What do the hourglass and flame mean on Snapchat?

16 Sep, 2022

Over the years, Snapchat has become a well-known social media app with unique & new features. The Snapchat hourglass is one of them. But, what does the hourglass mean on Snapchat?

One of the app's main features in recent time is that it displays emojis in your friends list next to the friends name. These emojis represent different states of your friendship on Snapchat. Here, the hourglass meaning there is a regular activity between you and your close friend.

Did you know, there are also yellow, red, and pink hearts in Snapchat?

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But today, we will discuss the Snapchat hourglass emoji ⌛. The hourglass (sometimes also called sand glass or egg timer emoji) only appears when your Snapstreak with your best friend is about to end.

What does the hourglass ⌛ mean on Snapchat?

Snapchat "Hourglass"-emoji (also called sand glass)

In Short: What does the hourglass mean on Snapchat?

The hourglass emoji on Snapchat appears more like a "warning". It is a way Snapchat tells that your streak with a friend is about to end. If you want to keep your streak going, Snap them and ask to Snap back.

It appears besides your friend's name when you have less time left to save your Snapstreak with them.

The hourglass promotes interaction between people. Also, it keeps track of various relationships you have with your Snapchat friends.

When you exchange snaps for 3 days straight with another user, you will start a Snapstreak.

And when you establish a Snapstreak, you will notice a fire emoji next to your username.

But, there is a rule to maintain your Snapstreak. You and your friend need to send snaps to each other at least once every 24 hours.

Also interesting: Now I know how to take a screenshot of a Snap without being caught 😎️

If one of you hasn't sent a snap in the given time, Snapchat will display the hourglass emoji. The hourglass appears after the 20th hour since your last snap.

The hourglass emoji gives you time to surprise your friend with a video snap and maintain the streak 💪️

How to get rid of the hourglass emoji on Snapchat?

When you see the hourglass emoji on Snapchat, there is no need to worry about it. You can get rid of it quickly. All you have to do is to exchange snaps with your best friends.

When you have finished sending the snap, it will automatically disappear. The hourglass is a reminder to make sure you have exchanged snaps with your friend.

I have already sent a snap; why is the hourglass still there?

Well, if that's the case, then the problem is not at your end.

Your Snapstreak only continues if both of you send at least one snap in 24 hours. So if you have already sent one, then reach out to your friend and ask them to send you a snap so that the hourglass disappears.

But if both of you have sent each other snaps and the hourglass is still there, then it could be an app-related issue. Give Snapchat a little time to update your emojis. Also, clear the cache as it can be a cache issue as well.

Can both see the hourglass emoji?

Yes, both users can see the hourglass emoji as a reminder to save your Snapchat streak.

What is a Snapstreak?

A Snapstreak begins when you exchange Snaps with another user at least once per day, for three days in a row. To keep the streak going, you'll have to exchange photos every 24 hours.

This is a great method to entice users to return to the app on a frequent basis. A number will appear next to the fire emoji, indicating the number of days your streak has lasted.

The Snapstreak will stop and the emoji will vanish if you don't send snaps for 24 hours, and the streak will expire if you haven't sent any snaps in at least two days.

How do I maintain a Snapstreak?

As mentioned, your streak indicates how long you have regular interacted with another user. Both pictures and video count toward your Snapstreak. For example simple text, chatting and voice messages don't count for streaks. It has to be a proper Snap, otherwise it won't affect the hourglass emoji.

How long does the hourglass last before the Snapstreak ends?

The hourglass lasts for 4 hours on a streaks. It disappears when the Snapstreak ends.

What does the "Fire"-emoji mean on Snapchat?

The Snapchat "Fire"-emoji showing in the app

If you exchange snaps to your friend every day for three consecutive days, a fire emoji appears next to your name. Each video counts, but stories aren't considered.

The number beside the emoji shows the number of days you have maintained a streak with your friend.

What is a 100 icon next to a Snapstreak?

Snapchat will also award you with an 💯 emoji to celebrates your 100-day streak of snaps with the user. It appears next to a user's username when you've shared 100 snaps with someone in 100 days.

It will automatically be removed on the 101st day - regardless of whether to continue the streak.

Final Thoughts

With the hourglass, Snapchat reminds you to keep the communication with your friends going. This makes sure you aren't losing your streak with your friends.