Yes, it is possible to delete a Snapchat message before the recipient opens it. Snapchat has a feature that allows users to unsend or delete a snap they have sent, as long as the recipient has not viewed it yet. This can be useful if you send a snap accidentally or if you change your mind about wanting the recipient to see the snap.
How to Delete a Snapchat Before Opened
Deleting an unopened Snapchat message is easy to do through the Snapchat app. Here are the steps:
- Open the Snapchat app and go to the ‘Chat’ section where your conversations and snaps are located.
- Locate the snap you want to delete in the conversation thread and press and hold on it.
- An option menu will pop up – tap on the ‘Unsend’ option.
- A confirmation message will appear asking ‘Are you sure you want to unsend this snap?’ – tap ‘Unsend’ to confirm.
The snap will then be removed and can no longer be viewed by the recipient. Snapchat will notify the recipient that a message has been deleted from the conversation. You can repeat these steps to unsend multiple snaps from a conversation if needed.
There are a couple of important caveats to be aware of when using Snapchat’s unsend feature:
- Once a recipient has opened and viewed a snap, it can no longer be deleted or unsent.
- The unsend feature works for both individual and group chats.
- You only have up to 10 seconds after sending a snap to unsend it – after that, deletion is no longer possible.
Does the Recipient Get Notified if You Delete a Snap?
Yes, if you delete an unopened snap the recipient will be notified that a message has been removed from the conversation thread. Where the snap used to be, there will be a message saying something like “A message has been deleted” or “A snap has been unsent”.
So while you can retract the message before it’s viewed, you can’t prevent the recipient from knowing that a snap had been sent and then deleted. The notification indicates where in the conversation it was removed.
Can You Recover a Deleted Snap?
Unfortunately, there is no way to recover a deleted snap either for the sender or the recipient. Once unsent, the snap is permanently removed from Snapchat’s servers and can’t be retrieved.
Some things to keep in mind:
- Neither the sender or recipient can restore the snap after it’s deleted, even if they were fast enough to screenshot it before it was opened.
- You’ll have to resend the snap entirely if you change your mind and want the recipient to see it after all.
- Accidentally deleting a snap you wanted to keep is permanent – there is no undo option.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to double check that you really want to delete a snap before tapping the unsend button!
Does Unsending Notify the Sender?
No, unsending a snap does not notify the original sender that the message was deleted. The deletion is only shown to the intended recipient, not the sender.
So if you unsend a snap you received, the person who originally sent it to you won’t know that you deleted it. The notification is one-way to the recipient only.
Can Recipients Screenshot Before a Snap is Deleted?
Yes, recipients are able to screenshot or otherwise save a snap before it gets deleted and unsent. So if you delete a snap quickly, but not quickly enough, the recipient may still have a record of it if they acted fast to screenshot.
There is no way to prevent someone from capturing a snap before it gets deleted on Snapchat. Anything viewable can be screenshotted. The only way to ensure no trace is left is to delete before they open it.
Does Unsending Prevent Screenshot Notification?
No, unsending a snap will not prevent the screenshot notification from being shown. If a recipient screenshots a snap before it’s deleted, the sender will still be notified of the screenshot even if the snap no longer exists.
The notification happens instantly when a screenshot is captured, so deleting the snap afterward does not revoke the screenshot or notification.
Can You Unsend Chats?
Snapchat’s unsend or delete feature only works on unopened image and video snaps. Regular text chats can not be deleted or unsent on Snapchat.
So if you have sent a text chat message, there is no way to remove or delete it from the conversation after the fact. You’ll have to request that the recipient delete the message on their end.
Some key things about deleting Snapchat chats:
- Only media snaps can be deleted, text and audio messages can’t be unsent.
- You can only delete messages you have sent, not ones you have received.
- Group chats are treated the same – you can only unsend your own snaps, not others’ snaps.
Is There a Limit to How Many You Can Unsend?
Snapchat does not currently limit the number of unsends per conversation or per day. So in theory, you could repeatedly send and unsend snaps as much as you want.
However, repeatedly unsending many snaps to the same user or group may trigger spam protection or account limitations. So it’s best not to overly abuse the unsending capability.
Some things to keep in mind about unsending limits:
- Each snap can only be deleted once – you can’t unsend the same snap multiple times.
- The 10 second window after sending still applies no matter how many times you unsend.
- Frequently unsending snaps may cause your account to be flagged for spam.
Does Unsending Remove Snap History?
Yes, when you unsend or delete a snap before it’s viewed, it will be permanently removed from both the sender and recipient’s Snapchat history and archives.
So not only can the recipient no longer view the deleted snap, but neither party will have any record of the snap in their account at all.
A few things about how deleting affects Snapchat history:
- Snaps deleted while unopened do not appear in chat logs.
- Deleted snaps are removed from Memories and Discover sections.
- Even if screenshotted, the snap won’t show in recipient history after deletion.
Can You Delete Snapchat Account History?
Unfortunately there is no way to bulk delete or erase your entire Snapchat history and account contents. The deletion feature only works on an individual unopened snap basis.
To completely clear your Snapchat history, your only options are:
- Screenshot or save any snaps you want to keep, then delete your Snapchat account entirely.
- Go through chat by chat and use the Delete Conversation feature to erase chat logs.
- Disable Snapchat from accessing your Memories or Camera Roll to preserve snaps.
But there is no nuclear button to wipe your whole Snapchat account history all at once.
Conclusion
Snapchat’s unsend and delete feature provides a handy way to prevent embarrassing or unintended snaps from being seen. While the 10 second window means it’s not guaranteed, deleting a snap before it’s viewed can effectively make it disappear.
However, the notification to recipients that a snap was deleted takes away some of the magic. And the inability to unsend chat messages or delete account history reduces the usefulness of the feature.
Overall, Snapchat’s unsending gives a limited ability to undo snaps which can be helpful in the right circumstances. But you’ll have to act fast, and recipients will know if you try to sneakily take back a snap.