Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps that allows users to share photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. However, sometimes users may accidentally delete a Snapchat photo that they wanted to keep. The good news is that with the right tools, it is possible to recover deleted Snapchat pictures on an iPhone.
Can you recover deleted Snapchat photos?
Yes, it is possible to recover deleted Snapchat photos on an iPhone. When you take a photo on Snapchat, the image is saved in the app’s cache on your device before being uploaded to Snapchat’s servers. Even after a Snapchat is viewed and disappears from the app, the image may still be cached locally on your device.
By using data recovery software or digging into your iPhone’s file system, you can find and restore Snapchat photos that have been cached but marked as deleted. However, the success rate depends on whether the cache has been overwritten with new data since the deletion.
How to recover deleted Snapchat photos on iPhone
Here are the main methods for recovering deleted Snapchat pictures on an iPhone:
Method 1: Use data recovery software
Data recovery software provides the easiest way to restore deleted Snapchat photos on an iPhone. These apps can scan the iPhone’s storage for residual data from deleted Snapchat images. Some top data recovery apps for iOS devices include:
- iMyFone D-Back – Recovers Snapchat photos from iPhone cache and extracts Snapchat data from iTunes or iCloud backups.
- Fonelab – Retrieves deleted Snapchats by scanning the iPhone storage or from iCloud backup.
- iSkysoft Toolbox – Restores deleted Snapchat photos, videos, and messages from the iPhone cache.
To use a data recovery app to restore deleted Snapchat pictures on an iPhone:
- Download and install the data recovery app on your computer.
- Connect the iPhone to the computer and launch the app.
- Allow the app to scan the iPhone storage for residual Snapchat files.
- Preview and select the deleted Snapchat photos you want to recover.
- Restore the deleted Snapchats to your computer or back to the iPhone.
Method 2: Retrieve from iTunes or iCloud backup
If you have an iTunes or iCloud backup of your iPhone containing the deleted Snapchat photos, you can use the backup to restore the images.
For an iTunes backup, connect your iPhone to the computer, launch iTunes, and restore from the desired backup containing the Snapchats. The photos should return to your Camera Roll after the restore.
For an iCloud backup, you first need to use data recovery software to extract the backup data to your computer. Then browse the extracted iCloud backup files and look for the Snapchat photos in the com.toyopagroup.picaboo folder.
Method 3: Find Snapchat cache files using a file explorer
You can view and access deleted Snapchat picture files directly on an iPhone using a file explorer app. Apps like iExplorer and iMazing let you browse your iPhone’s file system and find cached Snapchat data.
To recover deleted Snapchats using a file explorer:
- Install and open the file explorer app on your computer.
- Connect your iPhone and grant the app access to the files.
- Navigate to the Snapchat data folder:
/private/var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/[Snapchat Folder]/Library/Cache/ - Search for and preview .jpg files to find your deleted Snapchats.
- Recover the photos to your computer or back to the iPhone Camera Roll.
Tips for recovering deleted Snapchat photos
Follow these tips when trying to restore permanently deleted Snapchats on your iPhone:
- Act quickly – The sooner you use data recovery methods after deletion, the better.
- Avoid overwriting – Don’t save new data like photos or apps to your iPhone that could overwrite the Snapchat cache.
- Check your backups – Backup your iPhone regularly so you have backups containing the deleted Snapchats.
- Turn on My Eyes Only – Snapchat’s My Eyes Only feature password-protects your photos for extra security.
- Close Snapchat completely – Make sure Snapchat is fully closed before scanning for deleted photos.
Can you recover deleted Snapchat messages?
Unfortunately, recovering deleted Snapchat messages (chat conversations) is not as straightforward as recovering Snapchat photos. There is no permanent local cache of chat messages stored on your iPhone.
However, some data recovery apps claim they can restore Snapchat chats by extracting Snapchat data from an iTunes or iCloud backup file. This involves jailbreaking the iPhone to bypass encryption.
The easiest way to keep deleted Snapchat messages is to save them before they are deleted. You can do this by:
- Using the Chat Export feature in Snapchat to save message history.
- Taking screenshots of the messages.
- Using third-party apps to automatically save Snapchat messages.
Conclusion
While Snapchat deletes photos seconds after they are viewed, the images may remain cached on your iPhone for a limited time. Using data recovery software is the most effective way to restore permanently deleted Snapchats from your iPhone’s storage. Just make sure to act quickly before the cache is overwritten.
Unfortunately, retrieving deleted Snapchat messages is not as easy and requires either specialized data recovery tools or a prior backup containing the messages. The best approach is exporting or screenshotting your Snapchats before they are deleted.
With the right tools and techniques, you have a good chance of recovering disappeared Snapchat photos on an iPhone. But ultimately, it’s still best to be careful about what media you share and double-check before permanently deleting valuable Snapchat memories.