How Do You Do the Tap to Open Snapchat Prank?

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Meme expert Tobi Nwodo shares how to pull this Snapchat prank on your friends

Co-authored by Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: April 6, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Doing the Prank
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• Prank Examples
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• Why People Do It
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• Other Snapchat Pranks
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

There are plenty of different types of pranks you can pull online, but none are as classic as the Tap to Open Snapchat prank. This prank involves sending a message that looks like a Snap in order to trick your friends, and we partnered with a meme expert to help us explain everything you need to know about it. Read on to learn how to do the Tap to Open Snapchat prank, see examples of the prank in action, learn about other Snapchat pranks, and more!

Doing the Tap to Open Snapchat Prank

Meme expert Tobi Nwodo says that there are two ways to do the “Tap to Open” Snapchat prank. Either download the “Tap to Load” image online, then send it to the recipient, or follow these steps:

1. Type “🟥 Tap to Open” or “🟥 Tap to Load.”
2. Tell the person that the next Snap is going to be urgent.
3. Send the text you made in step 1.
4. Watch them save and unsave the chat as they try to open the Snap.
5. Get your laughs in, then let them know it was a prank.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

How to Do the Tap to Open Snapchat Prank

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1. 
   1
   Type “🟥 Tap to Open” and send it in the chat. Nwodo says that the “Tap to Load” (or “Tap to Open”) Snapchat prank is “where you send a photo with the text “Tap to load” on it.” This makes the recipient tap on the image to load it—but when they do, there’s nothing there.

   • Nwodo says you can send either a 🟥 (red square) or 🟪 (purple square) emoji. These resemble the same squares that are sent when you send someone a Snap, and the “Tap to Open” text is similar to the text you’d see next to that Snap.
   • Tap to Load Variation: Nwodo says you can also download a photo that says “Tap to Load.” It’ll make the other person think the photo is still loading (when it’s actually a photo that says “Tap to Load”).
   • To really confuse the person you’re trying to prank, send multiple “🟥 Tap to Open” chats.
   • To be more authentic, change the text to “🟥 Tap to view,” as it’s what Snapchat uses for photos and videos. Size the message up using the up arrow on the right side of the text, too!

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Tobi Nwodo, aka Hyperstrides, is an influencer and content creator with over 600,000 followers across YouTube and TikTok. His videos usually cover topics like internet culture, memes, trends, and slang.
2. 
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   Tell the person you’re pranking that the Snap is urgent. This will make it so they keep trying to tap on the chat to open it, thinking that it’s an urgent photo or message. On your end, you’ll see them saving and unsaving the same chat over and over, prompting laughs and a hilarious moment.
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   Give it a few minutes, then let them know that it’s a prank. After you’ve gotten your laughs in, tell the person you’re pranking that it’s not a real Snap if they haven’t already caught on. This will ease any tensions and let them know that it was a joke. They may be a little annoyed, but they’ll likely come around in no time!
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Section 2 of 4:

Examples of the Tap to Open Snapchat Prank

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1. 
   Plenty of TikTokers have pulled this prank on their friends. This prank is a classic that’s been around for as long as Snapchat has, so it’s no wonder that teenagers and young adults have been pulling it on TikTok. From girls in their bedrooms to dudes in their dorms, this prank has been seen all over social media.

   • On October 7, 2021, TikToker @becca.lynn01 posted a video of her pulling this prank on her husband, showing how far back it goes.
   • On January 14, 2026, @_alexandra_felix_ posted a video of her pulling the prank on her best friend.
   • On April 8, 2025, @austinisfrostin posted a TikTok of all the people they pulled the prank on, except they used a photo instead of typing the text.
   • On April 1, 2022, @shyann.pessant posted a video of her pulling the prank on a guy by sending 8 “🟥Tap to view” messages!

Section 3 of 4:

Why do people do the “Tap to Open” Snapchat prank?

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1. 
   1
   People do the “Tap to Open” prank to joke around with their friends. This fun prank has been around since the early days of Snapchat, with many users sending the message “🟥Tap to Open” to trick friends into thinking they sent an exciting, juicy Snap and get quick laughs. It’s an easy prank that anyone can pull off, which is why so many gravitate to it.
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   Girls also do the “Tap to Open” prank to troll guys asking for nudes. Some girls troll guys who harass them for nude photos by making them think they sent them with the “Tap to Open” prank. When they send the “🟥Tap to Open” message, the guy is left in the chat trying to open a Snap that doesn’t exist, making it a great way to stave off creepy guys who just won’t take no for an answer.
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Section 4 of 4:

Other Snapchat Pranks

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1. 1
   Confess a “secret” in a one-second Snap. Let your friend know that you have a big secret that you need to tell them in one Snap that doesn’t have a timer. Then, in the very next Snap, send a large wall of funny text, like one explaining that the Snap is just a prank, or one that details a fun, goofy story that’s not true. Give the Snap a one-second timer, then send it to the unsuspecting friend.
2. 2
   Announce a fake birthday on your Story. This is a simple prank that tests who your real friends are compared to casual acquaintances. All you have to do is post a good photo of yourself with a caption like “Birthday vibes 🎉” or “Another year around the sun ☀️” and let the “Happy birthday messages” come in (even though it’s not your actual birthday).

   • This one is an especially popular prank, with TikToker @rip_butterballjr making a reference to it in a video.
     • The caption read, “Me: puts a fake birthday on Snapchat. My hb I’ve known for 10+ years,” with the sound of someone singing happy birthday in the background.
   • If you really want to commit to this prank, go into your Settings and change your birthday to the current date.
   • Those who are really close to you will probably swipe up in confusion, making for a fun, lighthearted prank.
3. 3
   Send a Snap that seems like it’s for someone else. Whether it’s a cute picture or a deep confession, this prank can make for a funny, lighthearted moment between friends. Simply take the Snap you want to use as the hook, then send a bunch of following “fake-panic” Snaps that make it seem like you meant to send the Snap to someone else.

   • They’ll be confused and maybe even tease you a bit. Once they do, let them know that you’re pranking them! It’ll get both parties laughing.
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