Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among younger users. A big part of Snapchat’s appeal is that messages, called snaps, disappear after they are viewed. This creates a sense of privacy and impermanence. However, sometimes users regret deleting a snap or wish they could look back at old messages. So, is it possible to retrieve deleted Snapchat messages?
Why Snapchat Messages Get Deleted
There are a few different ways Snapchat messages can be deleted:
- They are viewable for up to 10 seconds and then disappear.
- The sender deletes the snap before the recipient opens it.
- The recipient screenshots the snap, causing it to be deleted.
- Either party deletes the conversation thread.
- The Snapchat account gets deleted.
The ephemeral nature of Snapchat is integral to its design. According to Snapchat, the purpose is to make conversations more natural and mimic in-person interactions. The disappearing messages create a sense of urgency to view snaps, which keeps users engaged with the app.
Is It Possible to Retrieve Deleted Snaps?
Unfortunately, there is no official way to recover deleted Snapchat messages. Unlike other platforms like Gmail that store data on servers, Snapchat deletes snaps from its servers once they are viewed. The app was designed so messages could not be retrieved.
However, there are a few unofficial workarounds and third-party apps that claim to allow Snapchat recovery:
Using a Snapchat Viewer App
Some third-party apps claim they can retrieve Snapchat messages, including deleted ones. They work by accessing Snapchat’s servers and cloud storage to look for data that hasn’t been permanently erased yet. Some examples include:
- Snapchat Spy App
- mSpy
- Snapchat Viewer
However, Snapchat states they do not support these apps. There are also privacy concerns around third-party apps accessing Snapchat accounts and messages without consent.
Recovering from Linked Accounts
If an account is deleted, any connected accounts like iCloud or Google Drive may still have Snapchat photos stored in backups. It’s possible to manually search these linked accounts for Snaps. However, this method only works if backups occurred before the messages were deleted.
Requesting Data from Snapchat
Snapchat allows users to request data from their account including some deleted content:
- Go to account settings > support > My Data > Submit Request
- Select “My Data” and the timeframe you want.
- Snapchat will compile available data from that timeframe into a downloadable ZIP file.
However, Snapchat warns the downloaded data will not contain deleted messages. So this method unfortunately won’t recover deleted Snaps.
Why Recovering Deleted Snaps is Difficult
There are a few reasons why retrieving deleted Snapchat messages is nearly impossible:
- Encryption – Snaps are encrypted from send to view, making data inaccessible.
- Data Erasure – Snapchat automatically deletes unviewed snaps from their servers after 30 days.
- No Backups – Snapchat doesn’t store message history or backups like other platforms.
- Closed System – The app is a closed system, so outside tools have limited access.
While these factors make restoring deleted Snaps unlikely, some claim there are still vulnerabilities that allow Snapchat hacking. However, this involves advanced skills illegal access to servers.
Can Police Recover Deleted Snaps?
Police have more sophisticated tools for recovering digital data. However, retrieving deleted Snaps remains very challenging even for law enforcement due to Snapchat’s safeguards.
In some cases, police may be able to work with Snapchat to access available stored data for an account within the 30 day window. But this requires a legal warrant and only applies to unviewed Snaps. Overall, don’t count on the police to recover deleted Snapchats.
Tips to Save Important Snapchats
Since retrieving deleted Snaps is essentially impossible, here are some tips to save important messages:
- Screenshot the snap before it disappears – this notifies the sender.
- Use the Snapchat Replay feature to view a snap again – each person gets one Replay per day.
- Enable Travel Mode – this stops Snaps from disappearing while on certain WiFi networks.
- Save the photo/video to Memories – then delete from Memories after viewing.
- Use a third-party Snapchat saver app – download and save snaps before they disappear.
Following these tips will allow you to store Snaps you want to keep. Just be mindful of privacy concerns when using third-party apps or saving others’ snaps.
Conclusion
Retrieving deleted Snapchat messages is practically impossible without illegal hacking methods. The app was designed for privacy through encrypted, ephemeral messaging that disappears. While a few workarounds like linked accounts may recover some deleted Snaps, these are unreliable.
The best way to keep important Snapchats is to save or screenshot them before they are viewed. Otherwise, it’s best to accept that Snaps are temporary and will disappear – that’s the fun and risky part of using Snapchat!