Create a Snapchat Public Profile: Personal and Business

If you are 16 or older, you probably already have a Snapchat Public Profile: Snapchat says users aged 16 and over get one by default and choose whether to use it. Tap your Bitmoji or Story icon at the top, tap Public Profile, then tap Edit to fill it in. A brand creates its profile in Snapchat Ads Manager instead, under Public Profiles.

Which route you need depends on whether the profile is for a person or a business. Both are covered below, using the steps on Snapchat's own help pages in October 2026.

#Personal Public Profile: who gets one

Snapchat's support page sets out the rules:

• Minimum age is 16. Laws in your country or region may set a different minimum.
• Past Community Guidelines breaches can mean you do not get a Public Profile.
• Birthday not set: if you meet the age rule but cannot see the option, Snapchat says you may need to set your birthday in Settings.

#Set up a personal Public Profile

1. Open Snapchat and tap your Bitmoji or Story icon at the top.
2. Tap Public Profile.
3. Tap Edit.
4. Add a profile photo, bio, cover photo and other public details.

To show or hide how many people follow you, go to Public Profile, tap Edit Profile and use the Show How Many Follow Me toggle.

Snapchat lists these as Public Profile features: a photo, bio, description and location, Stories and Lenses on the profile, subscribers, insights for your Public Story and Lenses, and a Public Story that is separate from My Story. Creating a Public Profile does not change your existing contact or Story privacy settings.

#Professional Accounts: Creator or Business

Some users can turn their Public Profile into a Professional Account. Snapchat's help centre says:

• Professional Accounts are limited to people aged 18 and older.
• You need a Public Profile first.
• It is a new feature that is not available to everyone yet.

The steps, if you have the option:

1. Go to your Public Profile and tap Edit Profile.
2. Tap Account Type.
3. Tap Switch to a Professional Account.
4. Choose Creator or Business and follow the prompts.

Some features, such as choosing a category, assigning roles and adding a website, are listed by Snapchat as available with a Creator Account. Snapchat upgrades accounts to Creator itself. Its help page says it looks for a Public Profile, active posting to Stories and Spotlight, a growing audience and Story visibility set to Everyone. A Creator Account cannot be downgraded back.

#Set up a business Public Profile in Ads Manager

For a brand, Snapchat's Business Help Centre gives these steps:

1. Log in to Ads Manager. An Organization Admin opens the navigation in the top corner and selects Public Profiles.
2. Choose Create a Snapchat account, or I already have a Snapchat account if the brand already has a Public Profile username. Each profile needs its own unique email address.
3. Enter the profile details. Only Username is required. The display name can be up to 30 characters. The profile photo must be at least 320x320 pixels, PNG, JPG or JPEG, and no more than 2 MB.
4. Click Create Profile.

Snapchat says the profile is live and searchable instantly, so have your first Stories and any Lenses ready before you click. Then install Snapchat on your phone to manage the profile in the app.

A few more facts from the same page:

• Public Profiles are free and need no payment method.
• Snapchat says a Public Profile is required to advertise.
• A business account can hold up to 100 Public Profiles.
• If you already have a creator style Public Profile and no business account, go to profile.snapchat.com or business.snapchat.com, open Profile Details and click Open a Business Account.

#Post your first Story and Spotlight

Once the profile exists, you have two main places to post. Your Public Story is seen by friends, subscribers and potentially non subscribers for 24 hours. Spotlight is Snapchat's feed of short videos for a wider audience. The differences are in Spotlight vs Stories, and the file rules are in Snapchat Spotlight requirements.

From the business side, Snapchat's Business Manager dashboard stated in October 2026 that Story and Spotlight posts can be scheduled up to 30 days ahead in Profile Manager. See how to schedule Snapchat Spotlight.

#Posting to a Public Profile from an app

Snap's Public Profile API is allowlist only, so not every app can post for you. Snap's developer docs set these rules for posting through it:

Reel Uploader's Snapchat posting is coming once Snap approves the app for its Public Profile API, and the account you connect will need a Public Profile, so setting one up now saves a step. For how this fits with Instagram and Facebook, read the cross posting guide.

#Questions people ask

#Why can't I see Public Profile on my Snapchat?

Snapchat gives three reasons: you are under the minimum age (16, or higher where local law says so), you have broken the Community Guidelines in the past, or your birthday is not set in Settings.

#Do I need to be 18 for a Snapchat Public Profile?

No, the minimum is 16. You need to be 18 for a Professional Account and for monetisation.

#Is a Snapchat Public Profile free?

Yes. Snapchat says Public Profiles are free and do not need a payment method, even when created in Ads Manager.

#Can I have more than one Public Profile?

A business account can have up to 100. If you need more, Snapchat asks you to contact your account team or support.