Recovering a deleted Snapchat account after 30 days can be challenging, but may be possible in some cases. Snapchat deletes accounts that have been inactive for 30 days, meaning the account cannot be logged into during that time. Once the 30 days is up, the username is released and can be claimed by someone else. However, there are a few methods users attempt to recover their deleted Snapchat account even after 30 days.
Checking if the Username is Available
The first step is to check if your old Snapchat username is still available to be claimed. To do this:
- Open the Snapchat app and go to the sign up page
- Type in your old username and see if it lets you create an account with it
- If the username is taken, your account may still exist in Snapchat’s system
- If the username is available, your account has likely been permanently deleted
If your username is taken, this means your account may still be restorable since the username has not been recycled back into the pool of available names. However, this does not guarantee the account can be recovered.
Contacting Snapchat Support
The main method people use to try and restore a deleted Snapchat account is to contact Snapchat Support. Here are some tips for contacting support:
- Use this direct link to submit an account deletion appeal: https://support.snapchat.com/accounts
- Clearly explain that you are looking to restore a deleted account and provide the old username
- Give accurate details on when the account was created, previous emails/numbers associated with it, and approximate last login
- Be patient as it may take Snapchat 1-2 weeks to respond to the request
- Keep following up politely if you do not hear back – but know there is no guarantee
Snapchat support has helped some users restore deleted accounts, but not all. They likely can only restore accounts that are still somewhat active in their system, and not those permanently purged.
Using Old Login Credentials
Another recovery method is trying to log into your old account using the saved login credentials:
- On the Snapchat login screen, enter your old username and password
- If they work, you may get into your deleted Snapchat account
- This mainly works if the account was deleted less than 30 days ago
- Beyond 30 days, your credentials will likely fail as the account is wiped
Staying logged into an account on a device before it’s deleted may also allow logging back in later. But after 30 days, your credentials will no longer grant access.
Trying from a Saved Device
Similarly, accessing Snapchat from an old device that still has your account logged in could potentially restore a deleted account for a short time. This takes advantage of the app not forcing an immediate re-login after deletion.
To try this method:
- Find a device like an old phone that still has your Snapchat account logged in
- Connect it to WiFi and open Snapchat to let the app refresh
- With luck your account may be restored, at least temporarily
- But the device will eventually ask you to login again, which will fail after 30 days
This mainly works within the first few weeks, but an account restored on a device will eventually stop working.
Conclusion
In summary, here are some key points on recovering a Snapchat account after 30 days:
- Accounts deactivated for 30+ days are very difficult to restore
- Your old username being taken is a promising sign it still exists
- Contact Snapchat support politely explaining your situation
- Try logging in with old credentials or from an old device
- But realize accounts inactive for over a month are likely gone forever
While not guaranteed, if your username is still taken, contacting Snapchat support is your best chance at account recovery. Be kind, patient, and provide accurate details on your old account. If it has truly been 30+ days, manage your expectations, as the account may be too far gone to retrieve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when you delete Snapchat?
When you delete your Snapchat account, it is deactivated for 30 days before being permanently deleted. During this 30 day window, your profile disappears from view, but your data is still recoverable. After 30 days of inactivity, your username is released and account cannot be restored.
Can Snapchat access deleted accounts?
Snapchat likely retains some data from deleted accounts for a period of time. This allows them to potentially restore accounts that were recently deactivated. However, after approximately 30 days without logins, Snapchat permanently deletes account data and no longer has access.
Is there any way to recover Snapchat memories after deletion?
Unfortunately, your Snapchat memories including photos, videos, and chats are erased when your account is permanently deleted after 30 days. The only way to recover deleted Snapchat data is if you had previously backed up your memories externally before the account deletion.
What happens if you try to log into a deleted Snapchat account?
If you try to log into a Snapchat account that has been deactivated for over 30 days, the login will fail as the account no longer exists. You will have to go through the account creation process again using a new username.
Can someone else take your old Snapchat username if your account is deleted?
Yes, after a Snapchat account is deactivated for 30 days, the associated username is released back into the pool. Another user can then create a new Snapchat account and claim your old username for themselves.
Summary Table
| Time Since Deletion | Account Restoration Options |
|---|---|
| Less than 30 days | Contact support, log in from old device, use old credentials |
| 30-60 days | Contact support if username still taken, low chance of restore |
| 60+ days | Almost impossible to restore, account likely purged from system |
This table summarizes the likelihood of recovering a deleted Snapchat account based on the time since it was deactivated. As shown, after 60 days the account is essentially non-recoverable as all data is typically erased.
Closing Summary
In closing, recovering a deleted Snapchat account gets very difficult after 30 inactive days when the service prepares to permanently erase your data. But checking if your username is still taken and politely contacting Snapchat support provides a small chance, especially in the 30-60 day period after deletion. Beyond this window, accounts are largely gone for good. Overall, act fast if you regret deleting your Snapchat and want any hope of getting it back.