Master Your Snapchat Top 8 Friends List Like a Pro

Hey there! I’m Martin. If you’re anything like me, your phone is basically an extension of your arm, and Snapchat is the heartbeat of your social life. But let’s be real: have you ever opened the app, looked at your “Besties” list, and thought, “Wait, why is my local sandwich shop guy higher on my list than my actual cousin?” It happens to the best of us. Managing your Snapchat Top 8 Friends isn’t just about vanity; it’s about making sure the people you actually care about are just one tap away. Grab a coffee, and let’s dive into how to whip that list into shape.

My Personal Experience with the Snapchat Top 8 Friends List

A few months ago, I went through what I call the “Snapchat Identity Crisis.” I had just finished a huge project at work, and my Top 8 was a total disaster. Because I’d been coordinating with a group of colleagues I barely knew outside of work, my entire “Solar System” was filled with people I probably wouldn’t talk to again for six months.

My actual best friend, the guy I’ve known since second grade, had dropped off the list entirely. I felt a genuine sting of digital guilt. I realized that if I didn’t take control of my Snapchat Top 8 Friends, the algorithm was going to keep prioritizing “convenience” over “connection.”

I spent a weekend experimenting—testing exactly how many snaps it took to bump someone up, how “Chat” vs. “Snap” interactions affected the rankings, and how to effectively use the managing solar system features (part of Snapchat+) to see where I stood. What I learned is that while you can’t manually drag and drop people into a specific order, you can absolutely “train” the app to reflect your real-world priorities. It’s like teaching a puppy: it takes consistency, but once they get it, life is much easier.

Read More: Who Can See My Snapchat Planets? (2026 Visibility Guide)

Understanding the “Solar System” and Your Top 8

Before we get into the “how-to,” we need to understand the “what.” In the world of Snap, your Top 8 are the people you interact with the most. If you have Snapchat+, this is visualized through the “Friend Solar System.”

How the Algorithm Ranks Your Besties

Snapchat doesn’t just look at who you send the most pictures to. It’s a bit more complex than that. It tracks:

• Frequency of Snaps: Both sent and received.
• Chat Activity: Texting within the app counts, though usually less than visual snaps.
• Group Interactions: Being in a group together helps, but 1-on-1 interaction is king.
• Reciprocity: If you snap them but they never snap back, they likely won’t stay in your Top 8 for long.

The Snapchat+ Edge

If you’re a power user like me, you’ve probably paid for Snapchat+. This gives you the “Best Friends Solar System.” When you tap on a friend’s profile who is one of your Best Friends, you’ll see a “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge. Tapping that tells you which planet you are in their solar system.

Martin’s Insight: Being “Mercury” (the closest planet) in someone’s solar system is the ultimate digital badge of honor. But remember, this can also lead to some “friendship drama” if you’re not careful!

Step-By-Step: Friend List Cleanup

Does your current list feel cluttered? It’s time for a friend list cleanup. Here is how I handle it when things get messy.

1. Identify the “Ghosts”

Go through your current Top 8. Is there anyone there you haven’t had a meaningful conversation with in a month? Maybe it’s an ex, a former coworker, or that person you met at a party once and never saw again. These are “Ghosts.” They are taking up valuable real estate.

2. The Silent Treatment (Phase Out)

You don’t have to block someone to move them off your Top 8. The most effective way is to simply stop initiating. If they snap you, reply with a text chat rather than a photo. Texting has a lower “weight” in the algorithm than a full-screen snap with a filter.

3. Prioritizing Your True Besties

To get your actual inner circle back on top, you need to “flood” the algorithm. Send them daily updates, use stickers, and—most importantly—send them videos. Video snaps seem to carry a bit more weight in my experience for boosting that “Bestie” status quickly.

Comparison: Regular User vs. Snapchat+ Manager

Pro Techniques for Managing Solar System Rankings

If you really want to be an expert at prioritizing besties, you have to understand the “Pin” feature. This is the single most powerful tool Snapchat has ever released for people who hate the algorithm’s randomness.

Pinning Your #1 Best Friend

As a Snapchat+ user, you can “Pin” one person as your #1 Best Friend (BFF). This doesn’t necessarily mean the algorithm thinks they are #1, but they will always stay at the top of your chat list, regardless of how often you talk.

Managing Multiple Bestie Streaks

Streaks are the glue that holds the Snapchat Top 8 Friends list together. If you have a 100-day streak with someone, they are almost guaranteed a spot in your Top 8. However, keeping 8 different streaks alive is exhausting.

My Strategy: I pick my “Core 3” for streaks and let the other 5 spots in my Top 8 fluctuate naturally. This keeps the app feeling “social” and not like a chore.

The Etiquette of the Top 8 (Avoiding the Drama)

Let’s get real for a second—Snapchat can cause some serious social friction. I’ve had friends ask me, “Why am I only Mars in your solar system when you’re Mercury in mine?” It sounds silly, but people care! Here is how I handle the social side of managing solar system dynamics:

• Don’t overthink the planets: Explain to friends that the algorithm is based on volume, not value. Just because you snap a coworker a lot about a project doesn’t mean you like them more than your best friend.
• Use the “Mute” feature: if someone is snapping you too much and “clogging” your Top 8, you can mute their stories or notifications. This helps you engage on your own terms.
• Privacy First: If you find the Solar System feature causes too much anxiety, you can actually turn off the “Best Friends” badge in your Snapchat+ settings so others can’t see your ranking.

Deep Dive: How to Reset Your Top 8 Completely

Sometimes, a simple cleanup isn’t enough. You need a total “reboot.” I did this after a breakup once, and it was incredibly cathartic.

The Nuclear Option (The Soft Reset)

If you want to completely change your Snapchat Top 8 Friends, follow these steps:

1. Stop Snapping Everyone: For 48 hours, don’t send a single snap. Only use the Chat function.
2. Clear Conversation Cache: Go to Settings > Account Actions > Clear Conversations. This doesn’t delete your friends, but it clears the “recency” bias in your chat list.
3. The “Power Snap”: On day three, send a personalized, high-engagement snap (like a video or a photo with a caption) only to the 8 people you want on your list.
4. Engage with Stories: Watch and reply to the stories of your “target” Top 8. This signals to the app that you are interested in their content.

FAQ: Everything You’re Asking on Reddit

Martin’s Final Tip: Focus on the Connection, Not the Emojis

At the end of the day, your Snapchat Top 8 Friends list is just a tool to help you stay connected. Don’t let the “Solar System” or the “Bestie Emojis” dictate your real-life friendships. I’ve found that the best way to manage your list is to be intentional. Use the app to talk to people who actually make you smile when their name pops up on your screen.

Would you like me to walk you through how to customize your Best Friend emojis to make your list look even more personalized?$y = mx + b$ (Wait, no math needed here—just keeping it simple!)