Does Your Snap Score Increase With Unopened Snaps? [The Real Truth]
- kmrshubham809
- Jul 2
- 7 min read
Your Snap Score goes up even if you don't open your snaps. Snapchat keeps its exact scoring algorithm under wraps, but we know that both sending and receiving snaps add to your total score.
A Snap Score shows how active you are on the platform. The app tracks your interactions to calculate this number. Each snap you send or receive adds one point to your score, but the complete formula stays a bit of a mystery. Your score can climb even without using the app, especially when you have friends sending you snaps. Text messages don't count toward your score at all.
This piece will reveal the truth about Snap Scores. You'll learn what makes them tick and which activities actually matter to build your Snapchat reputation.
Does Your Snap Score Increase With Unopened Snaps?
The simple answer to the question does your snap score increase with unopened snaps is no. Your inbox might be full of unopened snaps, but they won't add any points to your Snap Score. This makes a big difference in how Snapchat's scoring system works.
What happens when you receive a snap but don't open it
Your Snap Score stays the same when someone sends you a snap that sits unopened in your inbox. The snap stays in a scoring limbo until you take action. Many users think getting snaps automatically raises their score, but that's not true.
Snap Score needs you to be active. The system calculates points based on what you do, not what's in your inbox. Letting snaps pile up won't help your score grow. This wrong idea could hurt marketers who count on their score growing by itself.
Does unopened snap still count toward your score?
Unopened snaps add nothing to your score. The scoring rules change based on sending or receiving:
When you send snaps: Points show up right after sending
When you receive snaps: You get points only after opening them
Some users think saving multiple snaps to open later might give them extra points. That's wrong - opening snaps later gives you the same points as opening them right away.
Snapchat's official stance vs. user experiences
Snapchat's help center says your score comes from "a super-secret, special equation that combines the number of Snaps you've sent and received, the Stories you've posted, and a couple other factors". This vague answer has created many theories among users.
Snapchat keeps its exact formula secret, but trusted sources confirm unopened snaps don't change your score. Less reliable sources say scores can go up without opening snaps, but this goes against both Snapchat's patterns and better-documented information.
Snapchat rewards real interaction. Senders get points when they send, but receivers must open snaps to get theirs. This setup pushes users to stay active instead of just collecting messages.
Users get confused because scores go up when they send snaps, whatever the recipient does. This might look like scores increase without activity, but some form of action always triggers the change.
What Is a Snap Score and How Does It Work?
A Snap Score shows your overall activity on Snapchat through a unique number. Snapchat stands out from other social networks by using this special system to calculate how active users are on the platform. You can think of it as your reputation score that grows with every interaction on the app.
Where to find your Snap Score
You can easily find your Snap Score. Just tap your Bitmoji or profile picture in the upper-left corner to see your profile screen. Your Snap Score appears as a number next to your username, right below your Snapcode. The number breaks down into sent and received snaps when you tap it, showing your activity since creating your account.
Here's something interesting - if you can send someone a snap but can't see their score, they probably haven't added you back as a friend. Mutual friends can always see each other's scores as part of the Snapchat experience.
How does Snapchat score work
Snapchat uses what they call a "super-secret, special equation" to calculate your score. Your score updates periodically rather than instantly - this might happen daily or hourly.
Snapchat+ subscribers get a special perk called Snapscore Multiplier. This lets them double their score growth when they interact with other Snapchat+ subscribers. The feature stays off until you turn it on through your profile settings.
What is Snap Score based on
Your Snap Score combines these main elements:
Number of snaps sent (one point per snap)
Number of snaps received and opened (one point per snap)
Stories you've posted
Other secret factors that Snapchat keeps under wraps
The math isn't always straightforward. One user's sent (127) and received (1731) snaps added up to 1858, but their actual score was 1870. This difference shows that story posts and other hidden factors affect the final number.
The more you use Snapchat's main features, the higher your score goes. Since Snapchat removed trophies in 2020, your score mainly serves as a status symbol and sometimes unlocks special "Score Charms" that celebrate your activity level.
What Actually Increases Your Snap Score
You can achieve a higher Snap Score by actively using specific features in the app. Since we know unopened snaps don't count, let's look at what really boosts your Snapchat numbers.
Sending and receiving snaps
Your Snap Score grows mainly through sending and receiving snaps. You get one point each time you send a snap. The same happens when you open a snap - one point gets added to your total. Note that text messages and chats don't affect your score. You should send unique snaps instead of the same one to multiple people because duplicate snaps won't give you extra points.
Posting stories and using filters
Your score increases directly when you share content to your Snapchat Story. Each story post adds a point to your total. While posting stories helps boost your score, viewing others' stories doesn't add any points. Snapchat suggests you post 20-40 snaps to Public Stories daily to get the best results.
Snapchat streaks and group snaps
Snap Streaks with friends offer a steady way to build your score. You create these streaks by exchanging snaps with the same person for at least three days in a row. Your score also goes up with group chats, though sending a snap to a group counts just like sending to one person.
Opening the app after a break
Snapchat gives returning users a special reward. Your first snap after taking a break can earn you six bonus points. This bonus encourages users to stay active on the platform.
Adding new friends and engaging with them
Your score increases by about one point whenever you accept a friend request or someone accepts yours. A bigger friend circle gives you more chances to exchange snaps, which naturally leads to higher scores. Snapchat+ subscribers get an exclusive perk - the Snapscore Multiplier doubles their score growth when they interact with other Snapchat+ users.
What Doesn’t Affect Your Snap Score
Understanding what doesn't affect your Snap Score matters just as much as knowing what does. Many users spend time on activities that won't help their score. Let me clear up some common myths.
Does your Snap Score increase with chats?
Text messages and chats won't change your Snap Score at all. Snapchat's scoring system treats snaps and chats very differently. You could send hundreds of text messages each day and your score wouldn't budge. This applies to private chats and group messages too. Your best bet to boost those numbers is to focus on sending actual snaps instead of typing messages.
Viewing stories without interaction
Watching other people's stories won't add any points to your Snap Score. The same goes for replaying stories - you won't get extra points no matter how many times you watch them. Snapchat rewards you for being active, not just watching content. Story viewing makes the Snapchat experience better, but it won't help your score grow. The app tracks when you create content rather than when you consume it.
Using third-party apps or bots
Third-party apps or bots that claim to boost your Snap Score don't work and could put your account at risk. These services break Snapchat's rules. They usually ask for your login details, which could compromise your account security. The only real way to increase your score is through genuine activity. Snapchat can spot and block fake score increases.
Being inactive on the app
Your Snap Score stays the same when you're not using the app. Snapchat won't lower your score for being inactive, unlike some gaming platforms. But your score will only grow when you use the app. This matches Snapchat's basic idea - rewarding regular, active users rather than occasional ones. Your score shows how much you use the app, so staying active matters for growth.
Conclusion
The answer is clear - your Snap Score doesn't increase with unopened snaps. Snapchat keeps parts of their scoring algorithm mysterious, but we understand how this feature works now. Only opened snaps count toward your score. Those unread messages sitting in your inbox won't add anything to your Snapchat reputation.
We've discovered what really counts for your Snap Score. Opening received snaps and sending new ones are the foundations of score calculation. Stories, streaks, and returning to the app after breaks will boost your numbers too. Text messages don't affect your score at all. The same goes for passive story viewing and third-party "boosting" apps.
This knowledge matters because many users don't understand how scores work. Their misunderstanding leads to wasted time and security risks from unauthorized services. Your Snap Score works mostly as a status symbol since Snapchat removed their trophy system.
Building a high Snap Score requires real participation through the app's main features. Send unique snaps to friends and open received ones quickly. Post stories regularly and keep your streaks going. This genuine approach will help your score grow naturally while making your Snapchat experience better.
FAQs
Q1. Does your Snap Score increase when you receive unopened snaps?
No, your Snap Score does not increase from unopened snaps. The score only increases when you actually open and view snaps that you receive.
Q2. How can you increase your Snap Score quickly?
To boost your Snap Score rapidly, focus on sending and receiving snaps, posting stories, maintaining streaks with friends, and using the app regularly. Engaging with Snapchat's core features is key to increasing your score.
Q3. What activities don't affect your Snap Score?
Text messages, chats, and passively viewing stories don't impact your Snap Score. Additionally, using third-party apps or bots won't legitimately increase your score and may put your account at risk.
Q4. Does adding new friends on Snapchat increase your score?
Yes, adding new friends can contribute to your Snap Score. When you add a new friend, your score may increase slightly. More importantly, having more friends creates more opportunities for snap exchanges, which further boosts your score.
Q5. Can your Snap Score go up if you're not actively using the app?
While your Snap Score won't increase significantly during periods of inactivity, it can go up slightly if others send you snaps, even if you haven't opened the app. However, substantial score increases require active engagement with the app's features.
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