How to Half Swipe on Snapchat Without Opening Messages

Half swiping on Snapchat lets users preview a message without sending a read receipt. It is perfect for moments when you're not ready to reply or want to check a chat discreetly. You might be avoiding awkward conversations or curious about what someone said. Maybe you’re just managing social energy, this trick offers valuable privacy. There is not officially support to half swipe Snapchat posts, so it might break with future updates. Still, it remains a clever hack used by many. We explore how to half swipe on Snapchat in this guide.

When is half swiping helpful?

• When you don’t want to reply right away

• If you're trying to avoid someone without blocking them

• When you want to check the tone of a message before responding

• To discreetly monitor chats during a conflict or tense conversation

• When previewing a message during a busy day without being pulled into a full conversation (or being asked why you didn’t reply straight away)

The half swipe feature allows you to read the start of a chat without triggering the “opened” notification. Unlike Snaps (photos/short videos), this works only for text-based messages. Snapchat users like this trick because it lets them check in without alerting the sender, giving them more control over how and when to engage.

Step 1: Open Snapchat and go to chats

Launch the Snapchat app and swipe left to access the chat screen. This is where all your message threads live. Make sure you’re on the latest version of the app to avoid glitches or unexpected UI changes.

Step 2: Select the conversation

Find the user whose message you want to preview. Hover your thumb on their Bitmoji or profile icon on the left side of their chat. Don’t tap. Just get ready to swipe while maintaining contact with the screen.

Step 3: Swipe without lifting your finger

Gently swipe to the right while holding your finger on the chat. Don’t swipe too far. To use the half swipe feature, you should do just enough to peek into the message window. You should see a sliver of the conversation. Do not lift your finger, or the chat may fully open and register as read.

Step 4: Read and swipe back to the left

After getting a glimpse of the message, carefully swipe back to the left while still holding your finger down. This ensures that the chat doesn’t open completely. Release your finger only once the conversation is back in its original position.

Step 5: Double-check that the message remains unread

Exit the chat and confirm that the message still shows as New Chat or has a blue unread icon. If the message is no longer marked as unread, you may have swiped too far or lifted your finger too soon.

Swiping too far right

If you swipe too far, Snapchat will register the message as opened, revealing that you’ve read it. This is the opposite of what most users want.

Releasing before swiping back

Lifting your finger too early confirms the read status, even if you were careful with the swipe. It is crucial to get the timing right.

Not practicing half swiping

It takes a few tries to get the motion right. If you don’t practice it beforehand, you’re more likely to make a mistake that alerts the sender.

Accidentally opened a message? Here’s what to do

If you accidentally open a message, try responding naturally or use humor to deflect any awkwardness – it may be the case that you need to respond earlier. Unfortunately, there’s no way to undo the read status on Snapchat. You can reduce future errors by practicing the technique with trusted friends.

Half swipe not working on your phone? 

Check for app updates, restart your phone, or reinstall Snapchat if the half swipe isn’t behaving as expected. Some Android devices have touch sensitivity issues that interfere with swiping, and it is fair to say that all phones are a little different. If you’re on an iPhone, enabling Reachability (in Accessibility settings) can help improve control.

Yes. It works for now. The half swipe still works on text chats, but Snapchat Plus users with the Peek a Peek feature can detect when someone half swipes their message. Since this isn’t an official Snapchat feature, it may be removed in future updates.

Half swiping isn’t officially endorsed by Snapchat. As the platform evolves, features like Peek a Peek are likely Snapchat's way of curbing message privacy tricks. With user experience and monetization in mind, Snapchat could disable the gesture in future updates and especially if more Plus-exclusive features are rolled out.

This is considered as something of a “freemium” feature. There is also the fact that some users may not be pleased that others can trick the system like this and not appear like they have seen the message when they really have.

Use chats with trusted friends or even test accounts to refine your technique. Focus on controlling your finger movement and don’t rush. Try half swiping Snapchat messages at different speeds to learn what works best for your device. The more you practice, the less likely you’ll make a slip-up.

iPhone users: Enable "Reachability mode"

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Reachability and enable it. This lowers the screen, making it easier to perform delicate swipes without stretching your thumb too far and to perform more delicate movements.

Android users: Adjust touch sensitivity

In Settings > Display or Touch Sensitivity (varies by device), increase screen responsiveness. A more sensitive screen can help register subtle swipe gestures accurately.

Mastering the half swipe on Snapchat gives you more control over your social interactions. That means no more pressure to respond immediately or engage when you’re not ready. While it’s a powerful trick, use it wisely and keep an eye on Snapchat updates. If you’ve had success (or otherwise!) with the half swipe, share your experience and help others learn, too.