Here's Why Your Snapchat Streak Is Gone

Picture this: You've just logged into Snapchat after a relaxing Thanksgiving break, fully expecting to see that little flame emoji next to your Snapchat name, when suddenly, you discover... it's gone. " Why is my Snapchat streak gone?" you wail, shaking your fist at the sky. Well, firstly, my condolences. I know it's difficult to say goodbye to a good Snapstreak after putting in the effort to carefully maintain and nurture it day after day. Secondly, if you are no longer "on fire," there could be several reasons why the flame has gone out — and I'm here to give you the 411.

For those Snappers who are as of yet unfamiliar with what a Snapstreak actually is, think of it as an endurance contest with an emoji reward. Being on a Snapstreak signifies that you and your friend have Snapped each other within 24 hours over at least three consecutive day — quite a feat! The feature was added as part of the Snapchat 2.0 update in March of 2016, giving the app a little boost.

On the third day of Snapping back and forth, you will notice that the flame emoji appears next to both of your names. A number next to the emoji indicates exactly how many days you have been on said streak. Keep in mind, though, that there are no breaks in a Snapstreak; in order to keep it going, you must Snap back and forth before the time limit is up. It really isn't too hard to do, as long as you like the person you're Snapping (break ups in the middle of a Snapstreak are the worst), can count on them being reliable, and have a pretty good memory yourself.

But, if for some unforeseen reason your Snapstreak has ended suddenly, here are a few explanations as to why that flame is literally gone:

You Ran Out Of Time

In order to keep your streak alive, you must Snap your friend each day and receive a Snap back within 24 hours. There is no bending the rules to get a few extra minutes; Snapchat is pretty strict about that. When time is running out, an hourglass emoji will appear next to your name. It signifies the 20-hour mark of no contact, which means that you and your fellow snapper have just four hours left in your streak. So what are you waiting for? Send them that photo of you in a flower crown already — or remind them that it's their turn to Snap!

You Sent A Chat Instead Of A Snap

Snapchat has a lot of awesome ways to share your experiences, and each one is unique. Though Snaps, Chats, and Stories are all great, only "Snaps" count towards your Snapstreak. Chatting with your friend through the Chat feature doesn't count; instead you must take a picture or video by tapping the circular button on the bottom of the screen, edit the image to your heart's content, and send it off before time runs out. (And again, they have to return the Snap — it's a mutual thing. That's important.)

There Was A Technical Glitch

These things do happen, and if an error occurs, Snapchat promises that they will not let the streak die. If you sent a Snap and it didn't register, or if you are locked out of the app for some reason, you can report the error here. For more info on Snapstreaks, check out Snapchat's suport page — and best of luck on that 100 day streak!

Image: Emojipedia