Snapchat is a popular social media platform that allows users to send photo and video messages that disappear after being viewed. One of the key features of Snapchat is the ephemerality of the content – snaps, stories, and chats are automatically deleted after a certain period of time. However, what happens when a Snapchat user wants to delete their account entirely? How long does it take for a Snapchat account to be permanently deleted?
When does Snapchat start the account deletion process?
When a Snapchat user requests to delete their account, the account deletion process begins immediately. According to Snapchat’s support page, the account is scheduled for deletion as soon as the request is made.
However, this does not mean the account is deleted instantly. There is a period where the account is disabled but still able to be recovered if the user changes their mind.
How long until a Snapchat account is disabled?
Once a user requests account deletion, the Snapchat account is disabled almost instantly. This means the user is immediately logged out of their account and cannot log back in.
While disabled, the account still exists on Snapchat’s servers but is inaccessible to the user. None of the account data is erased yet. This gives the user a chance to cancel deletion and restore their account if they regret requesting the deletion.
How long is a disabled Snapchat account recoverable?
A disabled Snapchat account remains recoverable for 30 days from the date the deletion was requested. During this 30 day grace period, the user can log back into Snapchat and cancel the deletion to fully reinstate their account.
According to Snapchat, all the user data including memories, snaps, chats, friend connections, and more will still be intact and recoverable during this time.
However, if the user does not cancel the deletion within 30 days, the account and all its data will be permanently erased.
When is a Snapchat account permanently deleted?
If the 30 day grace period expires without the user cancelling the deletion request, Snapchat will permanently delete the account on day 31.
According to Snapchat:
Accounts are permanently deleted after 30 days from the day they were disabled for deletion. This means that 30 days after disabling your account for deletion, all your account information is permanently removed from our systems.
So in summary:
- Day 1: User requests account deletion
- Day 1-30: Account is disabled but recoverable
- Day 31: Account is permanently deleted if not recovered
Therefore, it takes 31 days from the initial deletion request for a Snapchat account to be permanently erased.
What happens when a Snapchat account is permanently deleted?
Here’s what happens 31 days after a Snapchat account is scheduled for deletion:
- The username is released and becomes available for anyone else to claim
- All snaps, memories, chats, and other account data is erased
- The account profile vanishes and becomes inaccessible
- Friends/connections to the account are removed
- The user is no longer able to log into the account
Essentially, all traces of the account are wiped from Snapchat’s servers. The user loses access permanently, and it will be as if the account never existed.
Can you restore a Snapchat account after 31 days?
Unfortunately no, a deleted Snapchat account cannot be recovered or restored after 31 days have passed. The deletion process cannot be undone or reversed once the account is permanently erased.
Snapchat clearly states that after 31 days, all user data is permanently removed from their systems and there is no way to retrieve it.
Some key points:
- Account cannot be reactivated, even with the original email/password
- There is no “account recovery” process for deleted accounts
- Usernames cannot be “recycled” – the deleted username is gone forever
- Snapchat support cannot assist in restoring a deleted account after 31 days
So in short, the account deletion after 31 days is truly permanent and irreversible. The user cannot reclaim, restore or reuse the old username or data in any way.
What happens to Snapchat memories and data after account deletion?
When a Snapchat account is permanently deleted after 31 days, all the user’s Snapchat memories and account data is erased:
- Snaps – All sent and received snaps are deleted
- Stories – All posted and viewed stories are removed
- Memories – All saved photos/videos in memories are erased
- Chats – Entire chat history is wiped
- Friend list – List of friends/contacts is deleted
- Bitmoji – Custom bitmoji are deleted
- Settings – Account settings and preferences are lost
Essentially all personal data associated with the account is wiped from Snapchat’s servers. The data cannot be retrieved by the user or anyone else once permanently deleted.
Can you backup Snapchat data before account deletion?
Since all account data is permanently erased when a Snapchat account is deleted, users may want to backup or export their Snapchat data before going through the deletion process.
Here are some ways Snapchatters can preserve their data before deletion:
- Memories Download – Download an archive of your Snapchat Memories (photos, videos, etc)
- Chat Export – Save chat histories between you and your friends
- Screenshot Stories – Manually screenshot ephemeral stories you want to keep
- Screen-record – Video record snaps and stories to save them
While Snapchat does not offer a complete account data export, these options allow users to preserve some of their favorite snaps, messages, stories, and memories before permanently deleting their account.
What should you do before deleting your Snapchat account?
Here are some recommendations if you are planning to delete your Snapchat account:
- Inform friends and contacts that you are deleting your account.
- Backup your Snapchat data using the methods described above.
- Log out of Snapchat on all mobile devices.
- Change your password to log out of all active sessions.
- Delete Snapchat app from your mobile devices.
- Make sure account deletion is what you want – it can’t be undone!
Taking these steps allows you to cleanly break away from Snapchat, removes access from devices, and preserves your account data before taking the irreversible step of account deletion.
What happens if you immediately regret deleting your Snapchat account?
If you quickly regret deleting your Snapchat account, don’t panic! As mentioned earlier, there is a 30 day grace period where your deleted account can be recovered.
Here is what to do if you regret deleting your Snapchat account:
- Reinstall the Snapchat app and log in with your original username and password. This will initiate the account recovery process.
- You may need to wait up to 24 hours after relogging for the recovery to complete.
- Once your account is restored, confirm all your data (memories, chats, etc) is intact.
- If you want, you can request account deletion again in the future – just make sure it’s what you really want!
As long as the 30 days have not passed, you can fully reinstate your supposedly “deleted” account. But act fast, because after 30 days that option disappears forever!
Can you create a new Snapchat with the same username after deletion?
No, you cannot create a new Snapchat account using the exact same username from your deleted account.
When an account is permanently deleted after 31 days, the username is released by Snapchat and becomes available for anyone else to claim.
So you cannot recycle deleted usernames or immediately recreate your old account. The username becomes fair game and may already be taken by another user if you try registering it again later.
Your only option is to sign up for a brand new account with an entirely different unique username.
Should you permanently delete your Snapchat account?
Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to permanently delete your Snapchat account:
- Do you still actively use Snapchat? If yes, deleting may not be necessary.
- Have you lost interest in Snapchat and stopped using it altogether?
- Do you have important memories or data you want to save from Snapchat?
- Are you trying to disconnect from certain friends/contacts on Snapchat?
- Is your goal to take a temporary break or a permanent Snapchat deletion?
- Are you comfortable losing your username and account history forever?
Think carefully before choosing permanent account deletion, because it is irreversible after 31 days. But for some users who have moved on from Snapchat, account deletion can provide a clean break from the platform.
Conclusion
To summarize the key points:
- Snapchat immediately disables accounts upon deletion request
- Deleted accounts remain recoverable for 30 days
- After 31 days, accounts are permanently deleted and unrecoverable
- All user data including snaps, memories, and chats are erased
- Usernames are released and can be claimed by new accounts
- There is no way to restore a Snapchat account after 31 days
So in conclusion, it takes approximately 31 days from the initial deletion request for a Snapchat account to be permanently deleted. Within 30 days, accounts can be recovered – but after that, deletion is irreversible.
| Day of Deletion Process | Account Status | Recoverable? |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Disabled/Scheduled for deletion | Yes |
| Days 1-30 | Disabled but not yet deleted | Yes |
| Day 31 | Permanently deleted | No |
Knowing the timeline for Snapchat account deletion allows users to back up data, avoid regrets, and successfully close their accounts if desired. While the process only takes 31 days, deletion is permanent – so be 100% sure before saying goodbye to your Snapchat account for good!