Despite Snapchat's rapid ascent into the social media mainstream, information technology'south ever been a little unintuitive. The social network occasionally updates the layout to make things simpler to use, but for those of us already dislocated by the app, it but heightens the learning curve. But fear not: we're hither to walk yous through the basics of how to utilize Snapchat.

Setting up Snapchat

Snapchat is a free download from Google Play or the App Shop. Once you've installed the app yous'll be prompted to sign up for a costless account using your email address and DOB, and volition be asked to choose a username. Choose this wisely, since yous tin can't modify information technology subsequently.

Snapchat will then request access to your contacts in lodge to detect your friends who are already using the service. This is the recommended option, though you can do so manually if you adopt.

Taking your first Snap

When you launch Snapchat you'll be presented with the view from your phone'due south front-facing camera. You could hitting the big circle icon at the lesser of the screen to have a photo, or you could tap and concord to take a video. But that would be to ignore the great many Lenses and filters that make Snapchat so pop with the younger generation...

Adding 'Lenses', filters and effects to Snaps

With your face in view, tap and hold on your face. You'll see a white filigree announced, then some new circular icons will appear to the correct of the shutter button. You can scroll through these 'Lenses' to add various filters and effects. Those on offer are regularly updated.

Adding Snapchat filters

Some filters will instruct you to open your mouth or heighten your eyebrows to become the full effect. Some can besides change your voice, for which you'll want to record a video rather than a Snap.

Effort it out, but call up your environs if you're in public or you'll become some odd looks!

Confront Swapping

Toward the cease of the bachelor lenses are some that prove two faces. This is Face Swap, and ane of Snapchat'southward most popular features. Y'all tin can face up bandy with a physical person continuing next to you, or using photos in your telephone's photo gallery (which has led to some very interesting swaps. Find out more than nearly how to use Face Swap here.

Snapchat Face Swap

Editing your Snap

Having taken a Snap you'll see new icons appear on the correct edge of the screen. These let y'all add text, draw doodles and add stickers.

Editing Snaps

You'll besides detect an option for add together a 2nd filter, and these are different options to what you will have seen the first time around.

Adding more filters

The bottom option lets you set a time limit for how long your friends volition be able to view your Snap. The beauty of Snapchat is that the image self-destructs after they've viewed it - unless they screenshot it, of course.

Set a Snapchat time limit

Do note, though, that when taking a screenshot of someone else'south Snap they will go a notification. There are ways to get effectually this.

Sending your Snap

Once you've taken a Snap you similar, the thought is to share it with your friends. Tap the blue arrow icon to Transport. Also at the bottom of the window are options to download the photo (then you lot can become an epitome that doesn't accept all the icons at the edge) or add it to your Story. We'll come up on to that later.

Send Snap

Having hitting the Transport button you need to select a contact to send the Snap to. Selection a contact(due south) from the listing, or cull to add it to My Story, Our story or an existing group using the icons at the top. Now hit the blueish send pointer once more.

Communicating with Snapchat friends

Snapchat is actually not just about sending your friends hilarious photos and videos. Information technology can also be used every bit a messaging platform, and for making video calls (even group video calls).

Launch the app and swipe in from the left to see your friends. You can tap on whatsoever contact here to start a conversation, inside which you'll find options simply to text too as transport pictures and make calls.

Snapchat friends

At the top of your friends listing, you lot'll encounter some accept 'Added to story'. These are Snaps they've not sent straight to you, but yous can scout them notwithstanding. You'll also regularly encounter letters from Squad Snapchat here. Just tap to view.

Be certain to avert these Snapchat scams.

Snapchat Find

Snapchat can exist fun fifty-fifty for people who don't like taking selfies. Swipe in from the right of the primary screen and you'll notice Discover, which lists Snapchat Stories from your friends alongside big brands, magazines, newspapers and other pop Snapchatters. Just tap to view whatever that involvement y'all.

Snap Map

Y'all'll find in-depth instructions on how to utilise Snap Map hither, but in essence, you but pinch the screen to open the Map. You can view Snaps of breaking news and events or featured Snaps here, or add your own. To add together a Snap to the Map make sure you send it to Our Story rather than My Story.

Snap Map

For some users, though, Snap Map is potentially a bit also creepy. If you're concerned merely accept already added the characteristic, follow our instructions to disable Snap Map.

Snapchat Trophies

Tap the contour icon in the top left corner of the main screen to bring upwardly a page that contains your personal Snapchat lawmaking (come across how to utilise Snapcodes). Y'all'll run across a trophy icon below this. Tap this to meet what trophies yous've managed to unlock - they're basically achievements like you lot go on computer games.

Snapchat Trophies

Using Snapchat on a calculator

Snapchat is a mobile app so you are no doubt using information technology on your smartphone or perhaps a tablet. However, y'all tin use it on PC or laptop and so find out how.

Deleting Snapchat

If having been through all that you're still confused, perhaps Snapchat isn't for yous. We testify you how to delete your Snapchat business relationship here. You lot tin also read our guide that discusses whether Snapchat is safety for kids.