Snapchat is one of the most popular communication apps around the globe, especially among younger users. One of its popular features is the ability to “pin” your favorite friends to the top of your chat feed so they’re easily accessible. However, Snapchat officially allows only up to 3 people to be pinned at a time — a limit that many users find quite restrictive. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what the pinning feature is, why the limit exists, and how you might pin more than 3 people using tested workarounds.
TL;DR: Snapchat only allows up to three pinned conversations by default. This limitation is platform-wide and affects all iOS users, with Android yet to receive the feature. However, users have discovered workarounds to increase this limitation using alternative account setups or app modifications. Be mindful of the risks if you attempt these methods.
Understanding the Pin Feature on Snapchat
The pin feature on Snapchat is designed to help users stay connected with their closest contacts by keeping certain chats easily accessible. When you pin someone on Snapchat, their conversation is moved to the top of the chat list, making it easier to find and interact with them regularly. This feature is particularly useful for people who have tens or even hundreds of conversations going on simultaneously.
Here’s what happens when you pin someone:
- Their conversation moves to the top of your chat list.
- A push pin icon appears next to their name.
- You still receive messages in real-time, but their chat doesn’t get buried.
The option to pin is available only on the iOS version of Snapchat at the time of writing. Android users currently do not have access to this feature.
Why Is There a Limit of 3 Pins?
Snapchat has placed a hard limit of three pins per account, presumably to prevent users from overusing the feature and cluttering their interface. From a design perspective, the app aims to maintain a minimalist and clean layout, and allowing too many pins would go against that philosophy. Additionally, three pins are meant to encourage users to choose their most crucial contacts, enhancing the value of the feature by limiting quantity.
Official Method: How to Pin Someone on Snapchat
To better understand how to surpass the limit, you should first know how the standard pin feature works:
- Open Snapchat and go to the Chat screen.
- Press and hold on a friend’s chat.
- Tap “Chat Settings”.
- Select “Pin Conversation”.
If you already have 3 people pinned, you’ll get a message indicating that you must unpin someone before pinning a new contact.
Workarounds to Pin More Than 3 People
While Snapchat does not officially support pinning more than three people, users who are tech-savvy or especially motivated might try one of the following workarounds. Please note that some of these methods come with risks, including breaching Snapchat’s terms of service. Proceed responsibly.
1. Use Multiple Snapchat Accounts
This method involves setting up an additional Snapchat account and pinning three different people in each. While this won’t give you six pins in a single account, it allows for a practical separation — for example, you can use one account for personal friends and the other for work contacts.
Pros:
- No violations of Snapchat’s terms of service.
Cons:
- You need to frequently switch between accounts.
- Message sync can be slow across devices.
2. Jailbreaking or Rooting the Device
Warning: Jailbreaking (iOS) or rooting (Android) a device unlocks system-level access that allows for app modification, including the extension of pin limits. In theory, a tweaked or modded version of Snapchat can remove the pinning limitation.
However, this method is highly discouraged for several reasons:
- It voids your device warranty.
- It can expose your device to security vulnerabilities.
- Most importantly, Snapchat can ban your account for violating its policies.
In essence, while technically possible, this method is not recommended for most users.
3. Using Modified Snapchat APKs (Android Only)
An alternate route for Android users is diving into modified APKs, such as “Snapchat++” or other custom builds that allegedly remove limitations like the three-pin cap. These modified versions often appear in unofficial app stores or developer forums.
Risk Factors:
- May contain malware or spyware.
- Unstable build quality can result in app crashes or data loss.
- Immediate ban risk from Snapchat servers.
This route is suitable only for experienced users who understand the risks and are able to secure their devices properly.
4. Priority Notification Workaround (Non-Pinning Alternative)
If extending your pin list isn’t viable, you may opt for prioritizing conversations in other ways. One alternative is to enable priority notifications for specific contacts. While this won’t pin them visually, their notifications will stand out, effectively giving them greater visibility.
Steps:
- Open the chat with a friend.
- Tap their profile icon to open their settings.
- Tap “Message Notifications” and choose “All Messages” or “Alert Me”.
This creates a pseudo-pin effect without modifying the app itself.
Tips for Staying Organized with Limited Pins
If you decide to stick with the three-pin limit but still want to maintain a sense of order in your chats, here are a few tips that can help:
- Rotate Pins Weekly: Change the people you’ve pinned depending on your current communication needs.
- Use Emojis or Bitmoji Tags: Rename your contacts to include emojis or visual markers, helping you spot them in the list.
- Archive or Mute Inactive Chats: Reduce clutter by hiding inactive chats temporarily without deleting them.
These simple hacks won’t increase your pin allotment but can drastically improve your daily Snapchat workflow.
Future Possibilities: Will Snapchat Allow More Pins?
There is always a chance that Snapchat could increase the pin limit in future updates, especially as user feedback grows louder. Many users have submitted feature requests directly through the app, and the company has a history of evolving features based on user demand.
If you want to push for a change:
- Open Snapchat and go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap “I Have a Suggestion”.
- Send feedback requesting an increase to the current pin limitation.
Conclusion
While the current version of Snapchat enforces a strict limit of three pinned conversations, users have found both creative and risky ways to work around it. From using multiple accounts to exploring app modifications, the community shows a clear need for expanded functionality. Until Snapchat decides to officially support more pins, your best bet is to manage your contacts strategically, rotate your pins regularly, and make use of notification customizations to stay on top of your most important conversations.
As always, remember to prioritize security, data privacy, and respect the platform’s terms of service whenever experimenting with third-party solutions.