Hey there! I’m Martin, and Let’s Talk About Your Space Privacy
Look, we’ve all been there. You open up a friend’s profile, tap that little gold-ringed badge, and—boom—you’re Neptune. The “icy cold” eighth planet. Suddenly, you’re wondering why you aren’t Mercury, or worse, you’re worried that your crush just saw that they’re only “Mars” in your universe.
Snapchat’s Friend Solar System is one of those features that is either a total blast or a recipe for a social headache. As a self-proclaimed Snapchat Power User, I’ve spent way too much time obsessing over these digital orbits. The big question I get asked constantly over coffee is: Can you hide your Snapchat Planet rank?
The short answer? Yes, you absolutely can. Since the big 2024 update that rolled into 2026, Snapchat made this feature “opt-in” because, frankly, it was causing a bit too much drama. Today, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to hide Snapchat Planet rank details so you can keep your social standing under wraps.
My Personal Experience with the “Neptune Nightmare”
I’ll never forget the “Great Saturn Incident of ’24.” I have a buddy, Dave, who I’ve been best friends with since middle school. We have a massive streak, we Send Snaps daily, and I just assumed I was his Mercury.
One night, while messing around with my new Snapchat Plus subscription, I tapped on his profile badge. I wasn’t Mercury. I wasn’t even Earth. I was Saturn.
I felt that weird, tiny sting in my chest—you know the one? I started wondering, “Who are these six other people he’s talking to more than me?” It was ridiculous, but that’s what this feature does; it gamifies friendship in a way that can feel a bit too personal.
That was the moment I realized that while the Solar System is cool for data nerds like me, it’s not always great for my peace of mind. I decided to test every privacy setting available to see if I could stay in the “Best Friends” club without the planetary baggage. I learned that you have total control over whether others see your rank in their world, and whether you have to see theirs.
Read More: Snapchat Plus Badge: How to Get & Display Your Gold Star
How the Snapchat Solar System Actually Works
Before we hide it, we need to understand what we’re hiding. If you’re a Snapchat Plus subscriber, you’re the Sun. Your top eight best friends (the people you interact with most) are assigned planets based on their “distance” from you.
The Planetary Order of Friendship
- Mercury: Your #1 Best Friend.
- Venus: Your #2 Best Friend.
- Earth: Your #3 Best Friend.
- Mars: Your #4 Best Friend.
- Jupiter: Your #5 Best Friend.
- Saturn: Your #6 Best Friend.
- Uranus: Your #7 Best Friend.
- Neptune: Your #8 Best Friend.
The rank is based on interaction frequency—snaps, chats, and streaks. It doesn’t mean you “like” someone less; it just means you haven’t pinged them as much this week.
Can You Hide Your Snapchat Planet Rank From Others?
Here is the “Martin-approved” breakdown of how privacy works with this feature.
1. It’s “Off” by Default
Since April 2024, Snapchat changed the game. The Friend Solar System is now disabled by default for all new Snapchat Plus subscribers. This was a huge win for privacy. If you never turn it on, no one can see your planet rank when they look at your profile, and you won’t see theirs.
2. How to Hide (Disable) the Feature
If you previously turned it on and now want to go “ghost mode” on your rankings, follow these steps:
- Open Snapchat and tap your Bitmoji in the top-left.
- Tap on your Snapchat+ membership card.
- Find the toggle for Friend Solar System.
- Switch it OFF.
Once you toggle this off, the gold-ringed “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge will still appear on your profile for your top buds, but when they tap it, it won’t show a planet. It’ll just show stars or a generic graphic. Your private solar system effectively becomes a black hole—totally invisible.
3. Who Can See My Rank?
This is a common point of confusion. Here is a quick table to clear it up:
| Scenario | Can they see your planet rank? |
| You have S+ and Solar System ON | Yes (if they also have S+ and check your profile). |
| You have S+ and Solar System OFF | No. They see a badge, but no planet. |
| They don’t have Snapchat Plus | No. They can’t see the badge or the planets at all. |
| You are “Friends” but not “Best Friends” | Only if they have S+ and you are in their top 8. |
Why You Might Want a Private Solar System
I’ll be honest with you—sometimes, having your rank visible is just… a lot. Here’s why I often keep mine hidden:
- Avoid “Friendship Jealousy”: If your “BFF” sees they are Neptune while your new work friend is Mercury, it can lead to some awkward “So, who is that?” conversations.
- Mental Health: Constantly checking if you’ve “dropped” from Earth to Mars isn’t great for your brain. Turning it off removes the urge to check.
- Privacy Control: You might not want everyone with a Plus subscription knowing exactly how active you are on the app.
Martin’s Insight: “Social media is supposed to be fun, not a performance review. If the planets are stressing you out, just shut them down. Your real friends know where they stand without a digital label.”
Snapchat Plus Privacy: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does hiding my rank delete my Best Friends list?
Nope! Your “Best Friends” (the ones at the top of your chat list) stay exactly where they are. Hiding the rank just stops the visual planet representation from showing up on your profile.
2. If I turn it off, can I still see other people’s ranks?
If you turn off the Friend Solar System in your settings, you are essentially opting out of the whole system. You won’t see your rank in their universe, and they won’t see theirs in yours.
3. Can I hide my rank from just ONE person?
Unfortunately, no. It’s an “all or nothing” setting. You either have the Solar System active for all your top 8 friends, or you have it off for everyone.
4. Does the “Friends” badge mean they can see my rank?
The “Friends” badge (without the “Best”) means you are in their top eight, but they aren’t in yours. If they have S+ and the feature is on, they can see which planet you are to them. If you want to stop this, you’d have to interact with them less or hope they turn their feature off!
Martin’s Final Tip
If you’re feeling the pressure of the planets, my best advice is to treat Snapchat Plus features like a buffet. Take what you like (the custom icons and rewatch counts are awesome) and leave what you don’t.
The Friend Solar System was designed to be a “fun, private way” to see your connections, but if it doesn’t feel fun, it’s not working. Personally, I keep mine toggled OFF most of the time. It keeps my friendships feeling organic rather than like a leaderboard.
Martin’s CTA: Still confused about a specific Snapchat Plus feature? Drop a comment below or shoot me a message—I’d love to help you navigate the Snap-verse!
Would you like me to explain how the “Story Rewatch Indicator” works next, or are you more interested in Ghost Trails privacy?

