Sometimes you may want to take a break from Snapchat for a little while without deleting your account entirely. Snapchat allows you to temporarily deactivate your account, which hides your profile and snaps while keeping all of your data intact. Your friends won’t be able to search for you or view your stories during the time your account is deactivated. It’s easy to deactivate your Snapchat account either from the app or from a web browser on your computer. Here’s how to do it.
How to Temporarily Deactivate Snapchat from the App
The easiest way to temporarily deactivate your Snapchat account is directly through the Snapchat mobile app. Here are the steps:
On an iOS Device
1. Open the Snapchat app and tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
2. Scroll down and tap the gear icon to access your Settings.
3. Scroll down again and tap Account Actions.
4. Tap the Temporarily deactivate my account button.
5. On the pop-up prompt, tap Continue to confirm you want to deactivate your account.
On an Android Device
1. Open the Snapchat app and tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
2. Tap the gear icon to access your Settings.
3. Scroll down and tap Manage Account.
4. Tap Account Actions.
5. Tap the Temporarily deactivate my account button.
6. On the pop-up prompt, tap Continue to confirm you want to deactivate your account.
And that’s it! Snapchat will immediately deactivate your account so your profile and snaps are hidden from other users.
How to Reactivate Your Snapchat Account
When you’re ready to start using Snapchat again, reactivating your account is simple. Just log back into Snapchat with your username and password. Your account will automatically be reactivated with all of your friends, snaps, and settings intact.
Here are the steps to log back in and reactivate your Snapchat:
1. Open the Snapchat app and tap Log In on the landing page.
2. Enter your Snapchat username and password and tap Log In.
3. Snapchat will detect your deactivated account and prompt you to reactivate it. Tap Reactivate.
4. You may need to complete a Captcha verification. Follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Your Snapchat account will instantly be reactivated. You can start snapping your friends right away!
How to Temporarily Deactivate Snapchat from a Computer
If you don’t have access to your mobile device, you can also deactivate your Snapchat account from a web browser on your computer. Here’s how:
1. Go to accounts.snapchat.com and log into your Snapchat account.
2. Click your profile icon at the top right and select Settings from the drop down menu.
3. Scroll down to the bottom and click Deactivate Account under ACCOUNT ACTIONS.
4. On the pop-up prompt, click CONTINUE to confirm you want to deactivate.
Your account will instantly be deactivated. To reactivate, simply log back into your Snapchat account on the app or website.
How Long Does Snapchat Account Deactivation Last?
When you temporarily deactivate your Snapchat account, it will remain deactivated for at least 30 days. After 30 days have passed, you can log back in at any time to reactivate your account.
If you wait longer than 30 days to reactivate, Snapchat will automatically delete your account and remove your data after 280 days of inactivity. So make sure to log back in within 280 days if you want to keep your Snapchat account.
What Happens When Your Snapchat Account is Deactivated
Here’s an overview of what happens to your Snapchat account when you temporarily deactivate it:
- Your profile will not be visible to other Snapchat users.
- You will not show up in search results.
- Your friends will not be able to view your stories.
- You will stop receiving snaps and chats.
- Your Bitmoji will no longer be updated.
- Your Snapscore will be frozen.
- Your memories and data are retained.
- You can reactivate your account at any time within 30 days.
So deactivating your account essentially puts it on hold – you disappear from Snapchat, but all of your information remains safely stored for when you return.
Reasons to Temporarily Deactivate Your Snapchat Account
Here are some common reasons why people choose to temporarily deactivate their Snapchat accounts:
- You need a break from social media and want to disconnect for a while.
- You have exams or work projects and don’t want to be distracted.
- You’re going on vacation and know you won’t use Snapchat.
- You want a break after a breakup with a partner who is on Snapchat.
- You’re tired of keeping up with so many Snapchat contacts.
- You need to focus and are spending too much time on Snapchat.
The great thing about deactivating (rather than deleting your account) is that it’s temporary. You can take a break from Snapchat without losing everything you’ve built up on your profile.
What Gets Deleted When You Deactivate Your Snapchat Account
When your Snapchat account is deactivated:
– Your profile and data are hidden but NOT deleted.
– Your memories (snaps, stories, etc) are all retained.
– Your account remains dormant but intact for 30 days.
– You can reactivate your account at any time during the 30 days to restore everything.
The only thing that will be permanently deleted is unopened snaps sent to you after deactivation. Since your account is dormant, any new snaps will not be able to be opened.
But worry not, all of your existing snaps, stories, memories, and data will still be there when you reactivate your Snapchat within 30 days.
Can You Use Snapchat Again While Deactivated?
No, you cannot use Snapchat while your account is temporarily deactivated. You will be logged out of the app and your profile will not be searchable or viewable to other users.
You will essentially be invisible on Snapchat until you log back in and reactivate your account. So if you want to use Snapchat during the time your account is deactivated, you will have to first go through the reactivation process.
Should I Deactivate or Delete My Snapchat Account?
If you need a break from Snapchat for a while, deactivating your account is better than deleting it. Here’s a comparison:
Deactivate Account | Delete Account |
---|---|
Temporarily hides profile and data | Permanently erases profile and data |
Can reactivate anytime within 30 days | Cannot recover deleted account |
Keeps Snaps, Stories, Memories | Erases Snaps, Stories, Memories |
Snapscore is frozen | Snapscore is reset to 0 |
As you can see, deactivating your account is reversible and preserves your information in case you change your mind. Deleting your account is permanent and you cannot recover anything that was deleted.
So unless you are absolutely certain you want to delete your Snapchat and its data forever, deactivating is typically the better option for a temporary break.
How to Permanently Delete Your Snapchat Account
If you do decide you want to permanently delete your Snapchat account, it’s a little more complex than temporarily deactivating:
1. On your mobile device or computer, log into your Snapchat account.
2. Go to your Account Settings and click on Delete Account under Account Actions.
3. Select Delete My Account on the confirmation page.
4. Enter your username and password and click Continue.
5. Complete the Captcha challenge.
6. Select the “Delete My Account” button one final time.
Once you complete these steps, your Snapchat account and all associated data is permanently deleted. There is no way to retrieve it, so only delete if you are absolutely sure.
Conclusion
Temporarily deactivating your Snapchat account allows you to take a break while preserving your profile information to restore later. It hides your account from other users for at least 30 days until you log back in to reactivate it.
To deactivate on mobile, go into your Snapchat Settings. On desktop, use the Snapchat website. Make sure to log back in within 30 days if you want to keep your account. Deactivating is the best option if you want time away from Snapchat but aren’t ready to delete your account forever.