What Does A Purple Snap Mean? Purple Arrows & Icons

One of the cool things about Snapchat is its color-coded system that tells you what type of message you’ve received without even opening it.

When you get a snap, you’ll see different colors and shapes that give you a hint about what’s inside. For example, a red square means you’ve got a photo without sound, and a blue square means there’s a chat message waiting for you. These simple signals make using Snapchat both easy and fast.

Now, have you ever noticed a purple square or arrow when you get or send a snap? If you’re scratching your head wondering what that’s all about, you’re not alone. A lot of people are curious about what these different colors mean, and why Snapchat chose to use them.

Understanding these color codes is like learning a secret language. Once you know what they mean, you can tell a lot about your messages at just a glance. It’s handy, especially when you’re busy and just want to quickly check your messages.

Meaning of Purple Snap – Quick Answer

A purple snap on Snapchat indicates that the snap contains audio. When you send a video snap, and it appears with a purple icon to your friend, it signifies that there’s sound in the snap. Similarly, if you receive a snap and see a purple icon, it means that when you open it, you can expect to hear sound along with the video. Details below.

There are seven different purple icons used on Snapchat – purple solid square, purple empty square, purple solid arrow, purple empty arrow, purple double arrows, purple replay icon and purple ring on Stories. Detailed explanation of each of these icons is given in the following sections.

What Does a Purple Snap Mean?

When you see a purple snap, that’s Snapchat’s way of telling you there’s something more lively than just a picture. A purple snap is Snapchat’s fun method of letting you know that someone has sent you a video with sound. It’s like a little alert that says, “Hey, put on your headphones, there’s audio in this one!”

You might see a purple square next to a friend’s name or a purple arrow pointing to it. These icons are not just there to look pretty; they’re actually full of info.

Here’s a list of all the purple icons you might come across on Snapchat and what each one means:

Purple icons on Snapchat
  1. Purple Solid Square: You’ve received a new video Snap that includes sound. It’s waiting for you to open it.
  2. Purple Solid Arrow: You’ve sent a video Snap with sound to a friend, and they haven’t opened it yet.
  3. Purple Empty Square: Your friend has opened the video Snap you sent them with sound.
  4. Purple Empty Arrow: You’ve sent a video Snap with sound, and it’s been viewed by your friend.
  5. Purple Double Arrows Overlapping: Someone has taken a screenshot of your video Snap with sound.
  6. Purple Replay Icon: It appears next to your friend’s name if they replayed a video Snap you sent them.
  7. Purple Ring Around a Profile Picture: When you see a purple ring around a friend’s profile picture or on the Stories section, it means there is a new video story from them that you haven’t watched yet. The purple color signifies that the story contains at least one video snap with sound. Once you view the story, the purple ring disappears.

Snapchat didn’t just pick the color purple out of a hat. In Snapchat’s design language, purple is the go-to color for anything with audio. This makes sense because purple is often associated with creativity and magic, and what’s more magical than a video that can make you feel like you’re right there with your friend?

Knowing what these purple icons mean can really make a difference. Imagine you’re in a quiet place like a library or a quiet café, and you see a purple square pop up. You’ll know right away that now might not be the best time to open that snap unless you’ve got headphones.

Snapchat has really thought about making things simpler with these colors, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll be a Snapchat pro in no time.

infographic explanation of purple icons on snapchat
Infographic: meaning of all purple icons on Snapchat

Understanding Snapchat’s Color Codes

Snapchat uses a few main colors for their icons, and each one has a specific meaning. This is pretty handy for figuring out what type of message you’ve received or sent without even opening it.

  • Red: Red is for no-audio snaps. If you get a red square or arrow, it means someone has sent you a snap without sound, or you’ve sent one to them.
  • Purple: Purple is for snaps that have audio, like a video. Seeing a purple icon means there’s sound in the snap you got or sent.
  • Blue: Blue stands for chat messages. If you see a blue icon, it means someone has sent you a chat, or you have one waiting to be read.

Solid and Empty Icons

Now, you might notice that these colors come in two versions: solid and empty.

  • Solid Red Arrow: You’ve sent a snap without sound.
  • Empty Red Arrow: Your friend has seen the snap you sent.
  • Solid Purple Arrow: You’ve sent a snap with sound.
  • Empty Purple Arrow: Your friend has watched the video you sent.
  • Solid Blue Arrow: You’ve sent a chat.
  • Empty Blue Arrow: Your friend has opened the chat.

Icons for Viewing and Screenshots

Lastly, there are icons that tell you if someone has replayed or taken a screenshot of your snap.

  • Replay Icon: This shows up when someone replays your snap.
  • Two Overlapping Arrows with a Flash: This means someone took a screenshot of your snap.

Snapchat’s color system is all about making it easy to know what’s up at a glance. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a breeze to use. Read more about all the Snapchat icons and emojis in this post.

FAQs about Purple Icons on Snapchat

What does a purple arrow mean on Snapchat?

A purple arrow on Snapchat indicates that you have sent a video snap with audio. If the arrow is solid, it means the snap has not been viewed yet. If it’s an empty arrow, the recipient has already seen it.

What does a solid purple square mean?

A solid purple square on your Snapchat indicates that you have received a video snap with audio. It means the snap is still unopened and waiting for you to view it.

What does a purple circle mean on Snapchat?

A purple circle, often referred to as a purple ring, appears around a friend’s profile picture to indicate they have published a Story that includes a video with audio. It signifies that you can watch their Story containing video clips.

Does a purple icon always mean there is sound?

Yes, in the context of snaps and Stories, a purple icon suggests that the snap or Story contains audio. If you’re seeing a purple notification, be prepared for sound.

Why is there a purple lock icon on some Snapchat stories?

The purple lock icon appears on Snapchat Stories that are private or shared with a limited audience, such as a Custom Story or a Private Story. Only the people allowed by the creator can view these Stories.

What do purple chat messages mean?

Purple chat messages are less common, as chat messages are typically blue. If you encounter any purple in your chat, it might be a glitch, or it could be a special kind of notification or event in the chat, such as a Snapstreak with videos.

What does it mean if the purple icon doesn’t go away after I view the snap?

If the purple icon remains even after you’ve viewed the snap, there might be an issue with the app refreshing. Try closing and reopening the app. If the issue persists, check for updates or contact Snapchat support.

Can the color of the icon change from purple to another color?

No, once a snap is sent with a specific color code, it stays that way. A purple snap will not change to red or blue. The color is determined by whether there’s audio (purple) or not (red) or if it’s a chat message (blue).

What should I do if I can’t see the video after tapping on a purple icon?

If you tap on a purple icon and the video doesn’t play, ensure your device’s internet connection is stable. If it is, try restarting the app or your device.

Can I change the color of the icons on Snapchat?

No, Snapchat does not allow you to change the color of the icons. These are set by the app to keep the user interface consistent and understandable for everyone.

Joyful Thiek
Joyful Thiek

Joyful Thiek is a metals engineer who quit his job for the love of social media, SEO and God. He started SnappTips in 2014 as a blog that provides tips and how-to guides on mobile apps. Over the years, the blog has expanded to cover various other topics.

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