Are you someone who enjoys maintaining Snapchat streaks with friends? Do you also get annoyed when they end or when the hourglass emoji appears in front of people’s names instead of the lit emoji? You're not alone, so don't worry!
The hourglass emoji next to a friend’s name, which signifies that the Snap Streak is about to end, is the most frustrating thing.
In this article, we’ll dive deep further into the meaning of the hourglass emoji, how long does the hourglass last on Snapchat, how to keep your Snap Streak intact, and how to get snap streak back.
What is the meaning of Hourglass on Snapchat?
If you are new to Snapchat and don't know what is the timer emoji in front of your friend’s name doing instead of a lit/fire emoji then don't worry.
The hourglass is a symbol that appears next to your friend’s name when you have not exchanged streaks with your friend for some time. This indicates that your snap streak with that friend is going to come to an end.
To get rid of this hourglass emoji, you will have to send another snap to your friend and your friend has to send another snap back in a limited time. If you fail to do so within 24 hrs, your snap streak with that friend will be over.
What are Snap Streaks?
Streaks on Snapchat are a common way for friends to communicate and share memories.
Snap Streaks allow users to record the number of days in a row that two users have exchanged snaps, and many users take great delight in keeping long streaks.
When you send and receive a snap from the same person for 3 regular days, a fire emoji will appear after their name.
This shows that the streak has started. The number before this emoji shows the number of days since when you are maintaining the streak without fail.
People occasionally lose their snap streaks, though, for a variety of reasons, such as a missed day or technological difficulties.
How long does the hourglass last on Snapchat?
Since the hourglass is basically a warning signal that your streak is about to end, you might ask how long it actually last before your streak is gone. Well, the answer to this is quite controversial.
There is no direct confirmation from Snapchat about how long does the hourglass last on Snapchat.
There are many users who have said that the hourglass lasts for 2 to 4 hours while some others who had very long streaks said that it lasts for 4-7 hours for them before the snap streak ends.
However, most users agree that around four hours on average are allotted when the hourglass first appears for you to send a snap to your pal and ask them to send one back before the streak expires.
Snapchat uses the hourglass to motivate users to continue using the app and keep up their snap streaks. It serves as a reminder for users to keep in touch with and remember their pals.
How to avoid hourglass and not lose Snap Streak?
Now that we have a fair idea about snap streaks, what the hourglass means, and how long the hourglass lasts, let’s discuss how to avoid losing your snap streak because once a snap streak is lost, it is almost impossible to get snap streal back.
Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you maintain your streak with your buddy.
1. Daily reminders
Setting yourself reminders is one of the simplest methods to avoid the hourglass on Snapchat.
You can use an app or set a reminder on your phone to remind you to send your buddies a snap. In this manner, your snap streaks will continue and you will never forget to send a snap.
2. Send snaps instead of texts
Another good way to not lose the streak is to send a snap of morning-evening wishes instead of just a text.
You can click a blacked-out pic to send it to your buddy. Also, you can write ‘Streak’ or simple ‘S’, so that the other party knows you are sending the snap for the sake of the streak only.
3. Reminder feature on Snapchat
You may set a reminder on Snapchat to remind you to send a snap to your buddies. Visit your friend's profile and click on the three dots in the top right corner to access this function.
Select "Set Reminder" After that, pick the time you want to be reminded to send a snap. This is a great way to save your streak.
4. Create shortcuts for your friends’ profiles
You can create shortcuts for your friends’ profiles on your home screen. This way you will be reminded to send them snaps and avoid losing a streak.
5. Communication is the key
When it comes to keeping up snap streaks on Snapchat, communication is essential. Inform your friends in advance if you anticipate being unavailable for a time.
In this manner, your snap streak won't stop and they won't be astonished if you don't snap them for a day.
Since streaks are a two-way thing it is important your friend also shares snaps daily. You should remind your friend before the end of the day if they have not shared any snaps for that day
6. Be consistent
Consistency is crucial to keeping up a snap streak. Send snaps to your pal at least once every 24 hours, even if it's only to say hello.
Inform your friend in advance if you will be busy or away from your phone so they won't assume you are ignoring them. You can also fix a time in a day when you just check your streaks and see if you have forgotten to send them.
6. Don’t get stressed out
You should remember that snaps are about having fun with your friends and staying connected with your friends.
Even if you lose a streak do not stress out about it, it is certainly not the end of the world. You can always start again. Don't let the hourglass ruin the fun of snap streaks or the opportunity to stay in touch with your friends.
How to get back your snap streak?
Did you lose a long snap streak with a friend and wondering how to get your snap streak back? Then don't skip this section. Here we will talk about different ways on how to get back your snap streak.
While it is not certain that you can get your snap streak back but you can try a few ways. Below are a few effective ways how to get a snap streak back.
1. Contact technical support
The first thing you should do if you've lost your snap streak is to get in touch with Snapchat Support.
You can do this by visiting your Snapchat profile, tapping the gear button to access settings, and then scrolling down until you find "I Need Help." Then, choose "My Snapstreaks Disappeared."
Snapchat will ask you for some details, such as the friend's username with whom you lost the streak and the time and date that the streak vanished. After reviewing your request, Snapchat will inform you whether or not they can reinstate your streak.
2. Send multiple Snaps
Send several snaps in a succession to improve your chances of regaining your snap streak. You may send a series of silly faces or selfies, for instance. This raises the likelihood that your friend will send a snap back and will also serve as a reminder.
3. Resend Snaps
Don't worry if Snapchat is unable to repair your snap streak; you can still start over. Resend snaps to the friend with whom you broke your streak to start.
Keep in mind that you and your friend must exchange snaps every 24 hours if you want to keep your snap streak going. Therefore, if you skip a day, start by sending your friend a snap straight away.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the hourglass symbol on Snapchat alerts you that your snap streak is going to expire when you haven't exchanged snaps with anyone for 24 hours. It can last for 2-4 hours or 4-7 hours depending on the streak strength.
You may use Snapchat's reminder tool, speak with your pals, send snaps at regular intervals, and schedule reminders to avoid the hourglass.
We hope that this article has helped you understand how long does the hourglass last on Snapchat and how to avoid it. If you have any questions, you can ask us in the comments. We will be happy to help. 🙂