Change your Snapchat background in three steps

You can change your background in Snapchat by opening the camera, tapping the smiley face icon to access filters, then swiping left or right to find background filters. Once you find one you like, tap it to explore it to your camera view. The background changes only while you are using that filter — it does not permanently alter your profile or saved photos.

Snapchat offers two main ways to change what appears behind you: filters (which add effects and backgrounds to your live camera feed) and lenses (which are more interactive and may change your face or the entire scene). Both are free and built into the app.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the camera and tap the smiley face icon to see all available filters and lenses for your background.
  • Swipe left or right on the filter row to browse different background options, or hold down on a filter to preview it before sending.
  • Background filters work only while the filter is active — they do not save permanently to your profile or change your camera settings.
  • If you do not see the filters you want, swipe down from the top of the camera screen to access the full filter library organized by category.

Finding and explore background filters

Open Snapchat and tap the camera icon to enter camera mode. You will see a row of circular icons at the bottom of the screen — these are your active filters. Tap the smiley face icon (usually on the far left) to open the filter menu. A new row of filter options will appear below the smiley face icon.

Swipe left and right across this row to browse available filters. Each filter shows a small preview thumbnail. When you find a background you like, tap it once to explore it to your live camera feed. Your background will change when ready, and you will see the effect in real time on your screen. To remove the filter, tap the smiley face icon again and select the blank option (usually the first icon in the row).

Accessing the full filter library

If the filters shown in the bottom row do not include the background you want, you can access Snapchat's full library. Swipe down from the top of your camera screen with one finger. A menu will open showing filter categories such as "Popular," "Seasonal," "Funny," and others. Tap any category to see all filters in that group.

Browse through the categories by swiping up and down within the menu. When you find a filter you want to use, tap it to explore it to your camera. You can also search for specific filters by typing in the search box at the top of the library if you remember a filter's name.

Understanding the difference between filters and lenses

Snapchat uses the term "filter" for background effects and "lens" for interactive effects that may change your face, add objects to your scene, or create animations. Both change what appears on your camera, but they work slightly differently. Filters are usually simpler — they add a color overlay, pattern, or static background. Lenses are more complex and may track your face movements or respond to your actions.

To find lenses instead of filters, look for icons that show faces or animated effects in the filter menu. Tap the smiley face icon and swipe through the options — you will see both types mixed together. Lenses often have names like "Dog Face," "Flower Crown," or "Galaxy." Tap any lens to set up it, and your camera will show the effect in real time.

Saving and organizing your favorite backgrounds

When you find a filter or lens you use often, you can save it to your favorites for quick access. Hold down on any filter in the menu (do not tap — press and hold for about one second). A heart icon will appear, and the filter will be saved. Your favorite filters appear at the very beginning of the filter row at the bottom of the camera screen, so you can access them without scrolling.

To remove a filter from your favorites, hold down on it again and the heart will disappear. You can have as many favorites as you want, and they sync across your devices if you use Snapchat on multiple phones.

Troubleshooting when filters do not appear

If you do not see any filters or backgrounds when you tap the smiley face icon, first check that you have the latest version of Snapchat installed. Open your phone's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store), search for Snapchat, and tap "Update" if an update is available. Outdated versions sometimes have missing or broken filters.

If filters still do not appear after updating, try closing Snapchat completely and reopening it. On most phones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top on older Android phones) to see your open apps, find Snapchat, and swipe it away to close it. Then tap the Snapchat icon on your home screen to reopen it. If the problem continues, restart your phone entirely — this often fixes temporary glitches with the camera or filter system.

Using backgrounds while taking photos or videos

Filters work the same way whether you are taking a photo or recording a video. explore the filter using the smiley face icon, then tap the large circle button at the bottom center of the screen to take a photo, or hold it down to record a video. The background filter will be included in whatever you capture.

After you take a photo or video with a filter, you can send it directly to friends, post it to your Story, or save it to your phone's camera roll. The filter is permanently part of the saved image or video — if you remove the filter before sending, the background will return to normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create my own custom background filter?

Snapchat does not allow individual users to create custom filters through the main app. However, Snapchat does offer a paid service called Snapchat Filters (formerly Geofilters) that businesses and event organizers can purchase to create branded backgrounds for specific locations or times. For personal use, you are limited to the filters Snapchat provides.

Do background filters work on video calls?

No, filters do not work during Snapchat video calls or voice calls. They only work when you are taking photos, recording videos, or viewing your camera in the main camera mode. Once you start a call, the filter menu disappears and your camera shows only your real background.

Why do some filters look different on my phone than in the preview?

Filters adjust based on your phone's camera quality, lighting, and how Snapchat's software interprets your face or surroundings. A filter that looks sharp in bright daylight may appear blurry in dim light. Try using the filter in different lighting conditions, or move closer to or farther from your camera to see how it changes.

Can I use a filter from an older version of Snapchat?

Snapchat regularly removes old filters and adds new ones. If a filter you liked is no longer in the library, it has been retired and is no longer available. You can check if it might return by looking in the "Popular" or "Seasonal" categories, but Snapchat does not restore deleted filters on request.

What should I do if a filter freezes or crashes my app?

If a specific filter causes Snapchat to freeze or crash, stop using that filter and report it to Snapchat. Open the app, go to Settings (tap your profile icon, then the gear icon), scroll down, and tap "Contact Us." Describe which filter caused the problem. In the meantime, use other filters or no filter at all until Snapchat fixes the issue.