How to Half Swipe on Snapchat | Peek a Peek Feature

If you’ve ever wanted to read a Snapchat message without letting the sender know, the half swipe trick is your go-to move. This neat Snapchat feature allows you to sneak a peek at a message without marking it as “read.” In this guide, I’ll explain exactly what the half swipe is, how it works on both Android and iOS, and tips to avoid accidentally opening a chat while half-swiping. Let’s get started!

How Does the Half Swipe Work on Snapchat?

The half swipe on Snapchat is an unofficial trick that lets you view messages without fully opening the chat, allowing you to see what’s inside without notifying the sender. This feature is helpful when you’re not ready to reply but want to see the content of the message. When done correctly, Snapchat won’t send a “read” notification, keeping your curiosity hidden.

The method works for both Android and iOS devices, but keep in mind that it only applies to text messages, not Snaps like images or videos. Snapchat Plus users, however, have an advantage with their Peek a Peek feature, which might let them know you’ve half-swiped on their messages.

Can You Use Half Swipe on Snaps and Chats?

Half-swiping is exclusive to text chats on Snapchat. Unfortunately, this trick won’t work for Snaps such as images or videos. If you attempt to half-swipe a Snap, Snapchat will mark it as opened, and the sender will be notified. Stick to using the half swipe on chats to avoid being detected.

How to do a Half Swipe on Snapchat for Android and iOS

If you’re ready to try out the half swipe, here’s a step-by-step guide for both Android and iOS users.

Step 1 Open Snapchat: Launch the Snapchat app on your device. Make sure you’re on the home screen and not already in a conversation, as the goal is to view the message without marking it as “read.”

Step 2 Navigate to the Chat Tab: Swipe right or tap on the Chat tab, which you’ll find at the bottom of the screen. This will open your friends’ list, showing all the recent conversations and unread messages.

Step 3 Press and Hold the Profile Icon: Locate the chat where you want to read the message. Instead of tapping the chat, gently place your finger on the sender’s profile icon or Bitmoji without releasing. This action is crucial to performing the half swipe.

Step 4 Slowly Swipe Right: While holding down on the profile icon, slowly drag your finger to the right, just enough to see the message but not so much that the chat fully opens. You’ll be able to read the contents of the message without notifying the sender.

Step 5 Swipe Left to Close: Once you’ve read the message, gently swipe back to the left to return to your chat screen. Make sure you don’t let go of the icon until the chat log is completely closed. If done correctly, the message will remain unread, and the sender won’t be notified.

How to Avoid Accidentally Opening a Chat with Half Swipe?

Accidentally opening a chat is every half-swipe user’s nightmare. To avoid this, be sure to keep a steady hand while performing the action. Don’t swipe too far to the right—only enough to see the text messages. If you’re nervous about accidentally marking a chat as read, practice on chats where you don’t mind being detected. Also, remember that Snapchat Plus users with the Peek a Peek feature can still catch you in the act, so use caution when half-swiping with those users.

Peek a Peek Feature in Snapchat Plus | Can Snapchat Plus Users See Half Swipes?

The Peek a Peek feature is exclusive to Snapchat Plus subscribers, offering a bit more transparency when it comes to message interactions. When activated, it allows users to see if someone has tried to half swipe on their chat. Normally, a half swipe lets you read messages without notifying the sender, but Snapchat Plus users with Peek a Peek enabled will see an eyes emoji 👀 next to the chat, indicating that you’ve sneaked a peek at their message.

While half-swiping remains a sneaky way to read messages unnoticed, it doesn’t work as well when the person you’re chatting with has Snapchat Plus. So, be cautious when using this trick with Snapchat Plus subscribers.

Can You Half Swipe in Group Chats?

Yes, you can half swipe in group chats on Snapchat. The process is the same as with individual chats. Simply press and hold the profile icon of the person whose message you want to read in the group chat, and swipe to the right to see the message.

However, remember that while you can half swipe in group chats, you still won’t be able to half swipe on Snaps (like images or videos) in the chat. The trick only works for text messages, so if someone sends a Snap in the group, you’ll have to open it normally. Also, keep in mind that Snapchat Plus users in the group can still spot your half-swipe if they have Peek a Peek enabled.

How to Read Messages Secretly Without Half Swiping?

While the half-swipe trick is great, it’s not the only way to read messages without letting the sender know. Here are a few more ways to view messages secretly:

• Airplane Mode Method: Turn on Airplane Mode before opening the Snapchat app. This disconnects your phone from the internet, allowing you to read the message without notifying the sender. Once you’ve read the message, close the app, and disable Airplane Mode after Snapchat has fully closed.
• Notification Previews: If your notifications are enabled, you can often read a portion of a Snapchat message without even opening the app. This only works for short text messages, though, and doesn’t apply to longer chats or Snaps.
• Third-Party Apps: While some third-party apps claim to allow users to read Snapchat messages secretly, it’s not advisable to use them due to privacy risks and potential violations of Snapchat’s terms of service.

How Does the New Chat Status Work with Half Swipe?

When you half swipe on Snapchat, the New Chat status is what lets you know if the message remains unread from the sender’s perspective. After half-swiping, if you return to the Chat tab, you’ll see that the New Chat label is still present beside the message. This means that even though you’ve read the contents of the chat, the sender hasn’t been notified, and the message remains officially unread.

However, if you accidentally open the chat fully or let go of the screen too early, the New Chat status will disappear, and Snapchat will notify the sender that their message has been read. Practicing the half-swipe technique is important to keep this status intact, ensuring you can view messages without the sender being alerted.