1. Activate cool features in your settings.
First, make sure you have an up-to-date version of Snapchat downloaded on your device. To download the latest version of the app, visit the Google Play or iTunes store.
Once the app is updated, open it up. Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of your feed, and then tap "Manage" under "Additional Services."
IMAGE: SCREENSHOT SNAPCHAT
In this section, you can enable bonus features such as filters, front-facing flash, replay and special text, and also choose the number of best friends you want displayed on your "Send To" screen.
2. Use special text.
Typing captions on top of snaps is great, but what if you want to overlay your snap with larger text and emoji? This is when the special text feature, an alternative caption style, comes in handy.
Tap the letter "T" next to the pencil icon in the top-right corner of your snap draft. The characters you type will now be magnified.
3. Draw with secret colors.
Doodling on your snap is one of the app's most popular features. We all know you can pick a color by sliding the rainbow color bar. But what you may not know is that you don't have to limit yourself to the color palette on the rainbow slider. Check out the next steps to find out how to draw with secret crayon colors.
Draw in the color white.
Draw with a white crayon by touching the rainbow color slider and dragging your finger to the top-left corner. Android users already have the white crayon built into their rainbow slider.
Draw in the color black.
Similarly, you can draw with a black crayon by touching the rainbow color slider and dragging your finger to the bottom. Android users already have the black crayon built into their rainbow slider.
Draw in hidden colors.
You’ll notice when you drag your finger from the rainbow slider to the left or to the bottom of the snap, you’ll be able to use a bunch of in-between colors that aren't available on the palette.
Draw with a transparent color (only on Android devices).
If you have an Android device, you're in luck. Snapchatters using Androids can draw with a see-through color. Press down on the rainbow slider until the full color palette appears, and then select the transparent color.
4. Add fun filters.
Snapchat's latest upgrade allows you to add Instagram-like filters, art and other data labels to your snap. Just swipe your finger left or right to preview each filter. Here's a rundown of all the filters offered.
Geolocation
Based on your location, you can overlay art and other labels on your snap. For example, if you're in New York City's Flatiron District, you can add art like the one below.
Time
Use the time filter to display what time you took your snap.
Temperature
If you want to display what the temperature was when you captured the snap, use this filter. You can tap the temperature to change it from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
Speed
This filter captures the speed at which you're moving when you take the snap. However, the feature can be a bit buggy, and doesn't always work.
Black and white, saturated and sepia filters
The old version of Snapchat used to have codes for three secret filters. But the latest version of Snapchat makes it easy to find them, and the codes don't work anymore. Continue to swipe your finger left or right to preview these filters.
5. Front-facing flash
Want to take a selfie but the lighting is too dark? No worries. Snapchat has a front-facing flash feature that will white out your screen, brightening your photo. Simply turn on the flash by tapping the lightning icon in the top-left corner.
6. Change rear-facing camera to front-facing camera
Here's a shortcut for those who love snapping selfies. Instead of tapping the camera icon in the top-right corner of the screen to switch the camera view, just tap the screen twice. It will automatically switch from the rear-facing camera to the front-facing camera, and vice versa.
7. Replay a snap.
The replay feature allows you to replay a snap that was sent to you within the past 24 hours. Keep in mind, however, that it will only allow you to replay the snap you last viewed. To replay, simply tap on the snap you want to view again, and a notification like the one below will pop up. Tap "Replay."
8. Tap to go through Stories.
Sometimes you may want to fast-forward through certain Stories. Instead of waiting for the next snap to appear in a Story, you can tap the screen (while pressing down to view the Story), and it will take you to the next snap.
9. Change the number of 'best friends' displayed.
By default, Snapchat displays three friends you most interact with the most on the "Send To" screen. According to Snapchat, these friends are selected automatically by the app's friendship algorithm.
If you want to change the number of friends shown, go to your settings (see the first step on this list). Tap on "# of Best Friends," and you can choose to display three, five or seven friends.
