Snap announced today that it will launch a web version of Snapchat that will let users send snaps on their desktops and chat with friends via video calls. Initially, the web version of Snapchat will be available to Snapchat+ users in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
After the initial launch, the company plans to roll out the web version of Snapchat to Snapchat+ users in France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and then to all users worldwide.
The web version of Snapchat also allows users to take advantage of messaging features on their phones, including the very popular chat emoji feature. Snap said it plans to bring its Lenses feature to video calling in the future.
To access the web version of Snapchat, users need to go to web.snapchat.com and log in with their Snapchat username and password. There you will be prompted to complete the default two-step verification on your phone.
You can also continue your conversations on your phone while logged into Snapchat on the web. When using Snapchat via the desktop, the user’s Bitmoji will display a laptop icon to indicate to others that you are accessing the chat via Snapchat for Web.
Additionally, the web version of the experience includes a privacy screen feature that hides the Snapchat window if you tap away to do another job. Similar to the app experience on your phone, messages sent via Snapchat for Web will be automatically deleted after 24 hours.
The company also said that the web version of Snapchat will prevent people from taking screenshots. However, Snap knew that people could still take photos on the screen with their phones, so it pointed out beforehand that the product wasn’t perfect.
A Snap spokeswoman said the average Snapchat caller spends more than 30 minutes a day talking on the phone. While still seeing itself as a mobile-first platform, Snap said that after listening to user feedback, it decided it was time to bring Snapchat’s core features to computers.
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