The streak (fire emoji 🔥) that appears next to a friend’s name on our Chat screen signifies a Snapstreak. This can be done with a continuous exchange of snaps and chats for 3 consecutive days. After getting this streak, have you ever wondered about the appearance of an hourglass emoji (⌛️) besides the streak fire emoji while going through the Chat section?
In this guide, we’ll discuss what the Hourglass Emoji is all about, why it has popped up, how long it lasts, and ways to get rid of it. So, without further ado, let’s get started to know all about Hourglass (⌛️) …
What Does The Hourglass Icon Signify On Snapchat Snapstreaks?
Snapchat lets users exchange snaps and chat securely. Once you start a streak (🔥), you must send snaps within 24 hours (one day) to keep it alive and growing without interruption. If you fail to do so, an hourglass icon (⌛️) appears next to the fire emoji.
The hourglass emoji acts like a countdown timer, reminding you to send snaps quickly to avoid losing the streak. You’ll see the hourglass next to both your profile and your friend’s profile when the streak is in danger of ending. It disappears once both parties exchange snaps, not texts or stickers.
This feature allows users to build streaks and display the longevity of their friendships on the platform. Ultimately, it’s up to you whether to keep the streak or let it end.
How Long Does The Hourglass Emoji Appear On Snapchat?
Snapchat hasn’t officially stated the exact duration before a streak disappears, but here’s what we know about how long it takes for an hourglass to disappear.
The hourglass emoji (⌛️) appears next to a friend’s name in the Chat section when your Snapstreak is about to expire. This usually happens after about 20 hours since you last sent a snap to that friend.
- For newly started Snapstreaks, the hourglass emoji appears around 4 hours before the streak is set to end. This acts as a reminder to quickly exchange snaps and maintain the streak.
- For longer Snapstreaks, the hourglass emoji appears approximately 7 to 8 hours before the streak ends, giving you ample time to send and receive snaps.
To keep your streak (🔥) going, make sure you and your friend respond quickly after seeing the hourglass emoji by sending a photo or video snap. If you don’t notice the hourglass emoji and fail to send snaps within 24 hours, the emoji will disappear, and your Snapstreak will end.
So, it’s always the best idea to send snaps promptly after seeing the hourglass emoji to maintain your Snapstreaks with friends.
Strategies To Maintain Snap Streaks
To remove the hourglass emoji (⌛️) from appearing on Snapchat, follow these tips that let you know how to maintain your Snapstreaks.
1. Send Snaps Regularly: Quickly and consistently send a snap (a selfie, a blank screen, or a photo from your Memories) to maintain your streak and digital relationship. This is quite useful to send a quick snap to a particular friend.
2. Send Snaps to Multiple Friends: Sending snaps to multiple friends at once helps prevent your streak from expiring.
3. Snap, Don’t Chat: Texting or sending stickers in Chat doesn’t count. You must send an actual snap (photo or video) to keep the streak alive.
4. Morning and Night Routine: A simple trick is to send a good morning or good night snap either before bed or upon waking up.
5. Set Reminders: Use alarms, reminder apps, calendar apps, or third-party apps on your phone to remind you about sending snaps daily.
6. Creative Snaps/Photography: Keep the conversation lively by sharing funny selfies, scenic views, or memes.
7. Use the “Shortcut” Feature: Create a shortcut in Snapchat and add the people with whom you have ongoing streaks. This allows you to send a snap to all of them at once without selecting individuals each time.
8. Remind Your Friend/Partner: If you see the hourglass emoji, remind your friend to send a snap. This can help save the streak before it disappears.
9. Remove the Hourglass: If you don’t care about the streak, you can remove the individual from your Friends list. Note that this will delete the conversation and remove the contact from your list.
10. Backup Plan: Have a backup plan for unforeseen events. Select a trusted friend, prepare backup snaps (drawings, selfies, or messages), and share your intentions or discuss strategies to save your streak.
11. Create Challenges: Set goals for maintaining the longest streak and reward those who achieve it to keep things interesting.
12. Snapstreak Reminders: Turn on Snapstreak Reminders on Snapchat+ users to get an alert an hour before the streak expires. This is particularly useful for busy individuals.
13. Restore Lost Streaks: If you miss the hourglass warning and your streak expires, you can use the “Restore” icon to recover it within 48 hours. This feature is available to all users.
14. Auto-Disappear: The Hourglass emoji disappears automatically if you fail to send a snap over the next 4 hours or so. However, the streak (🔥) also disappears if you are not snapping with someone for 24 hours.
Following these strategies will ensure your Snapstreaks remain active and avoid the hourglass emoji.
What To Do If You Lose Your Snapstreaks?
Losing your Snapstreak, whether due to a busy day or a glitch, can be frustrating. But don’t worry, here are some simple steps to recover and prevent future issues:
- Send a Snap Immediately: If your streak disappears, send a snap to your friend right away. Sometimes, this can fix glitches and restart the streak.
- Contact Snapchat Support: If sending a snap doesn’t work, reach out to Snapchat Support within the app. Explain the situation, and they can help resolve the issue. For this, log on to Snapchat and continue the process as mentioned in this picture.
- Check Your Friendship Status: Make sure you and your friend still follow each other on Snapchat. Sometimes, simply reconnecting can restore the streak.
- Don’t Stress: Remember, Snapstreaks are just virtual numbers. Even if you lose one, take a deep breath. You can always start a new streak.
Following these steps recover from losing your Snapstreak and continue enjoying your Snapchat experience stress-free.
How To Create A Snap Streak Shortcut?
Creating a Snapstreak shortcut is a lifesaver for protecting your streaks and avoiding the hourglass emoji. Instead of manually selecting each friend, shortcuts let you send snaps to your entire streak group with a single tap. This saves time, reduces the chance of forgetting someone, and can become a daily habit for keeping your streaks alive.
Follow these steps to create a shortcut for your Snapstreak…
Open the Snapchat app on your mobile phone to take your Snap.
Click on the “Send To” tab at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
In the next window, go to the search bar where it says Send To.
Click on the Create Shortcut option (+) that appears below the search bar.
After clicking on Create Shortcut, a new window will open.
Under the Choose Emoji section, Select the Contacts tab to add your Snap Streak friends by checking the circle next to their names.
Make sure to select your desired emoji for this Shortcut by tapping on “Choose Emoji” located at the top.
Click on the “Create Shortcut” tab at the bottom of your screen to save these changes.
Use this shortcut to send snaps to your friends and groups easily.
After taking a snap, look for the Shortcut Emoji you selected in your friends list under the Send To search bar.
Once you locate your shortcut, select the people you want to send snaps to.
Click on the Arrow at the bottom right of your screen to send your snaps.
You can create as many shortcuts as you like, making it easier to maintain your Snap Streaks.
FAQs:
Yes, both users involved in the streak can see the hourglass emoji in the chat section next to their friend’s name. It serves as a mutual reminder that the streak is about to end if snaps aren’t exchanged within 4 hours. This prompts both users to send a snap to maintain the streak.
If you and your friend exchange snaps regularly but still see the hourglass emoji, it might be a bug or temporary glitch. Try restarting the Snapchat app, check your internet connection, and contact Snapchat support for assistance, via the app or website. They can help resolve the issue, especially if it’s related to their server.
Yes, you can recover a lost Snapstreak, but there’s a time limit. Look for the 
icon that allows you to restore the Snapstreak and continue increasing the streak daily. If you don’t see this icon, it means the streak ended too long ago and can’t be restored.
Losing a Snapstreak can be frustrating, but there’s a way to get it back. Simply reach out to Snapchat support for assistance. Follow these steps:
* Google “Snapchat help” and select “My Snapstreak disappeared.”
* Choose “I lost my Snapstreak.”
* Fill out the form with details about your issue and submit it.
Snapchat’s customer service team will take it from there and help you restore your streak if the app is to blame.
Snapstreaks should technically end after 24 hours without exchanging snaps. However, some users report seeing the hourglass appear slightly after the 24-hour mark. Snapchat may provide a small window of flexibility, but it’s not guaranteed. Aim to send snaps within the 24-hour window to be safe.
Conclusion
So there you have it! The hourglass emoji on Snapchat is your friendly reminder to keep your Snapstreaks going. Understanding its purpose helps you maintain your streaks smoothly. With some planning and creativity, you can avoid seeing the hourglass and enjoy keeping your streaks alive. Remember, Snapstreaks are a fun way to stay connected but don’t stress if one disappears. Just get back to snapping and start a new one! Have a Happy Snapping!
