Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. While Snapchat markets itself as an ephemeral messaging app, there are ways to save your Snapchat conversations so you can look back on them later.
Why save Snapchat conversations?
There are a few reasons why you may want to save your Snapchat conversations:
- Look back on memories and inside jokes
- Keep important conversations for future reference
- Have a record of transactional conversations (e.g. making plans with friends)
- Save sentimental messages from loved ones
- Keep conversations as evidence if needed
While Snapchat’s ephemeral nature has its benefits, sometimes you want to preserve meaningful or important conversations. With the right methods, you can save Snapchat messages indefinitely.
How to save Snapchat conversations
There are a few different ways to save your Snapchat messages and ensure your conversations are available forever.
Use a Snapchat saver app
The easiest way to save all your Snapchat chats is by using a third-party Snapchat saver app. These apps run in the background and automatically save any incoming and outgoing messages within Snapchat.
Popular options include:
- Snapsave – Automatically saves messages and stories. Available for iOS and Android.
- Snapsaver – Saves Snapchat messages, photos, videos. iOS only.
- Snapbox – Records your Snaps and messages. iOS and Android.
When choosing a Snapchat saver app, look for one that is trusted, has solid user reviews, and won’t get your account banned. Make sure to enable notifications so you can discreetly screenshot any disappearing content.
Use Airplane Mode to unlock screenshots
Snapchat prevents you from taking screenshots to stop message saving. However, you can bypass this restriction by activating Airplane Mode on your device before taking a screenshot.
Here’s how:
- Open the Snapchat message you want to save.
- Enable Airplane Mode on your phone to cut off internet access.
- Screenshot the Snapchat message.
- Disable Airplane Mode to go back online.
Since internet is disabled in Airplane Mode, Snapchat won’t know you took a screenshot. Just remember to close the message before going back online, or Snapchat will notify your friend.
Use another camera to photograph messages
If you don’t want to fuss with Airplane Mode, simply use another camera to photograph the message. You can either:
- Use another phone or camera to take a photo of your device’s screen.
- Connect a camera to a selfie stick and position it above your phone to photograph messages.
While this method takes a bit more effort, it allows you to save Snapchats without any workarounds. Just be sure your external camera is positioned above the message at the right angle.
Use screen recording to capture messages
Your smartphone likely has a built-in screen recorder you can enable to record videos of your Snapchat activity. Here’s how to use screen recording to save messages:
- On an iPhone, enable screen recording in Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls.
- On Android, enable screen recording through Settings or by swiping down from the top of your screen and tapping the screen record icon.
- Open the Snapchat message you want to save.
- Begin a screen recording.
- With the recording in progress, open and screenshot the Snap you want to keep.
- Stop the recording.
- You can now view the screenshot in your camera roll and the full video in your photos app.
This allows you to capture both pictures and videos without notifying the sender. Just be sure to close the Snap before stopping your recording.
Use Snapchat web to save conversations
Snapchat’s web version at snapchat.com allows you to seamlessly save your conversations. To do so:
- Go to snapchat.com and log in to your account.
- Use the web browser’s screenshot feature to capture any messages you want to keep.
- Snapchat won’t detect you took screenshots using the web browser.
- Find your saved screenshots in your computer’s screenshot folder location.
One thing to note is the web version only shows a limited messaging history, so it’s best to screenshot conversations soon after opening them.
Use a Snapchat Unlocker service
There are third-party services like SnapUnlocker that can extract and download your messaging history to your computer. Here’s an overview of how these Snapchat unlocker services work:
- You provide your Snapchat login details to their secure system.
- The service privately logs into your Snapchat account.
- It extracts your chat logs and downloads them to your connected computer.
- You now have your Snapchat history exported in a digital format.
Be cautious when using these services, as you have to trust them with your Snapchat login. Make sure to use complex, unique passwords.
How to save old Snapchat conversations
If you just realized you forgot to save an important older conversation in Snapchat, don’t panic! Here are some ways to retrieve old Snapchats:
Restore conversation history on new device
When setting up Snapchat on a new device, you have the option to restore your previous conversations by logging into your account during the setup process. This allows you to pick up right where you left off on your old phone.
Use Snapchat Memories
Snapchat Memories is a private storage area where Snapchat stores the content you send and receive. Here’s how to use Memories to retrieve old messages:
- In Snapchat, tap the Memories icon in the bottom toolbar.
- Tap the Search magnifying glass.
- Type keywords related to the old conversation and relevant Snaps may appear.
- You can recover and screenshot any unopened Snaps stored in Memories.
Note that Memories only stores sent and unopened Snaps. Regular chat messages are not saved in Memories.
Connect with the other person again
If all else fails, try striking up the conversation again and asking the other person to resend or recap anything important you missed. Some key phrases are:
- “Sorry, I forgot to save our chat last time. Could you resend that pic/message?”
- “I lost some of our chat history. Can you summarize anything important I’m missing?”
- “Want to recap what we talked about last time?”
As long as you have a positive relationship, most people will happily recap old conversations so you’re on the same page.
How to transfer saved Snapchats to a computer
Once you’ve saved your conversations using the methods above, you’ll likely want to transfer them to a computer for safekeeping and easier viewing. Here are some ways to transfer saved Snapchats to a PC or Mac:
Via Snapchat data download
Snapchat lets you download all your Snapchat data to access on your computer. Here’s how:
- On Snapchat, go to your Profile and tap the Settings gear icon.
- Go to Account Actions > Download My Data.
- Enter your password when prompted.
- Once the download is ready, open the ZIP file on your computer.
- Your chat history will be in the json_files > chat_history folder.
Via Google Takeout
If your Snapchat is connected to Google Takeout, you can download your Snapchat data through Google Takeout:
- Go to takeout.google.com and log in.
- Deselect all services except Snapchat.
- Choose your export frequency and file type.
- Click Export.
- Open the Snapchat folder once the export is done.
Via local phone storage
For any screenshots or screen recordings saved locally on your phone, connect your device to your computer via USB and simply copy them over.
On iPhone, your files will be in Photos > Screenshots. On Android, they are typically in DCIM > Screenshots.
Via cloud storage
If you uploaded your saved Snapchats to cloud storage like Google Drive or iCloud, you can easily download them to your desktop. Simply log into Google Drive or iCloud on the web and download your files.
Keep your Snapstreaks by saving conversations
One great benefit of saving your Snapchat messages is preserving your Snapstreaks even if you can’t snap each other every day. Here are some ways saving chats helps retain Snapstreaks:
- Look back at your saved messages to remind you whose turn it is to snap.
- Reference old snaps to get creative ideas for keeping your streak going.
- Screenshot your streak number so neither person forgets where you’re at.
- Save overlays like “Snapstreak!” to use in occasional non-snap messages.
By saving your conversations, you have a consistent record of your streak that can stand the test of time. You’ll never lose track of your streak number or whose turn it is to snap.
Make your saved chats more organized
While saving your Snapchat messages is great, finding a specific conversation in your camera roll can be difficult. Here are some tips for organizing your saved chats:
- Use a separate album or folder to save Snapchat screenshots.
- Add text or captions to your screenshots to identify key conversations.
- Save chats with certain people under their own albums.
- Favorite important messages so they appear first in your camera roll.
- Upload screenshots to cloud storage and use folders to organize chats.
The more organized your Snapchat collection is, the easier it will be to find that hilarious conversation from last year. Take time to appropriately label chats so they make sense when you reminisce.
Be mindful when saving snaps
While it’s tempting to go snapshot crazy, be mindful of saving other people’s chat messages too. Keep these tips in mind:
- Ask for permission before saving very personal or private messages.
- Delete screenshots from sensitive conversations after some time has passed.
- Turn off save notifications so friends don’t feel their privacy is invaded.
- Don’t share screenshots publicly without the sender’s consent.
- If a friend asks you to delete a message from your saved chats, honor the request.
Saving conversations is great, but be ethical and respectful doing so. Always honor your friends’ privacy.
Conclusion
Thanks to the various tools and workarounds covered here, you don’t have to lose meaningful Snapchat conversations. Next time you have a chat worth saving, turn to one of these methods to preserve the memory for a lifetime. Just be sure to maintain the trust of your friends when saving their messages.
With some strategic saving techniques, you can backup your Snapchat chats and keep them forever. So save those funny conversations, unforgettable memories, and important moments on Snapchat before they disappear. What will your saved story be?