What Does the Purple Circle Mean on Snapchat – Complete Guide 2025

If you have ever opened Snapchat and wondered, “What does the purple circle mean on Snapchat?”, you are definitely not alone. Many users see this colorful ring pop up around their friends’ stories, but do not really know what it signifies. In 2025, Snapchat has refined how story indicators work, and these vibrant colors, especially purple, now carry deeper meaning for users who want to stay connected and informed.

In simple terms, the purple circle on Snapchat usually indicates that a story contains video content, but it can also appear around private stories or special updates shared by friends or creators. This feature helps users quickly recognize what kind of content they’re about to view, making the app more interactive and personalized.

In this detailed guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the purple circle, what it means, why it appears, and how you can use it to make the most of your Snapchat experience. Let’s explore how this small circle can tell you a lot more than you think!

What Does the Purple Circle Around a Snapchat Story Mean?

The purple circle is one of Snapchat signature story indicators. When you see a purple ring around someone Bitmoji or profile, it means they have posted a new story that you have not viewed yet. This purple border acts as a quick visual cue that fresh content is waiting for you.

Once you tap and view the story, the purple circle fades into gray, signaling that the story has already been seen. It is Snapchat way of keeping the experience intuitive and easy to navigate within the 24-hour story window.

So in simple terms:

• Purple circle = Unviewed story
• Gray circle = Viewed story
• Disappears = Story expired after 24 hours

Snapchat Stories tab and color-coded design make it easy to track what’s new and what you have already seen.

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What Does the Purple Circle with a Lock Mean?

Sometimes, you will notice a purple circle with a lock icon next to it. This small symbol has an important meaning; it indicates a Private Story.

A Private Story allows Snapchat users to share updates only with a selected group of friends. The lock icon means that the story is not public; it is limited to those chosen by the uploader.

Example:

If your friend shares a weekend event through a Private Story, only the people they have added (including you) will see the purple circle with a lock. Once you view it, the purple ring turns gray just like regular stories, maintaining design consistency across the app.

This privacy feature is a great way to control your audience while keeping your content more personal and exclusive.

Difference Between Purple, Blue, and Red Indicators

Snapchat’s color-coded system can be confusing at first, but it is actually very organized. Each color represents a specific type of interaction or media format.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what each color means:

Color	Icon Shape	Meaning
Red	Square or circle	Snap or Story without audio
Purple	Square or circle	Snap or Story with audio
Blue	Circle or chat bubble	Chat messages or friend-related notifications

The purple circle belongs to this same visual system. It usually appears on the Stories page to indicate video-based content or new stories you haven’t seen yet. Meanwhile, the blue circle might appear around chat stories, and the red circle is mostly used for Snaps without sound.

This color-coded UI is one of Snapchat most clever design choices, enabling users to quickly identify content types without needing to read any text.

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Where you will see the Purple Circle on Snapchat

The purple circle is not limited to one area. You can spot it across different sections of the app, each with a slightly different context. Here’s where you might find it:

1. Stories Tab / Stories Page: This is where most purple circles appear. When your friends or subscriptions post a story, their Bitmoji or profile picture will have a purple ring around it.
2. Chat Page: Occasionally, you will see a purple circle near chats if a story is accessible from that conversation.
3. Quick Add Section: On the Quick Add screen, if a profile shows a purple circle, it usually means they’ve uploaded a public story that you haven’t watched yet.
4. Added Me Screen: The purple circle here shows that someone who recently added you also has a new story to share.
5. Public Profiles: Influencers and creators often have purple rings around their Bitmoji signaling a new post for followers to view.

By appearing in multiple sections, the purple ring reinforces Snapchat’s focus on discovery and interaction.

Design Consistency and the 24-Hour Story Lifespan

Snapchat design is not random; the purple theme around the Stories page matches the app navigation bar and overall layout. This color-coded UI maintains consistency across the platform.

Each story lasts for 24 hours, and during that time, the purple circle helps users instantly identify unviewed stories. Once that period passes, the story expires, and the circle disappears.

This design choice not only enhances the visual appeal but also keeps the experience clean and time-based, reminding users that Snapchat is built around real-time sharing.

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Private vs Public Stories

Snapchat gives users full control over who can view their stories. Let’s break down how the purple circle and lock fit into this:

This privacy control system helps you manage your audience and decide which moments stay private and which go public.

What Happens After You View a Story?

After you view a Snapchat Story, several things change visually and functionally:

• The purple circle turns gray, signaling that you’ve already seen it.
• You can swipe up to check the Story Viewers list and see who has watched your posts.
• Snapchat also shows a screenshot detection icon if someone takes a screenshot; you’ll notice a small camera symbol beside their name.
• Viewed stories are saved in your Memories, and older ones can resurface later as Flashback Memories.

These features create a complete story cycle from posting and viewing to archiving and reminiscing.

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Snapchat Color-Coded System

Snapchat color design is not just for looks; it’s about user experience (UX). The purple, blue, and red circles and squares all serve as instant visual feedback. Instead of reading labels or alerts, you can tell what’s new or unseen just by the color.

This navigation bar consistency and story expiration timer make Snapchat quick, clean, and easy to use. The purple theme blends seamlessly into the app’s vibrant interface, reinforcing familiarity and usability.

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FAQs About Purple Circle Mean on Snapchat

Final Thoughts

Now you know exactly what the purple circle means on Snapchat — it’s your visual cue for unviewed stories. Whether it appears with a lock icon for private content or just around a friend’s Bitmoji, this small design detail keeps the platform organized and intuitive.

Snapchat’s purple theme, color-coded UI, and 24-hour story system all work together to create a fun, fast, and visually engaging social experience. So next time you open the app and see that purple circle, you’ll know there’s fresh content waiting just for you.