How to Pause Snapchat Location Without Them Knowing

We all have those moments where we just want to disappear from the Snap map for a bit. Maybe you are skipping a social event you said you'd attend, or maybe you just want to browse Stories in peace without broadcasting your movements. The issue is that Snapchat is designed to be hyper-transparent, making true privacy feel like a challenge.

If you are looking for how to pause Snapchat location without alerting your friends or triggering awkward questions, you have options ranging from quick settings tweaks to advanced privacy tools. Here are the 5 most effective ways to freeze your Bitmoji.

Part 1. Turn on Ghost Mode to Stop Snapchat Location

If you want to completely stop snapchat location sharing with everyone instantly, the built-in Ghost Mode is the most direct method. However, be aware: this doesn't just "pause" your location; it removes your Bitmoji from the Snap Map entirely, which can be a dead giveaway to close friends that you are hiding.

How to turn on Snapchat Ghost Mode:

Step 1. Open Snapchat and tap on the Map tab in the bottom left.

Step 2. Tap the Settings (gear icon) in the top right corner.

Step 3. Toggle Ghost Mode to ON.

Step 4. Choose a duration: 3 hours, 24 hours, or Until Turned Off.

Verdict: Good for total privacy, but bad for discretion since your avatar vanishes.

Part 2. Use Airplane Mode to Freeze Snapchat Location

For a quick, temporary solution, Airplane Mode acts as a "hard freeze". Because Snapchat needs an internet connection to update your coordinates, cutting that connection leaves your Bitmoji stuck at the last place you had a signal.

How to Turn on Airplane Mode:

Step 1. Open Snapchat and ensure your location is updating correctly.

Step 2. Swipe down to access your Control Center (iOS) or Quick Settings (Android).

Step 3. Tap the Airplane Mode icon to disconnect from Wi-Fi and Cellular data.

Verdict: This effectively "freezes" your location, but you won't be able to receive calls or messages. Also, your status will eventually show "Last active X minutes ago", which might look suspicious if it stays that way for hours.

Part 3. Pause Snap Location by Disabling Background Data

If you want to keep using your phone for other things (like music or offline games) while keeping your Snapchat location paused, you can restrict the app's ability to run in the background.

On iOS:

Step 1. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

Step 2. Find Snapchat in the list.

Step 3. Toggle the switch to OFF.

On Android:

Step 1. Open Settings and tap on Apps (or Apps & notifications).

Step 2. Find and select Snapchat from the list.

Step 3. Tap on Mobile data & Wi-Fi (sometimes labeled just Mobile data).

Step 4. Toggle the switch for Background data to OFF.

Verdict: This reduces how often your location updates, effectively "pausing" it as long as you don't open the app. However, the moment you open Snapchat to check a message, your location will update immediately.

Part 4. Stop Sharing Snapchat Location with Specific Friends

Sometimes you don't need to hide from everyone—just specific people. Snapchat allows you to customize your audience, which is a great way to pause Snapchat sharing location with certain individuals without going fully offline.

How to do it:

Step 1. Go to Map Settings.

Step 2. Select "My Friends, Except..." or "Only These Friends...".

Step 3. Select the people you want to hide from.

Verdict: Highly effective for targeted privacy. The excluded friends simply won't see you on the map, while everyone else sees you updating normally.

Part 5. How to Pause Your Location on Snapchat Without Them Knowing

The problem with all the methods above is the timestamp. If your location freezes for 5 hours, your status changes to "Last active 5h ago", which signals that you are either offline or hiding.

To truly pause Snapchat location without them knowing, the best method is to appear "Online" and "Active" at a safe location (like your home) while you are physically out. This requires a professional tool like PoKeep Location Changer.

How to Pause Your Location with PoKeep:

Step 1. Download PoKeep Location Changer on your PC or Mac, connect your phone via USB or Wi-Fi.

Step 2. Select Teleport Mode and pin your home address.

Step 3. Click "Start Moving" to instantly freeze your Snapchat location there. If you don't want to invoke suspicion when your friends look at your "Ghost Trail", you can also use modes that walk real routes to mimic rela movement trial.

Verdict: The ultimate stealth method. It solves the timestamp issue and lets you use your phone normally.

Part 6. Comparison: Which Method to Choose?

If you just need a quick break, disabling background dara is your best free bet. But if you want to maintain appearances and text your friends without revealing where you actually are, setting a virtual location with PoKeep Location Changer is the only way to do it seamlessly.

Part 7. FAQs About Pausing Snapchat Location