What Does Pending Mean on Snapchat? (and How to Fix It) (2024)

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This article explains what it means when a Snapchat message says "pending," what causes this message to appear, and how to work around the error to get the app working properly.

What Does 'Pending' Mean on Snapchat?

A Snapchat pending message is a type of status or error notification within Snapchat iOS and Android apps. A Snapchat "pending" label usually appears under a friend’s name in the Chat tab, under a friend’s name on their profile, and within a DM or conversation.

So, why does it say "pending" on Snapchat? Because Snapchat hasn't been able to send it.

Unlike a generic error message, though, a Snapchat pending warning also means that the app will continue to attempt sending until it’s either received or you choose to cancel the entire process manually.

What Causes a Pending Error

This error is almost always caused by one of the following:

• The person hasn’t approved your friend request. Snapchat users must confirm a friend request before Snapchat can send a message to them.
• The person has unfriended you. While you may have been Snapchat friends in the past, the user may have decided to trim their friend list.
• Your friend blocked you. Snapchat won’t tell you if someone has blocked you, so this could be the reason for the pending message. Usually, someone who blocks you on Snapchat will be completely hidden from you, however.
• Your smartphone or tablet is not online. Snapchat won’t work while offline and will display a “Waiting to send” pending message until your smart device reconnects to a cellular or Wi-Fi network.
• Your Snapchat account is restricted. If you’ve harassed other users or violated Snapchat policy, your app’s functionality may be restricted.
• A random Snapchat app glitch. The app could be experiencing a bug or technical issue.
• Snapchat could be down. The entire Snapchat service could be temporarily down.

What to Do With a Snapchat Pending Message

If you see a Snapchat pending message error, there are a couple of things you to try to resolve the problem:

1. Check your cellular and internet connections. Ensure that your iPhone or Android smartphone has a solid mobile signal and that the connected Wi-Fi is working if using a tablet. If you suspect that the Wi-Fi has stopped working correctly, turn off Wi-Fi and use your cellular network if available.

2. Try sending a Snapchat message to another friend. It's is the easiest way to check if the problem is tech-related or to do with a particular Snapchat friend who may have unfriended or blocked you.

3. Contact your friend via another messaging app. If you’re tired of waiting for the contact to approve your Snapchat friend request, you can send them a DM on X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, Discord, Telegram, Vero, or some other messaging app and give them a nudge. It's best to wait at least 24 hours before doing so, though.

4. Move on with grace. If someone unfriended or blocked you, the best thing to do is move on, as Snapchat might interpret further communication attempts as harassment or bullying.

5. Restart your device. If all of your messages are showing a pending error, the Snapchat app could be glitching. A basic restart of your iPhone or Android smart device can often fix problems such as this.

6. Check if Snapchat’s down. There are several ways to see if the entire Snapchat service has gone offline.