Snapchat’s “For My Eyes Only” feature allows users to save Snaps, Chats, and Stories in a passcode-protected area of the app that is not accessible through their regular Memories section. This provides an extra layer of privacy and security for sensitive or private content you may want to save just for yourself.
What is For My Eyes Only on Snapchat?
For My Eyes Only (or FMYO) is a private storage area within Snapchat that is locked behind a unique passcode. Anything saved to FMYO will not show up in your regular Snapchat Memories or be visible to anyone else using your phone.
Some key things to know about Snapchat’s For My Eyes Only feature:
- It is only available in the iOS and Android Snapchat apps (not on desktop).
- Content saved to FMYO will not be backed up to iCloud or any other cloud storage services.
- If your phone is lost, stolen, or accessed by others, the passcode will prevent them from viewing your FMYO content.
- Deleting or uninstalling the Snapchat app will erase all FMYO content.
FMYO provides an isolated, password-protected vault for your most private Snapchat content. Many people use it to save risqué photos or very personal conversations they don’t want regularly mixed in with their other Snaps.
How to Set Up and Manage For My Eyes Only
Using For My Eyes Only is easy once you get it set up:
- Create a Passcode: Go to your Snapchat settings and scroll down to tap on “For My Eyes Only.” You’ll be prompted to create a unique 4-digit PIN code that will be used to access your FMYO content.
- Save Content: While viewing a Snap, Chat conversation, Story, or Memory, tap the “More” icon and select “For My Eyes Only” to save it directly to your private archive.
- View FMYO Content: Open Snapchat settings and tap on “For My Eyes Only” again. Enter your passcode when prompted to view and manage everything saved in your FMYO locker.
- Delete Content: Tap and hold on any FMYO Snaps or Chats to delete them. You can clear everything at once from the “Manage” tab.
- Change Passcode: Go back to Settings > For My Eyes Only and tap “Change Passcode” if you want to update your 4-digit PIN.
It’s important to keep your FMYO passcode private and prevent others from accessing it. Avoid using obvious number combinations like 1234 or 0000. You cannot recover the passcode if you forget it.
What Can You Save to For My Eyes Only?
Virtually any Snapchat content can be moved to For My Eyes Only for private viewing:
- Snaps – Photos or videos you capture through Snapchat’s camera.
- Chats – Conversations and messages with friends.
- Stories – Any photo or video stories you post to your Story or view from friends.
- Memories – Older Snaps and Stories already saved to your Memories archive.
- Media – Photos, videos, etc. from your phone’s storage that you upload to Snapchat.
When saving Snaps, you can choose a single photo/video or multiple Snaps from the same conversation. Anything transferred to FMYO will no longer show up in your regular Memories section.
Why Use For My Eyes Only?
Here are some of the primary reasons Snapchat users take advantage of the For My Eyes Only feature:
- Privacy: FMYO provides extra security if you want to save risqué, embarrassing, or very personal content only meant for yourself.
- Confidentiality: It lets you secretly save conversations, photos, or stories you don’t want regular friends or family finding in your phone.
- Exclusivity: Some couples use FMYO to share intimate media just between each other that won’t be visible to anyone else.
- Organization: Allows you to declutter your main Snapchat Memories by offloading certain content to your private archive.
In a digital world where privacy is increasingly rare, Snapchat’s For My Eyes Only space offers the ability to keep certain media or messages truly just for yourself if you choose.
Best Practices for Using For My Eyes Only
To get the most security and privacy benefits from Snapchat’s For My Eyes Only feature, keep these tips in mind:
- Use a strong, unique passcode that others won’t be able to guess.
- Don’t share your FMYO passcode with anyone, even close friends you trust.
- Be careful about the types of sensitive content you save – Snapchat’s servers could get hacked.
- Delete compromising media once you’re done viewing it for extra security.
- Don’t over-rely on FMYO to entirely protect or hide content that could harm you if shared.
- Make sure to log out of your Snapchat account on any shared or public devices.
While FMYO adds an extra layer of control and privacy, it’s not infallible. Avoid saving anything illegally explicit or dangerous. Also be aware the feature could potentially be modified or removed by Snapchat in the future.
Snapchat FMYO vs. Secure Folder
Some Android devices offer their own built-in secure folders that also let you hide private content. Here’s how Snapchat’s For My Eyes Only compare to Android’s Secure Folder feature:
| For My Eyes Only | Secure Folder |
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As you can see, Secure Folder gives you more robust device-wide photo/file privacy controls. But For My Eyes Only seamlessly integrates the privacy into Snapchat specifically for your Snaps and Chats.
Snapchat FMYO vs. Keepsafe Photo Vault
Keepsafe Photo Vault is a popular iOS and Android app aimed specifically at hiding private photos and videos behind a PIN code or fingerprint. Here is how it stacks up against Snapchat’s For My Eyes Only:
| For My Eyes Only | Keepsafe Photo Vault |
|---|---|
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Keepsafe provides more flexible storage since it works with media from any source. But Snapchat’s FMYO offers better automatic syncing and limits you to just private Snapchat content.
Snapchat FMYO Concerns and Risks
While For My Eyes Only provides an extra layer of privacy control, it’s important to keep in mind some potential downsides and risks:
- Content could be exposed if your passcode gets leaked or guessed.
- Snapchat’s servers could be hacked, exposing FMYO content.
- Police or authorities can request access with a valid warrant.
- Buggy code or updates may inadvertently reveal hidden media.
- You can’t recover lost media if you forget the passcode.
In many ways, FMYO provides a false sense of security. While it hides content from casual snooping, anything you save could potentially be exposed, hacked, or subpoenaed. So it’s smart to think carefully before saving very sensitive content even to your For My Eyes Only archive.
Conclusion
Snapchat’s For My Eyes Only feature enables users to save Snaps, Chats, Stories, and Memories privately behind a custom passcode. This lets you store risqué, embarrassing, or very personal content securely outside of Snapchat’s regular storage. FMYO provides a handy option for added privacy within Snapchat.
However, it’s important to use the feature cautiously. Never save anything illegal or dangerous. Also recognize the content could still potentially be accessed by authorities or hackers. For true privacy and security, you may want to reconsider capturing or saving such media at all. But with reasonable precautions, Snapchat’s For My Eyes Only can be a useful way to share and view private content discretely.