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How can I find an old Snapchat filter?

How can I find an old Snapchat filter?

Snapchat filters allow users to add fun effects and alterations to their photos and videos in the app. Over time, Snapchat rolls out new filters while old ones eventually get retired. If you’re feeling nostalgic for an old favorite Snapchat filter that is no longer around, there are a few different ways you may be able to find and use it again.

Check the Snapchat Filter Archive

One of the easiest ways to find old or retired Snapchat filters is to check the Snapchat Filter Archive. This is a website that archives and catalogs filters that have appeared on Snapchat over the years. The archive allows you to browse through hundreds of old Snapchat filters by year and occasion.

For example, if you’re looking for an old Halloween filter from 2016, you can select that year and holiday on the site and browse through thumbnails of the different Halloween filters that were available. When you find the one you’re looking for, you can click on it to pull up a full-sized image.

The Snapchat Filter Archive is great because it acts as a visual catalog, allowing you to scroll through and identify old Snapchat filters based on the preview images rather than trying to remember their names. The only catch is that the archive doesn’t actually allow you to use the old filters, it simply provides reference images so you know what to look for through other methods.

Search Google and Social Media

If you can’t find a particular old Snapchat filter through the Snapchat Filter Archive site, another place to check is Google image search and social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit.

For Google image search, try descriptive keywords like “Snapchat flower crown filter 2017” or something similar that specifies the type of filter and approximates the time it was available. I recommend adding “Snapchat” as one of the search terms so results are more targeted.

Scour through the image results to see if anyone has posted or saved an image with the old filter you want. If you find it, save the image so you have it for the next steps. You may be able to find the filter on meme sites or posts by other Snapchat users this way too.

On sites like Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit, try searching for your old Snapchat filter using the same descriptive keywords. Look through relevant posts to see if anyone captured or saved the filter image. Social media increases your chances of finding the filter since so many active Snapchat users will tag and share their old Snapchat photos.

Use Snapchat Filter Repositories

There are a number of websites and apps that serve as repositories or libraries for Snapchat filters that you can browse and use. Some popular options include SCFilterFinder.com, SnapchatGeoFilters.com, GeofiltersGallery.com, and GeofiltersForSnapchat.com.

These sites tend to have large collections of user submitted Snapchat filters over the years, including retired or inactive ones. They allow you to search filters by keyword or just browse endless scrolls of thumbnails. When you find your old filter, you can often download it or scan a code to upload it back into your Snapchat app.

The selection of old/retired filters will vary across these sites based on user submissions. Checking a few different repositories increases your chances of tracking down the specific nostalgic filter you want to find.

Check Third-Party Snapchat Apps

There are various third-party Snapchat apps and tools that give you access to extra filters beyond what’s native in Snapchat. Some of these apps have special collections of vintage or retired Snapchat filters that you can’t find elsewhere.

Snapchat++ and MSnap are two third-party apps that are worth checking out if you’re looking for old Snapchat filters. They work similarly to geofilters sites by allowing you to scroll through and preview available filters, then save/upload ones you want to use.

Since Snapchat retire filters to refresh content, these third-party apps are sometimes the only place old favorites still exist. However, be cautious using third-party apps and research credibility, as some compromise security and privacy.

Recreate the Old Filter

If your searches come up empty, don’t lose hope! You can recreate your favorite retired Snapchat filter yourself using photo editing apps. Apps like Adobe Photoshop, Pixelmator, or the built-in Photos editor on iPhone allow you layer text, stickers, and graphic overlays on your photos.

This takes more effort but gives you full customization ability. Trace the key visual elements of the old Snapchat filter as best you can remember. Use similar fonts, icons, graphics, and color schemes. With the right overlays and effects, you can design a made-from-scratch filter true to the original.

Get creative with photo editing until your customized filter gives you the perfect nostalgic vibe. Saving the finished recreation lets you reuse it anytime.

Request the Filter from Snapchat

If you’ve tried all other options with no success finding a particular retired filter, you can try making a direct request to Snapchat. The company brought back a few popular old lenses/filters in the past based on user demand, so it doesn’t hurt asking.

Send an email to Snapchat through their Support contact form asking politely if they can re-release or share the specific filter you want. Explain what the filter looked like, when it was available, and how much it would mean for nostalgia purposes. Be detailed in your description so they know exactly which one you want.

Snapchat likely won’t honor every request, but if enough people ask for the same retired filter it may come back for limited rerun. If Snapchat Support can’t help directly, they may at least point you to an archived copy or third-party app access if available.

Conclusion

Reliving fun memories and nostalgia is a huge part of what makes Snapchat such an enjoyable social app for so many people. With the variety of resources available, it is possible to track down old or retired Snapchat filters you thought were gone forever.

A strategic search leveraging the Snapchat Filter Archive website, Google, social media, third-party apps, and creative editing skills can help you find almost any old filter. If one specific filter is proving impossible to locate, you can try recreating it yourself or petitioning Snapchat Support to bring it back.

With time and persistence, you should be able to unlock whichever old Snapchat filter gives you the most nostalgia. Once found, be sure to save the filter image or files so you can continue using it to spark joy in reminiscing on the past.

Method How It Helps Find Old Snapchat Filters
Snapchat Filter Archive website Visual catalog of old Snapchat filters to browse and identify the one you want
Google image search Search using descriptive keywords to find if anyone has posted images with the old filter
Social media search Look on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Reddit for users who may have shared old Snapchat photos with the filter
Snapchat filter repositories Sites have databases of downloadable user submitted filters including many retired ones
Third-party Snapchat apps Some apps like Snapchat++ and MSnap have special collections of old/vintage Snapchat filters
Recreate filter using editing apps Manually recreate filter by adding text, graphics, overlays matching elements of old filter as best you can remember
Request from Snapchat Email Snapchat Support asking if they can re-release the specific old filter you want to find

FAQs

Where can I find a archive of all old Snapchat filters?

The Snapchat Filter Archive (snapchatfilterarchive.com) has the most comprehensive visual catalog of old and retired Snapchat lenses and filters over the years. It lets you browse and search by year and occasion.

What are some good third-party apps to find old Snapchat filters?

Some third-party apps like Snapchat++, MSnap, and Snaplife have collections of vintage Snapchat filters. However use caution as some third-party apps can compromise privacy.

How can I recreate old Snapchat filters myself?

You can manually recreate old Snapchat filters using photo editing apps like Photoshop, Pixelmator, or built-in Photos editor on iPhone. Add text overlays, graphics, icons, etc to match elements of the old filter as you remember it.

Can I request Snapchat bring back my favorite discontinued filter?

You can email Snapchat Support and politely ask if they can re-release a specific filter, explaining what it looked like and why it’s meaningful to you. They may honor popular requests.

If I lost some old Snapchat photos, can I still find the filters used?

Even without the original photos, you may be able to find the filters used by browsing sites like the Snapchat Filter Archive for the timeframe they were available.