning is entirely one-sided and visible only to the person who set it up. This means you can organize your contacts however you want without worrying about hurting anyone's feelings or creating social awkwardness based on who is or is not pinned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pin the same person multiple times?
No, each person can only appear once in your pinned list. If you try to pin someone who is already pinned, nothing will happen. You can only pin 7 different people total, and duplicates are not allowed.
What happens if I pin someone and then they remove me as a friend?
If someone removes you as a friend, they will automatically disappear from your pinned list and your chat history with them will no longer be visible. You cannot message them unless they add you back, at which point you would need to pin them again if you want them in your pinned section.
Can I pin a group chat?
Yes, you can pin group chats the same way you pin individual people. Long-press the group chat name and select pin. Group chats count toward your 7-pin limit, so pinning a group uses up one of your available slots.
Does pinning someone change how Snapchat's algorithm shows my stories?
No, pinning someone in your chat list does not affect who sees your stories or how Snapchat prioritizes content. Pinning is only a tool for organizing your own chat list and does not change any other app settings or visibility.
Can I see who has pinned me?
No, Snapchat does not show you who has pinned your chat. There is no way to see a list of people who have pinned you, and no notification is sent when someone pins you. Pinning is completely private to the person doing the pinning.