How to Half-Swipe on Snapchat

If you’re a regular Snapchat user, you might be aware of the standard swipe – swipe right to chat, swipe left to skip or ignore a message. But, what about half-swiping? It’s a lesser-known feature that can make your Snapchat experience even better.

Half-swiping is a simple but effective way to view snaps and stories without the sender knowing that you’ve opened them. It’s a handy tool to have in your Snapchat arsenal, and once you master it, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it!

In this article, I’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to half-swipe on Snapchat. We’ll be covering everything from what half-swiping is, and how to do it correctly. 

What is Half-Swiping on Snapchat?

In simple terms, half-swiping is a feature on Snapchat that allows you to view a snap or story without marking it as read. When you half-swipe, the snap or story will appear as if you haven’t opened it yet, and the sender will not be notified that you’ve viewed it.

Now, you might be thinking, “Isn’t that the same as just not opening the snap or story at all?” Not quite! The difference between half-swiping and a regular swipe is that with a regular swipe, the sender will be notified that you’ve ignored or skipped their message. However, with a half-swipe, the sender won’t be notified that you’ve viewed their snap or story.

So, what happens when you half-swipe? Well, when you half-swipe a snap or story, it will appear blurred or faded, indicating that it hasn’t been fully opened. You’ll be able to see a preview of the content, but you won’t be able to view it in its entirety until you fully open it.

Meanwhile note that half-swiping only works on snaps and stories that have not been opened before. If you’ve already opened a snap or story, half-swiping won’t have any effect, and the sender will be notified that you’ve viewed their message.

How to Half-Swipe on Snapchat

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to Half-Swipe on Snapchat:

1. Open Snapchat and go to your chat inbox or the stories screen.

2. Find the snap or story you want to half-swipe on.

3. Swipe right on the snap or story to bring up the chat screen.

4. Instead of fully opening the snap or story, swipe it only halfway. You should see a blurred or faded preview of the content.

5. Hold your finger on the screen to keep the snap or story in the half-swiped position.

6. Read or view the snap or story to your heart’s content.

7. When you’re done, release your finger from the screen to exit the half-swiped position.

That’s it! You’ve successfully half-swiped on Snapchat. However, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you half-swipe like a pro:

• Practice Makes Perfect: It may take a few tries to get the hang of half-swiping, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right away.

• Use Two Fingers: If you’re having trouble keeping the snap or story in the half-swiped position, try using two fingers to hold the screen.

• Don’t fully open the Snap or Story: This might seem obvious, but make sure you don’t fully open the snap or story when you’re trying to half-swipe. Doing so will mark it as read and notify the sender that you’ve viewed their message.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Half-Swiping

• Accidentally Swiping too Far: This is the most common mistake when half-swiping. Make sure you only swipe halfway to keep the snap or story in the half-swiped position.

• Forgetting to Hold your Finger Down: If you release your finger from the screen before fully viewing the snap or story, it will mark it as read and notify the sender that you’ve viewed their message.

Benefits of Half-Swiping

Half-swiping might seem like a small and insignificant feature on Snapchat, but it can actually be pretty useful. Here are some benefits of half-swiping and why you should consider using it:

1. Avoiding Awkward Situations

Let’s say you receive a snap or story from someone you don’t want to talk to at the moment. With half-swiping, you can view their message without them knowing and avoid any uncomfortable conversations.

2. Staying organized

Half-swiping can also help you keep track of which snaps and stories you’ve viewed and which ones you haven’t. You can half-swipe a snap or story to come back to later when you have more time to fully open and view it.

3. Maintaining Privacy

Half-swiping is also great for maintaining your privacy. If you don’t want someone to know that you’ve viewed their snap or story, you can half-swipe it and view it on your own terms.

Now, let’s look at some examples of when to use half-swiping. Maybe you’re in a meeting and don’t want your phone to light up with notifications, but you still want to stay on top of your Snapchat messages. Half-swiping allows you to discreetly view your snaps and stories without disturbing the room.

Or, perhaps you want to view a snap or story from someone but don’t want to let them know that you’ve seen it. Half-swiping allows you to do just that and maintain your privacy.

When not to Half-Swipe on Snapchat

While half-swiping can be a useful feature on Snapchat, there are some situations where it’s not appropriate. Here are some examples of when not to half-swipe on Snapchat:

1. Group Chats

If you’re in a group chat, half-swiping might not be the best option. It’s important to keep everyone in the loop and fully engage with the conversation.

2. Important Messages

If someone sends you an important message, it’s best to fully open and respond to it. Half-swiping might give off the impression that you’re not taking their message seriously.

3. Close Friends and Family

If you have close friends or family on Snapchat, it’s better to fully engage with their snaps and stories. Half-swiping might come across as disinterested or rude.

4. Professional Settings

If you’re in a professional setting, it’s best to keep your phone away altogether. Half-swiping can be distracting and give off the impression that you’re not fully present.

If half-swiping isn’t appropriate for the situation, there are alternatives you can use. For example, you can simply ignore the message until you have time to fully engage with it, or you can send a quick reply to let the sender know that you’ve seen their message and will respond later.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Conclusion 

We’ve learned that half-swiping on Snapchat can be a game-changer for your Snapchat experience. By half-swiping, you can view snaps and stories without marking them as read, which can be incredibly helpful in certain situations.

To master half-swiping, we provided step-by-step instructions, tips, and common mistakes to avoid. We also discussed situations where half-swiping might not be appropriate, and alternatives you can use instead.

So, why not give it a try? The next time you’re scrolling through your Snapchat feed, try half-swiping and see how it feels. With a little practice and patience, you’ll be a half-swiping pro in no time!