Snapchat has a hidden feature that works just like FaceTime — here's how to use it

Alex Heath / Tech Insider

You may think of Snapchat as a way to share goofy photos and short videos with your friends, but did you know that the app has a built-in video chat feature that works like Apple's FaceTime?

It's not easy to find, and video chatting on Snapchat requires two people have the app open at the same time. But once you know how to access the hidden feature, it could change the way you use Snapchat.

Open Snapchat and go to the message window for whoever you want to video chat with.

Swipe to the right on someone's name in your list of conversations and you'll be able to send them text.

Normally, there's a little yellow icon to the top right of your keyboard. Tapping it takes you back to the camera view to create a snap.

But when the person you're chatting with has the Snapchat app open to the same chat window with you, the icon turns blue.