BackupMemories

How to save your Snapchat Memories before deleting your account

Ask Snapchat for a copy of your data first, wait for it to arrive, and check you've got everything before you delete the account. If you've already deleted it, Snapchat gives you 30 days to download your data.

Step by step

  1. Ask for your export Follow our guide to request all your Memories. It's free.
  2. Download every file Wait for Snapchat's email and download every ZIP file in your export.
  3. Check your copy Open a few old memories and make sure they're all there. If you use BackupMemories, the report tells you how many were saved.
  4. Save My Eyes Only from the app The export leaves My Eyes Only out, so export those to your camera roll yourself.
  5. Then delete your account Only once you're happy with your copy.

What happens when you delete your account

Snapchat doesn’t delete it straight away. According to its help page, your account is deactivated for 30 days first, and you can still change your mind during that time.

After you deactivate or delete your account, you have 30 days to download your data. If you don’t log in or download your data in those first 30 days, it’s permanently deleted after 60 days. (In India the timeline is longer, with permanent deletion after 210 days.)

Why the order matters

The export can take up to a week to arrive, and you’ll want time to check it. So ask for it while your account is still active, and only delete once your copy is safe somewhere else. And don’t forget My Eyes Only, because those never come with the export.

Keep more than one copy

Once Snapchat’s copy is gone, yours is the only one. So it’s worth keeping two: one in your photo app or Google Photos, and one on a computer or hard drive. Our page on how to backup Snapchat Memories compares the options.