Hey there! I’m Martin. If you’re anything like me, you probably spend a little too much time checking which planet you are in your best friend’s orbit. It’s a fun way to see where you stand, but man, it can be frustrating when the order feels “stuck” or just plain wrong.
Maybe you’ve been snapping someone new every single day, yet they aren’t moving up, or perhaps an old flame is still sitting at “Mercury” even though you haven’t talked in weeks. Trust me, I’ve been there. Today, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to reset Snapchat planets and get your Friend Solar System looking the way it actually should.
My Personal Experience with Resetting My Solar System
A few months ago, I noticed something super weird. My younger sister, who I snap maybe once a day just to keep our streak alive, was my “Mercury” (the closest planet). Meanwhile, my actual best friend—the guy I send 50 memes a day to—was nowhere to be found in my top eight.
I was convinced the algorithm had a personal vendetta against me. I tried logging out and logging back in, but nothing changed. It honestly felt like my digital social life was frozen in time. I realized that the app’s internal data (the cache) was just holding onto old interaction patterns.
I went on a mission to figure out how to reset Snapchat planets without losing my precious streaks or chat history. It took some trial and error, but once I figured out the “Force Refresh” method—which involves a mix of clearing the cache and changing chat settings—everything snapped back into place. Now, my orbit actually reflects my real-life friendships, and I’m here to make sure yours does too.
What Exactly Is the Snapchat Friend Solar System?
Before we dive into the “how-to,” let’s make sure we’re on the same page. If you have Snapchat+, you get this cool (and sometimes stressful) feature called the Friend Solar System.
When you tap on a “Best Friend” badge on someone’s profile, it shows you which planet you are in their orbit. It’s based on how much you interact with them compared to everyone else they talk to.
The Planet Order (From Closest to Furthest)
- Mercury: You’re their #1.
- Venus: You’re their #2.
- Earth: You’re their #3.
- Mars: You’re their #4.
- Jupiter: You’re #5.
- Saturn: You’re #6.
- Uranus: You’re #7.
- Neptune: You’re #8.
Have you ever looked at your rank and thought, “There is no way I’m only their Saturn”? It’s a humbling experience, isn’t it?
Why You Might Need to Reset Snapchat Planets
You’d think an app as advanced as Snapchat would update in real-time, right? Not always. Here are the most common reasons I’ve found for why you might need a manual refresh:
- Laggy Rankings: You’ve been snapping a new person constantly for two weeks, but the planets haven’t updated.
- The “Ghost” Best Friend: Someone you’ve blocked or stopped talking to is still showing up in your top spots.
- App Glitches: Sometimes the Solar System feature just disappears or shows the wrong icons.
- Privacy Reset: Maybe you just want a fresh start and want the algorithm to recalculate your social circle from scratch.
Step 1: The “Soft Reset” (Clear Cache Snapchat)
The most effective way to reset Snapchat planets without doing anything drastic is to clear cache Snapchat data. This doesn’t delete your memories or your chats; it just wipes the temporary files that might be making the app “sticky.”
How to Clear Your Cache:
- Open Snapchat and tap your Bitmoji in the top left.
- Hit the Settings gear icon in the top right.
- Scroll all the way down to Account Actions.
- Tap Clear Cache.
- Confirm by tapping Clear.
Martin’s Note: The app will restart after this. Don’t panic! Your streaks are safe. This forces the app to pull fresh data from Snapchat’s servers the next time you open a profile, which often refresh rankings immediately.
Read More: Why Am I Not a Planet for My Best Friend on Snapchat?
Step 2: Refreshing Your Rankings Manually
If clearing the cache didn’t do the trick, you need to be a bit more proactive. Snapchat’s algorithm prioritizes recent, high-volume interactions. If you want to fix planet order, you have to change your behavior within the app.
Force a Ranking Refresh:
- Increase Interaction Density: It’s not just about the number of snaps; it’s about the variety. Send videos, chats, and use stickers with the person you want to move up.
- Limit “Old” Best Friends: If someone is taking up a spot you want to vacate, stop sending them snaps for 24–48 hours. Even a short break can “demote” them in the solar system.
- The Chat Pin Trick: I’ve noticed that pinning a conversation sometimes helps the algorithm “prioritize” that data stream. Try pinning the person you want as your Mercury.
Step 3: Troubleshooting the Snapchat+ Subscription
Sometimes, the reason you can’t see or reset Snapchat planets is related to your subscription status.
Check Your Membership
Go to your profile and tap the Snapchat+ banner. Ensure your subscription is active. If it is, try toggling the “Best Friends Solar System” feature off and then back on. This acts as a toggle-reset for the UI element itself.
Comparing Reset Methods
| Method | Difficulty | Risk to Data | Effectiveness |
| Clear Cache | Easy | Zero | High (Fixes UI Glitches) |
| Log Out/In | Easy | Low | Medium (Refreshes Session) |
| Reinstall App | Medium | Low | High (Total Reset) |
| Interaction Shift | Hard | Zero | Best for Long-term Accuracy |
How Long Does it Take for Planets to Update?
This is the question I get asked the most. “Martin, I cleared my cache, why am I still Mars?”
Snapchat doesn’t update your solar system every second. In my experience, the “deep” algorithm recalculates every 24 to 48 hours. While a cache clear can fix a visual bug instantly, the actual mathematical ranking of your friends takes a bit of time to catch up to your new snapping habits.
Advanced Tip: The “Nuclear” Option
If you are truly desperate to reset Snapchat planets because nothing else is working, you can try deleting the conversation.
Warning: This will delete your chat history with that person (unless you’ve saved messages).
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll to Privacy Controls.
- Tap Clear Conversation.
- Tap the ‘X’ next to the friend you want to reset.
By doing this, you’re essentially telling the app, “Forget everything that happened here.” When you start snapping them again, the algorithm starts from zero. It’s a bit extreme, but hey, sometimes you need a clean slate!
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Q: Does clearing my cache delete my streaks?
A: Nope! I’ve done this a hundred times. Your streaks, memories, and saved chats are all stored on Snapchat’s servers. Clearing the cache only removes temporary “junk” files from your phone.
Q: Can I hide my Solar System from others?
A: You can’t necessarily “hide” it if you have Snapchat+, but you can choose not to share your “Best Friends” list. Remember, the Solar System is private to you and the other person—nobody else can see that you are their Jupiter unless they show you their phone.
Q: Why did my Friend Solar System disappear entirely?
A: This usually happens if your Snapchat+ subscription expires or if Snapchat is running a server-side update. Try the clear cache snapchat method first. If that fails, check the App Store for an update.
Q: Does the “Reset” affect how I appear in other people’s orbits?
A: Not directly. When you reset your cache or app, you are only changing how your phone displays and processes data. To change your position in their solar system, you have to snap them more (or less!).
Martin’s Final Tip: Don’t Overthink the Planets!
At the end of the day, the Friend Solar System is just a bunch of code trying to guess who your favorites are. It’s not a perfect science. My final piece of advice? If you want to reset Snapchat planets, start with the cache clear, then just focus on having fun with the app. The rankings will eventually follow your lead.
Honestly, the best way to stay “Mercury” in someone’s life is to send them a funny snap or a thoughtful chat, not just to obsess over the algorithm. (Though, I totally get the satisfaction of seeing that golden sun badge!)
Did this help you fix your orbit? If you have any other weird Snapchat glitches you want me to tackle, let me know!
Would you like me to explain how to customize your Snapchat app icons or other Snapchat+ exclusive features next?
