What Does Time Sensitive Mean on Snapchat? It’s Better Than You’d Expect

| Updated on February 26, 2024 |
Fact checked by Manpreet Kaur Sandhu

With “Time Sensitive” Snapchat feature, you won’t miss out on important notifications even when you mute them.

But the feature itself can be annoying at times, as many users ask how to turn off time sensitive feature on Snapchat. 

If the time sensitive Snapchat query got you curious, just like the user in the above Subreddit, consider it resolved now.

Having faced the confusion myself, I have come up with this Snapchat guide and given some answers to what does time sensitive mean on Snapchat, and how you can turn it off. Let’s take a look at them.

Snapchat Time Sensitive Notifications Meaning Deciphered

The time sensitive feature of Snapchat aims to deliver notifications to the user on a priority basis, even if they have enabled the Do Not Disturb mode. 

With plenty of users swarming with questions on different social media platforms asking why does it say time sensitive on Snapchat, here are some from Twitter.

Time sensitive notifications on Snapchat

And I won’t lie, but I felt the same way at one point in time. 

The latest updates on Snapchat have surely not brought joy to many but have rather left them confused and annoyed. No wonder there was a different hype for how to get the My AI feature on Snapchat

So now, it’s about time we answer what does time sensitive Snapchat mean and clear the air around this query. 

To put it simply, just like Apple released its feature of Time Sensitive on iOS 15, Snapchat also joined the ride, but the users are finding it pretty useless. 

So now you have the answer to why does snapchat say time sensitive despite having DND enabled.

With time sensitive notifications overriding DND mode, users are looking for ways to turn it off. But before that, let’s understand how it works.

How Do Time Sensitive Notifications Work on Snapchat?

Be it an iPhone (Focus) or Android (DND), it may not be news for many of you that they both have a Do Not Disturb mode that can also be customized depending on the model and update. 

Using these modes, the users can decide who they want to allow to contact them via incoming notifications when they have the silent or DND mode enabled. 

Even though we sometimes want to turn off all notifications, exceptions exist, such as for our family and friends.

So, that is exactly where the Time Sensitive feature by Snapchat comes into play. The users won’t miss out on any notifications from the people they prioritize, and it even surpasses the DND modes on devices.

Now, that’s what you call real priorities. Snapchat has really done the job here. But since there is no actual formula for deciding what notifications it presents as time sensitive, it can get slightly frustrating.

What’s the reason for it? Let’s take a look.

Why Does Snapchat Mark Some Notifications as “Time Sensitive?” 

The reason for Snapchat marking some notifications as “time sensitive” is that they are considered important. Snapchat displays those notifications even if “Do Not Disturb” is enabled on the device of the user. 

Since some notifications can require immediate response, some examples of them are as follows:

  • Live on Find My app for alerting about lost devices.
  • When someone has shared their live location with you in an emergency.

Such notifications are important to be paid attention to timely and hence, that’s where the role of time-sensitive feature kicks off on Snapchat in a similar way.

But if you’re not a fan of this feature, you can find out how you can stop this feature from getting on your nerves and turn it off.

How to Turn Off Time Sensitive Notifications on Snapchat?

The Snapchat Time Sensitive feature for notifications can work both as a boon and a bane. It depends on what kind of preference one has. However, sometimes, having too much of it may get overwhelming. 

Now that you’ve understood the time sensitive Snapchat meaning, let’s see how you can turn it off on your respective device without any hassle.

On iPhone 

To turn off the time sensitive feature of Snapchat on your iOS, run the following steps:

  • Go to Settings > Notifications
    Click on Notifications
  • Now scroll down and look for Snapchat, and once you find it, tap on it.
  • Lastly, turn off the toggle for Time Sensitive Notifications
    Turn the toggle off

On Android

To get rid of the Snapchat time sensitive on your Android, follow this process:

  • Open the Settings and click on Apps
    Click on Apps
  • Now select Manage Apps.
    Click on Manage apps
  • Scroll down and click on Snapchat.
    Tap on Snapchat
  • After that, click on Notifications and enable/disable the options as per your suitability & preferences.
    Enable or disable options in Snapchat Notifications

And you’re all set! Now you don’t have to think what is a time sensitive snap. Continue doing your thing without any time sensitive notifications popping up on your screen!

FAQ

How do you get rid of time sensitive on Snapchat?

The process of turning off the time sensitive notifications on Snapchat is pretty simple. All you have to do is: 

Settings > Notifications > Snapchat > Disable Time Sensitive Notifications 

What is a time sensitive snap?

Time sensitive snaps or messages are the notifications that are sent to users on a priority basis, irrespective of whether DND mode is enabled.

How to make Snapchat time sensitive?

Simply head over to the Settings of your phone, click on Apps > Snapchat, and then Notifications. Now turn the toggles on and off as per your wish.

Do time sensitive snaps disappear?

The notifications from Time Sensitive on Snapchat stay on the lock screen for an hour after first appearing. However, they might actually be urgent and can be a glitch as well.


Janvi Panthri

Senior Writer, Editor


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