Change your Snapchat background from the camera screen

To change your Snapchat background, open the app and tap the camera icon at the bottom of the screen to enter camera mode. Then tap and hold on your face until a row of icons appears at the bottom — this is the filters menu. Swipe left through the available backgrounds until you find one you want, then tap it to explore it. The background will change when ready and stay active while you are in that camera view.

The backgrounds Snapchat offers change regularly. Some are seasonal, some are tied to current events, and some are permanent fixtures. If you do not see a background you like in the row that appears, keep swiping left — there are usually dozens available. You can also create a custom background using a photo from your phone's camera roll, though this requires a few extra steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap and hold your face in the camera view to unlock the filters menu, where backgrounds live alongside other effects.
  • Swipe left through the row of icons at the bottom to browse all available backgrounds for your current camera.
  • Snapchat rotates its background library regularly, so new options appear and old ones disappear over time.
  • You can use a photo from your phone as a custom background by selecting the upload option in the filters menu.
  • Backgrounds only work when you are facing the front-facing camera — switching to the rear camera removes the effect.

Use a photo from your phone as a custom background

To set a photo you already have as your Snapchat background, open the camera and tap and hold on your face to bring up the filters row. Look for an icon that looks like a plus sign or upload symbol — this is usually at the far left or right of the row. Tap it and select "Upload" or "Custom" (the exact wording depends on your phone and Snapchat version). Then choose a photo from your camera roll.

The photo will appear as your background when ready. Snapchat will stretch or crop it to fit the camera frame, so a photo that is wider than it is tall usually works better than a portrait-oriented image. If the photo does not look right, try a different one — you can swap it out as many times as you want without losing the original.

Switch between the front and rear camera

Snapchat backgrounds only work with the front-facing camera, which is the one that shows your face. If you switch to the rear camera (the one that points away from you), any background effect will disappear, and you will see only what the rear camera actually sees.

To switch cameras, look for a camera icon with arrows in the top right corner of the camera screen and tap it. You will flip to the rear camera. Tap the same icon again to go back to the front camera and your background will return. This is useful if you want to show something behind you in a Snap — just switch to the rear camera, take the photo, then switch back.

Troubleshoot if your background is not showing

If you tap and hold on your face but no filters menu appears, make sure you are using the front-facing camera. The rear camera does not support backgrounds or filters. Also check that you are holding your finger on your actual face — if you hold it on the background or on an empty area of the screen, the menu will not appear.

If the filters menu appears but you do not see any backgrounds, your phone may not have downloaded them yet. Close Snapchat completely and reopen it, then try again. If backgrounds still do not show, restart your phone. Backgrounds require an internet connection, so make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Understand the difference between backgrounds and other filters

Snapchat offers three types of effects: filters, lenses, and backgrounds. Backgrounds replace what is behind you with a photo or pattern. Filters change the colors or add text and graphics to your entire Snap — they appear as a row of icons when you swipe left on the camera screen (not when you tap and hold your face). Lenses are animated effects that change your face or the scene around you, and they appear when you tap and hold on your face.

Backgrounds live in the same menu as lenses, so when you tap and hold your face, you are browsing both at once. Swipe through the row to find what you want. Some effects are backgrounds, some are lenses, and some do both — a background might also add animated elements or change your face slightly.

Save a background you use often

Snapchat does not have an official way to "favorite" a background, but the app remembers which effects you use most and shows them first in the filters menu. If you use the same background repeatedly, it will move toward the left side of the row, making it faster to find next time.

If you want to use a custom background (one from your phone) regularly, you may want to keep that photo in an straightforward-to-find folder in your camera roll. That way, when you want to upload it, you can find it quickly without scrolling through hundreds of photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video as a Snapchat background?

Snapchat backgrounds are static images only — you cannot upload a video file to use as a background. However, some of Snapchat's built-in backgrounds are animated, so you can browse those if you want movement behind you.

Why do some backgrounds disappear after a few days?

Snapchat rotates its background library regularly. Seasonal backgrounds, event-based backgrounds, and limited-time effects are removed after their time ends. Permanent backgrounds stay in the app, but you may have to scroll further to find them if newer ones are added.

Do backgrounds work on both iPhone and Android?

Yes, backgrounds work the same way on both iPhone and Android. The steps are identical, and the available backgrounds are the same across both platforms. Performance may vary slightly depending on your phone's age and processing power.

Can other people see my background in a Snap I send them?

Yes, when you send a Snap with a background to a friend, they see the background exactly as it appears on your screen. The background is part of the image or video you send, not a filter applied only to your view.

What if I want to remove a background and just show what is actually behind me?

Tap and hold your face to open the filters menu, then swipe all the way to the right until you reach the end of the row. The last icon is usually a blank or "none" option that removes all effects and shows your actual background.