A factory reset, also known as a hard reset or master reset, is the process of restoring a device back to its default factory settings. This means that all data, settings, and installed apps will be wiped from the device. So does performing a factory reset on your phone delete Snapchat and all of its data? Let’s take a closer look.
Does a Factory Reset Delete Snapchat Data?
Yes, performing a factory reset on your phone will delete Snapchat along with all of its data. When you do a reset, all apps that were downloaded onto the device will be uninstalled. This includes social media apps like Snapchat.
In addition, doing a factory reset removes all user data stored on the device. For Snapchat, this means that your Snapchat account itself will remain but all local app data will be erased:
- Your Snapchat login credentials will be removed from the app
- Your Snapchat bitmoji will be deleted
- Your Snapchat settings and preferences will be reset
- Your Snapchat contacts list will be wiped out
- All Snapchat conversations and message history will be erased
- Your Snapchat photos, videos, and stories will be deleted
So in summary, a factory reset removes the Snapchat app and all account data that was saved locally on your device. Your Snapchat account still exists on Snapchat’s servers, but you’ll have to login and set up Snapchat again after the reset as if it’s a brand new device.
Will a Reset Delete Snapchat Content Saved to the Cloud?
Performing a factory reset will not delete Snapchat content that you have saved to Snapchat’s cloud servers. This includes:
- Snapchat Memories – photos and videos saved to Memories are stored on Snapchat’s servers
- Snapchat Stories – public stories are saved on Snapchat’s servers
- Snapchat Chat – chat conversations are stored temporarily on Snapchat’s servers
So any Snaps, videos, stories or conversations that have been backed up to Snapchat’s online storage will not be affected by a factory reset. They will still be retained in your account.
However, keep in mind a reset will remove the local Snapchat app data and cache from your device. So even cloud-saved Snapchat data will need to be re-downloaded onto your device after the reset.
What Happens to Snapchat Account After a Reset?
Here’s a summary of what happens to your Snapchat account when you factory reset your phone:
- The Snapchat app will be deleted from your device
- All local Snapchat data on your device will be wiped out
- Your Snapchat account and profile will remain unchanged
- Cloud-saved Snapchat content will remain in your account
- You’ll need to reinstall Snapchat and re-login to your account
- You’ll need to reconfigure Snapchat settings and preferences
- You’ll need to re-download cloud content to view it in the app
So in short, the account continues to exist but it will appear as a new device to Snapchat. You can access the account again by logging in after reinstalling the app.
How to Backup Snapchat Before Factory Reset
To make sure you don’t lose any important Snapchat data, you should do a Snapchat backup before resetting your device:
Back Up to Snapchat Memories
The easiest way to backup Snapchat is to save photos, videos, and stories to Memories. Anything saved in Memories gets stored on Snapchat’s cloud servers so it won’t be deleted in a factory reset.
Use Google Drive Backup
You can backup Snapchat data to Google Drive on Android. This will save some account data like your bitmoji avatar, as well as some chat history.
Transfer to New Phone
You can create a backup by transferring your Snapchat account to a new phone. This saves some data like settings and your friends list.
External App Backup
There are third-party apps available that can create backups of Snapchat data and media.
Doing an appropriate backup using one of these methods will ensure you don’t permanently lose important Snapchat content and can restore your account after the factory reset.
How to Restore Snapchat After Factory Reset
Once you have reset your phone, follow these steps to restore and access your Snapchat account again:
- Reinstall the Snapchat app from the app store
- Open Snapchat and login using your account credentials
- Snapchat will detect it’s a new device and you’ll need to re-verify your number
- Set up your profile and settings in Snapchat as desired
- If you did a backup, transfer or restore that data into Snapchat
- Re-download any cloud-saved content like Memories back onto your phone
While it takes some time to set Snapchat back up again, this process will allow you to access your account and data after doing a factory reset on your device.
Conclusion
Performing a factory reset or master reset on your phone will delete the Snapchat app and all locally-saved account data. However, your Snapchat account continues to exist online and cloud-saved content remains in your account after the reset.
To make sure you don’t lose Snapchat info, do a backup to the cloud or external app before resetting your device. After the reset, you can restore your account by reinstalling Snapchat and logging in. While the app will need to be set up again, this will recover your account and allow you to access cloud-saved Snapchat data.
So in summary:
- Factory reset removes local app data but not cloud data
- Backup Snapchat before reset to avoid permanent data loss
- Reinstall app and login after reset to restore account access
Following this process will help you successfully reset your phone while keeping your Snapchat account intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does factory reset delete my Snapchat account?
No, a factory reset does not delete or remove your Snapchat account. Your account still exists online after the reset. However, the app and local data will be erased from your device.
Can I recover my Snapchat after a reset?
Yes, you can recover your Snapchat account after a factory reset by reinstalling Snapchat and logging in with your credentials. This will allow you to access your account again and re-download cloud-saved data.
Will Snapchat automatically back up my data?
Snapchat does not automatically backup all Snapchat data. Some content like Memories and Stories get saved to Snapchat’s cloud, but other data only exists locally. You need to manually save Snaps you want backed up.
How can I tell if my Snapchat data is backed up?
Check your Snapchat Memories – if photos and videos are saved there, they are stored on Snapchat’s servers. Also check your Snapchat settings to see if you have Snapchat backup enabled in Google Drive or iCloud.
How do I restore my Snapchat Memories after reset?
After reinstalling Snapchat and logging in, your backed up Memories should automatically resync. You can also manually restore Memories in the Snapchat app from the Memories tab.
Table Summarizing Effect of Factory Reset on Snapchat Data
| Snapchat Data | Deleted by Reset? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Snapchat app | Yes | App will be uninstalled from device |
| Snapchat account | No | Account continues to exist online |
| Bitmoji | Yes | Deleted from device, but can be recreated |
| Chat conversations | Yes | Lost unless backed up to Snapchat cloud |
| Memories | No | Remain in account cloud storage |
| Stories | No | Public stories remain on Snapchat servers |
| Snaps | Yes | Must be saved to Memories to be retained |
Summary of Key Steps
Here are the key steps to retain your Snapchat account when factory resetting your phone:
- Backup important Snapchats you want to keep
- Save Snaps, Stories, photos/videos to Memories
- Enable Snapchat backup in Google Drive or iCloud
- Transfer Snapchat data to new phone if possible
- Perform factory reset on your phone
- Reinstall Snapchat app
- Login to your Snapchat account
- Restore Memories and other cloud content
- Enjoy access to your Snapchat account again!
Conclusion
Factory resetting your phone will delete the Snapchat app and locally-saved data. However, with the proper backups, you can safely reset your device while retaining your account and cloud-saved Snapchat content.
Be sure to backup your important Snapchats prior to resetting your phone. After the reset is complete, you can quickly restore your Snapchat account and all of its data with just a few simple steps. Using cloud backups and Snapchat’s online storage ensures you won’t lose access to your snapshots, stories, or account when doing a factory reset.