How to Get a Public Profile on Snapchat (Personal & Business Accounts)

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Plus, we explain what Snapchat public profiles are for

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: March 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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Public Personal Profile

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Public Business Profile

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Why can't I make a public Snapchat profile?

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What is a Snapchat public profile?

Have you ever wondered how other Snapchatters managed to get a public profile? If so, you'll be happy to know that Snapchat public profiles are free and Snapchat makes one for you automatically when you create an account. If you're interested in a business public profile, you'll have to make one yourself, but these profiles are also, thankfully, free—and super easy to set up. Keep reading to learn more.

Quick Steps

Sign up or log in to Snapchat.
Open your profile.
Scroll down and tap My Public Profile.
Edit your public profile info, picture, and cover image.
Start posting content to your public profile.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Make a Public Profile

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1
Create a Snapchat account. If you don't already have a Snapchat account, create one. According to Snapchat, Snapchat users who are over 16 in most countries are given a public profile for free when they create an account.^{[1]
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- If you already have a Snapchat account, you can skip this step. Ensure your Snapchat app is up to date before continuing.
You can do this by tapping the yellow icon of a head in the upper-left corner of the main Snapchat screen.

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This option is towards the bottom of the screen, so you'll need to scroll a bit to find it.
The first time you access your public profile, Snapchat will explain what public profiles are. Read through this information thoroughly, and tap the Learn more about Public Profiles here link at the bottom of the page for more info.
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Edit your public profile. To do this, tap the pencil button at the top of the screen to edit your profile picture and bio. You can also tap the photo icon at the top of the screen to add a cover image.
- You can now start posting stories and spotlights to your public profile.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Make a Public Business Profile

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Log in to the Snapchat Ads Manager. You must have a Snapchat business account to create a public business profile. If you don't already have a Snapchat business account, click the Sign up button on the Ads Manager login page.
Public profiles for businesses are free, and are required for advertising on Snapchat.^{[2]
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Click Create profile. If you already have a Snapchat business account, click I already have a Snapchat account. When prompted, log in with your business account for Snapchat.
- If you need to create an account for your business, you can instead click Create a Snapchat account and follow the on-screen instructions to do so.
This includes a bio of the business, your business category, where the business is located, and any contact information for the business.
You can now start posting content to your business's public Snapchat profile.

Section 3 of 4:

Why can't I make a public Snapchat profile?

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1
Snapchat will create a public personal profile for you. Public profiles are created for Snapchat users who are 16 and older, though there are some differences between profiles for 16 and 17-year-olds and profiles for users who are 18+:
- If you are 16 or 17, your public profile is limited with high privacy settings. In this case, you can only interact with friends and contacts through your public page.^{[3]
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- For users aged 18 and older, these restrictions are removed.
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You must be at least 18 to make a public business profile. Unlike public personal profiles, Snapchat will not automatically make you a public business profile. You must be at least 18 to start a public business profile.^{[4]
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Section 4 of 4:

What is a Snapchat public profile?

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There are two types of public Snapchat profiles. All regular Snapchat users have a public profile, and businesses can create a public profile for their business account.^{[5]
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Research source} Both types are free.
- For regular Snapchatters, Snapchat creates a public profile for them when they create an account, as long as they're 16 or older and public profiles are available in their region.
  - A regular public profile lets Snapchatters show off their creativity and allows them to start growing an audience. It's a great way for artists, influencers, or other individuals without a business to connect with their audience on another social platform.
- Snapchat doesn't automatically create a public profile for business accounts. Someone at the business must create a public profile for the business account via the Snapchat Ads Manager.
  - A business public profile allows businesses to connect with their customers. Businesses can post content about their business to their page, and they can also use the public profile to start advertising on Snapchat. Snapchat even allows businesses to set up a storefront on their public profile so customers can buy from them directly in the app.