How to Send Videos on Snapchat

Easy ways to send videos on Snapchat

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 10, 2022

Snapchat is a popular photo-sharing social network, but it can also be used to send quick videos. You can send videos up to 10 seconds long to any of your Snapchat friends, and they behave just like Snapchat pictures. This means they disappear after being viewed, and you can add filters, stickers, and other effects to them. You can also use Snapchat to two-way video chat with your friends.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Sending a Video Snap

1
Open the Snapchat Camera screen. This is the screen that first appears when you launch Snapchat, and you'll see the image from your device's camera when it is open.
2
Tap the Switch Camera button to change which camera you're using. You'll see this button in the upper-left corner. Tapping it will switch between the front-facing and rear-facing cameras on your device.

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3
Press and hold the round Shutter button at the bottom of the screen to start recording. You'll record as long as you're holding the button, up to 10 seconds in length. This is the maximum limit for Snapchat videos.
4
Release the Shutter button to stop recording. The recording will stop automatically after 10 seconds. After the recording is finished, you'll see your recorded video loop back.
5
Tap the Speaker button to toggle audio for your video. If you toggle the audio off, the recipient will not hear anything. If audio is enabled, which it is by default, the recipient will be able to hear the audio of your video.
6
Swipe left and right to add filters to your Snap. There are a variety of filters that you can choose from by swiping left and right. Some filters will change depending on your current location. See Use Video Filters on Snapchat for more details on getting the most out of Snapchat's video filters.
- By using the slow motion filter, you can effectively double the length of your video. This is the only way to send video Snaps that are longer than 10 seconds.^{[1]
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7
Tap the Pencil button to draw on the video. This will enable Drawing mode, and you can use your finger to draw on the video Snap. You can change colors by using the palette in the upper-right corner. See Draw on Snapchat for tips on using the drawing feature.^{[2]
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8
Tap the "T" button to add a caption. This will add a caption bar and open your keyboard. You can move the caption bar around the screen, and rotate it with two fingers. Tapping the "T" again will make the font bigger.
9
Tap the Sticker button to add stickers. This will open a menu with lots of different sticker and emoji options. You can swipe left and right in the menu to view different categories. Tap a sticker to add it to the Snap. You can then tap and drag the sticker to move it around.
- Press and hold a sticker for a moment to pause the video. This will allow you to "pin" the sticker to an object in the video, and it will track that object throughout the entire video. See Use 3D Stickers in Snapchat for detailed instructions.^{[3]
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10
Tap the Send button to send your finished video Snap. This will open your friends list, and you can select the people you want to send it to. You can select as many people as you'd like to send the video to. You can also send the video to your Story, where it will be available for your followers to see for 24 hours.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Video Chatting

1
Make sure you're running the latest version of Snapchat. Snapchat introduced updated video chat features in version 9.27.0.0, released March 2016. You'll need to be using this version or later of the Snapchat app in order to send and receive video calls.
2
Open your Snapchat inbox. You can tap the button in the lower-left corner of the Snapchat Camera screen, or you can swipe from left to right. This will display all of your recent conversations.
3
Open a conversation in Snapchat with the person you want to call. You can swipe any of your existing conversations from left to right to open them, or you can tap the New button at the top of screen and select the person you want to video chat with.
4
Tap the Video Camera button at the bottom of the chat. This will begin calling the other person. Depending on their notification settings, they may need to be using the Snapchat app in order to see that they're receiving a video call.
5
Wait for the other person to pick up. If the other person sees the notification that they're receiving a video call, they can choose to join your call or just watch. If they choose to just watch, you'll be notified that they've picked up but you won't be able to see them. If they select "Join," you'll see their video and they'll see yours.
6
Double-tap the screen to switch cameras during a call. This will let you quickly switch between the front and rear-facing cameras.
7
Tap the Stickers button to add emoji to the chat. Both you and the recipient will be able to see emoji that you add.
8
Press the Video Camera button again to hang up. This won't end the call, but will stop you broadcasting video. To exit the call completely, close the conversation or switch to another app.^{[4]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Sending a Video Note

1
Open a conversation with the person you want to leave a note for. You can send quick video notes to someone, which are even more simple than a video Snap. To do so, you'll need to open a chat conversation with the person you want to send it to.
2
Press and hold on the Video Camera button. You'll see a small bubble appear with your video in it. Video notes will always use your forward-facing camera.
3
Drag your finger to the "X" to cancel the recording. The recording will be sent automatically if you release the button or use the full 10 seconds. If you need to cancel, drag your finger to the "X" on the screen and then release.
4
Release your finger or use the entire time to automatically send it. Your video note will be sent automatically once you release your finger, or after you've recorded for 10 seconds. Once it's been sent, you can't undo it.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I add a person to Snapchat?

Community Answer

Search the person's name, (if they have told you) and click on their profile, then click Add Friend.
Question

How do I send a video with filters?

Community Answer

Press the circle and record whatever you want to record. When you are done, just slide the screen to the right, and pick the filter you want.
Question

How do I start a live chat with someone?

Community Answer

Find the person you want to start a live chat with, and swipe left. In the chat, you should see a camera symbol on the right, and a phone symbol on the left. Tap on the one you want to start the live chat.