Yes, you can delete a Snap before someone opens it on Snapchat. When you send a Snap, it is not saved by default – it will disappear after being viewed once by the recipient. However, there are a couple ways you can delete a Snap you’ve sent before the recipient opens it:
- Unsend the Snap – If you tap and hold on the Snap you want to unsend in your chat, an option will pop up to delete the Snap. This will remove the Snap before it’s opened.
- Delete the conversation – You can also delete the entire conversation with the recipient, which will delete all unopened Snaps. Just tap and hold on the conversation in your Chats screen.
Keep in mind that once the recipient opens the Snap, it cannot be deleted or recovered. The Snap will be removed from the conversation after being viewed.
Some key things to know about deleting Snaps:
Unsending vs. Deleting
- Unsending – Unsends an individual Snap before it’s viewed. You can tap and hold a sent Snap to unsend.
- Deleting – Deletes the entire conversation, removing all unopened Snaps. Tap and hold the conversation to delete.
Notification
If you unsend or delete a Snap, the recipient will see a notification that a message has been deleted in the conversation. So they will know a Snap had been sent and then removed.
Opened Snaps
Once a Snap has been opened by the recipient, it cannot be deleted or recovered by the sender. After being viewed once, the Snap will be automatically deleted.
How Long You Can Delete
You only have a limited time window to delete an unopened Snap:
- Unsend – You can unsend for up to 10 seconds after sending the Snap.
- Delete conversation – You can delete a conversation as long as the Snaps have not been opened.
So if you want to remove a Snap, you need to act fast before the recipient opens it.
When You Might Want to Delete a Snap
There are a few common scenarios where you may want to delete a Snap you’ve sent:
You Sent It to the Wrong Person
We’ve all been there – you meant to send a Snap to one friend but accidentally sent it to someone else. Unsending allows you to quickly fix your mistake before the wrong recipient sees it.
It Contains a Typo or Mistake
Spotted a typo or error in your Snap? Unsend it and quickly send a corrected version before the other person notices.
You Changed Your Mind About Sending It
Having second thoughts about a Snap you sent? Perhaps it contains something embarrassing or that you’d rather not share. Unsend it immediately to remove any traces of it.
You Want It to Disappear Faster
Want a risqué or secret Snap to disappear really quickly without the recipient having time to screenshot it? Delete the whole conversation right after sending to remove the evidence swiftly.
Unsending vs Deleting Conversations
While both unsending and deleting conversations will remove unopened Snaps, there are some differences:
| Unsending | Deleting Conversation |
|---|---|
| Removes an individual Snap | Removes the entire conversation/all Snaps |
| Can only unsend for 10 seconds after sending | Can delete anytime as long as Snaps are unopened |
| Recipient sees “Message deleted” notification | Recipient sees conversation disappeared |
So if you just want to remove one regrettable Snap, unsend is more precise. But if you want to nuke the whole conversation and all unopened Snaps, deleting the whole thing is more effective.
Steps to Unsend a Snap
Unsending a Snap you’ve sent is easy, just follow these steps:
- In your Chat screen, press and hold the Snap you want to unsend.
- An option will pop up saying “Unsend this Snap”. Tap it.
- A confirmation message will appear saying “Snap unsent”.
And that’s it! The Snap will be removed as long as the recipient has not opened it yet.
If you accidentally tapped the wrong Snap or changed your mind, just tap “Cancel” to stop the unsend.
Time Limit
Remember, you only have up to 10 seconds after sending to unsend a Snap, so act fast!
Steps to Delete a Conversation
To delete an entire conversation and all unopened Snaps:
- Go to your Chats screen and press and hold the conversation you want to delete.
- Tap “Delete Conversation” on the pop-up.
- Confirm the delete. The conversation will be removed from your chats (as long as the Snaps had not been opened).
This will completely wipe the conversation and all traces of any unopened Snaps you sent.
Time Limit
You can delete a conversation at any time as long as the Snaps have not been viewed. Once they’ve been opened, the option to delete will disappear.
Recovering Deleted Snaps
Unfortunately, once you delete a Snap or conversation, there is no way to recover it – that content is gone permanently. Some things to keep in mind:
- You cannot retrieve deleted Snaps or conversations on Snapchat. The content is erased from Snapchat’s servers.
- If you accidentally deleted a Snap or conversation, the only way the recipient could recover it is if they took a screenshot before it was deleted.
- You cannot back up or save Snapchat messages through the app, so be certain before deleting.
The ephemeral nature of Snaps means once they’re gone, they’re really gone. So only delete content that you’re absolutely sure you want to erase permanently.
Conclusion
Deleting Snaps on Snapchat before they’re opened is easy – just unsend individual Snaps or delete full conversations. This can be useful for fixing mistakes or removing regrettable Snaps you’ve sent.
However, be cautious when deleting Snaps as they cannot be recovered. Only delete a Snap if you’re entirely sure, and always double check who you’re sending sensitive Snaps to avoid sending them to the wrong person accidentally. With the power to unsend comes responsibility!