Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people. The app allows users to share fun, spontaneous photos and videos that disappear after viewing. While this ephemeral nature is part of Snapchat’s appeal, it can also lead to regret over lost memories.
Luckily, there are ways to save your Snapchat photos before they vanish. With a few simple tricks, you can back up your entire Snapchat camera roll so you can reminisce over old Snaps for years to come.
Why You Should Backup Your Snapchat Pictures
Here are some key reasons why backing up your Snapchat memories is a good idea:
- Preserve funny or meaningful Snaps – Snapchat photos often capture hilarious, sentimental, or memorable moments you’ll want to keep.
- Remember friends and events – Snaps can serve as nostalgic reminders of friends, parties, trips, and other special occasions.
- Recover lost data – Backing up provides a safety net in case of accidental deletion or app malfunctions.
- Free up storage space – Backing up clears up storage on your mobile device.
- Enjoy Snaps on other platforms – You can easily share backed-up Snapchat photos on other social media or via messaging/email.
How to Download Your Snapchat Memories
Snapchat provides an official way to save your Snaps. Here’s how to download your Snapchat data on iPhone or Android:
On iPhone
- Open the Snapchat app and tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Tap the gear icon to access Settings.
- Scroll down and select “My Data.”
- Tap “Submit Request.” Snapchat will start compiling your data.
- When your download is ready (within 24-48 hours), open Snapchat and you will receive an in-app notification.
- Tap the notification, then “Download My Data.” This will download a ZIP file containing your Snaps and other Snapchat data.
- Open the ZIP file on your computer to view your Snapchat camera roll and memories.
On Android
- Open the Snapchat app and tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Tap the gear icon to access Settings.
- Scroll down and select “My Data.”
- Tap “Submit Request.” Snapchat will start compiling your data.
- When your download is ready (within 24-48 hours), open Snapchat and you will receive an in-app notification.
- Tap the notification, then “Download My Data.” This may prompt you to re-enter your Snapchat password.
- The ZIP file will download to your device’s Downloads folder. Open it to access your Snapchats.
This official method requires some patience, but it’s the only way to download your full Snapchat camera roll. The downloaded ZIP file also includes your Snapchat Memories.
How to Save Individual Snapchat Pictures
If you only want to save certain Snaps, there are quicker methods. Here are some ways to save individual Snapchats:
Use a Screenshot
The simplest way to save a Snap is to take a screenshot. To screenshot on iPhone, simultaneously press the Home button and Power button. On Android, press Volume Down and Power at the same time. Just beware the other person will receive a notification you took a screenshot.
Use Airplane Mode
You can stealthily save a Snap by activating Airplane Mode before opening it. Airplane Mode prevents the notification from sending when you screenshot. Don’t forget to deactivate Airplane Mode afterwards!
Use a Third-Party App
Apps like SaveSnap and Snapbox allow you to secretly record Snaps. You’ll have to grant them accessibility permissions. Other apps embed Snaps into their own interface so screenshots don’t trigger notifications. Just check app ratings since some third-party apps get banned.
Use a Friend’s Phone
If all else fails, you can screenshot a Snap using a friend’s phone. Just be sure your friend logs out after to prevent snooping!
How to Save Snapchat Pictures on iPhone
iPhones have some built-in tools that make it easy to save Snapchats.
Save to Camera Roll
When viewing a Snap, tap the downward arrow icon in the bottom left. This will save the Snap directly to your Camera Roll. The other person will NOT be notified.
Use QuickTime Screen Recording
- Open QuickTime and click File > New Screen Recording.
- Grant QuickTime permission to record your screen.
- Tap the red Record button, then open and view the Snap you want to save.
- When done, tap the Stop button in the QS toolbar at the top and the video will save to your Photos app.
- You can then extract the still frame as a photo.
How to Save Snapchat Pictures on Android
It’s a bit trickier to save individual Snaps on Android, but still possible with some tinkering of your settings.
Enable Developer Options
First, you need to enable Developer options on your Android. Open Settings > About Phone and tap “Build number” 7 times. Return to Settings, now you’ll see Developer options.
Turn Off Auto-Update
In Developer Options, disable “Auto update apps at any time.” This prevents Snapchat from auto-updating when you use an older version of the app.
Install Old Snapchat APK
Search online to find an APK file for an old version of Snapchat, like 10.22.2. This version didn’t have screenshot blocking. Install the old APK on your device.
Save Snaps
Use the old Snapchat app to freely screenshot or record any Snaps! Just don’t forget to re-enable auto updates later.
Third-Party Snapchat Saver Apps
In addition to the official Snapchat tools, there are various third-party apps designed specifically for saving Snaps. Here are some top options:
SnapSave
SnapSave is a popular app for iOS and Android that lets you secretly save Snaps as videos or photos. You can save entire Stories or just certain Snaps. The app runs in the background without detection.
SaveMySnaps
SaveMySnaps is available for iOS and Android. It records Snaps in the background and saves them to your camera roll. The app includes options like passcode protection and cloud backups.
Snapbox
Snapbox is an Android app that silently records your Snaps and Stories. It can detect Snapchat UI elements so you get clean recordings without overlays. Saved Snaps are organized in the app.
Casper
Casper takes a different approach by integrating Snapchat into a new interface designed for saving. You can post Snaps and view Stories while having the ability to save anything without being detected.
Cloud Storage for Snapchat Backups
Once you’ve saved your Snapchat photos, you’ll want to make sure they’re properly backed up. The best practice is to backup your Snapchat memories to cloud storage. Here are some top options:
Google Photos
Google Photos gives you free, unlimited cloud storage for photos and videos up to 16MP and 1080p resolution. It has apps for iOS and Android plus a web interface. Google uses AI for searchable backups.
iCloud
iCloud seamlessly integrates with iPhone, automatically backing up photos including saved Snapchats. You get 5GB of free iCloud storage or can pay for up to 2TB of space.
Dropbox
Dropbox offers 2-3GB of free storage space on its secure cloud servers. Snapchats saved to your camera roll are automatically backed up. Paying subscribers can get up to 2TB of Dropbox space.
OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive gives you 5GB of cloud storage for free. It has apps for all major platforms and backs up camera rolls automatically. Upgrade to 100GB or more of storage for a monthly fee.
How to Recover Deleted Snapchat Memories
Accidents happen and you may end up deleting valuable Snapchat memories you want back. Here are some last resort techniques to try recovering deleted Snaps.
Restore from iCloud or Google Photos Backup
If your Snaps were backed up to iCloud or Google Photos, you may be able to restore recently deleted photos from those services.
Use Data Recovery Software
If you don’t have a backup, data recovery software like EaseUS MobiSaver may be able to scan your device and restore deleted Snapchats if they weren’t fully overwritten.
Check Snapchat Memories
Any Snaps you manually saved to Snapchat Memories would still be intact there after accidental deletion from your camera roll.
Ask the Sender
As a last ditch effort, you can ask the sender if they still have the Snap in their Memories and request they resend it.
Conclusion
Snapchat may intend photos to be ephemeral, but thankfully there are myriad ways to save Snapchats and back them up before they vanish. Using the tools and apps outlined above, you can preserve all your memorable and hilarious Snapchat moments for many years to come. So get out there and start snapping – your Snapchat memories will now live on long after they would otherwise disappear.