Snapchat has expanded its location-sharing capabilities with a new feature that allows users to automatically notify friends when they arrive at specific destinations, going beyond its earlier Home Safe alert.
The feature, called Arrival Notifications, lets users set one-time or recurring alerts for locations other than their home. Snapchat says the update is designed to make everyday coordination easier, without users needing to manually send messages each time they arrive somewhere.
According to the company, Arrival Notifications can be used for scenarios such as letting a friend know you’ve arrived safely while travelling, or automatically alerting someone when you get to a regular activity like a weekly class, meeting, or practice session.
How Arrival Notifications work
Arrival Notifications are built on Snap Map’s existing location-sharing system. Users must first choose to share their location with a trusted friend, as location sharing on Snap Map is turned off by default. Only friends you explicitly select can see your location or receive arrival alerts.
To set up an alert, users open a friendship profile, scroll to Arrival Notifications, and select a location on the map. The location can be given a custom name, such as “run club” or “piano lessons.” Users can then choose whether the alert should be sent once or recur each time they arrive at that location.
Snapchat notes that one-time alerts automatically expire after being sent or after 24 hours if the destination is not reached.
Expanding Snap Map’s role
The launch builds on Snap Map’s growing importance within the app. Snapchat revealed last year that Snap Map now has more than 400 million monthly active users, highlighting its evolution from a simple friend-tracking feature into a broader discovery and safety tool.
Originally launched in 2017, Snap Map allowed users to see friends’ locations and explore public snaps from around the world. Over time, it has added features for discovering local hotspots, events, and things to do nearby.
Competing in the location-sharing space
With Home Safe and the new Arrival Notifications, Snapchat is positioning itself more directly against dedicated location-sharing services such as Life360, as well as platform features like Apple’s Find My.
By keeping location sharing opt-in and limited to selected friends, Snapchat is emphasizing privacy while still offering practical safety and coordination tools. The company says the goal is to make it easier for users to stay connected and informed
