Snapchat is a popular social media app that lets users send photo and video messages that disappear after being viewed. One of Snapchat’s key features is that by default, snaps, stories, and memories are deleted after 24 hours. This creates an ephemeral experience where users can share casual moments without worrying about them sticking around permanently.
However, sometimes users regret not saving certain snaps and want to recover Snapchat memories that disappeared. So is it possible to retrieve Snapchat memories that weren’t backed up?
Can You Recover Unsaved Snapchat Memories?
Unfortunately, if you did not save the Snapchat messages, photos, or stories to Memories or screenshot them before they disappeared, it is generally not possible to recover them after the fact.
Here’s why:
- Snapchat deletes unopened snaps from their servers after 30 days.
- Opened snap messages are automatically deleted from Snapchat’s servers after the recipient views them.
- Stories disappear after 24 hours and are also deleted from Snapchat’s servers.
- By default, Memories expire after 30 days unless you save them to your phone’s storage.
So unless you have a saved copy on your device or on Snapchat’s cloud storage, there is no way to retrieve ephemeral Snapchat content after it expires. The app is designed this way to create temporary sharing experiences that reflect real-life interactions.
When Can You Recover Deleted Snapchat Memories?
While Snapchat deletes unbacked up content after 24 hours or 30 days, there are a few cases where you may be able to retrieve deleted snaps and stories:
- If you accidentally deleted a snap or story that was less than 30 days old from Memories, you can recover it using Snapchat’s My Data feature.
- If another recipient took a screenshot of a snap you sent them and they share it with you, you can save it before it disappears again.
- On Android devices, snapshots of Snapchat photos may be retained in the internal storage folder /sdcard/snapchat/pending.
- Some Android data recovery apps claim they can restore recently deleted Snapchat files if you act quickly.
However, these methods only work on very recently expired snaps and stories, usually within 7-30 days. Anything older than that cannot be recovered through official means if not saved previously.
How to Backup Snapchat Memories You Want to Keep
To make sure you don’t lose Snapchat memories you want to cherish:
- Save photos, videos, and stories to Memories: Tap the Save icon or go to Memories tab > Save.
- Frequently post Stories as Highlights: They won’t expire and people can view them anytime.
- Screenshot Snaps before they disappear: To save chats, images sent, etc.
- Use Snapchat’s My Data tool to download your content.
- Save chat conversations before they are deleted.
- Enable auto-saving for Memories in Snapchat’s settings.
Doing this ensures you have copies of your favorite Snapchat moments that won’t just disappear after 24 hours.
Can You Recover Deleted Snapchat Account?
If your entire Snapchat account was deleted and you want to retrieve it, the options are limited:
- If deleted within 30 days, you can recover your account using account recovery on Snapchat’s website. This restores your friends, snaps, chats, etc.
- After 30 days, your account cannot be restored. You have to create a new account.
- Snapchat does not provide data downloads for deleted accounts.
- You cannot restore a deleted account by contacting Snapchat support.
So make sure not to delete your Snapchat account unless you are absolutely certain.
Third-Party Snapchat Recovery Apps
There are a few third-party apps that claim they can recover deleted Snapchat messages, such as:
- SnapBack
- Snapbox
- SnapRecall
- SnapCrack
However, proceed with caution as many of these have privacy issues or do not work as advertised. They likely cannot recover snaps beyond 7-30 days old.
These tools work by:
- Accessing cached Snapchat files on your device.
- Using root or jailbreak access to extract Snapchat data.
- Automating Snapchat snapshots before messages disappear.
But no app can magically recover already deleted snaps from Snapchat’s servers. And they introduce security risks by obtaining so much access to your phone.
Conclusion
While Snapchat is designed to provide ephemeral sharing, it is possible to save memories you want to keep forever. Make sure to frequently save snaps, stories, and chats to Memories or backups. This is the only official way to recover Snapchat memories after they have disappeared.
If you did not save a snap before it expired, unfortunately there is no way to get it back from Snapchat’s servers after 24 hours. Be mindful when using Snapchat and save your favorite moments before they are gone for good. With proper backups, you won’t have to regret not saving that hilarious snap again!