Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among younger users. A big part of Snapchat’s appeal is that photos, videos, and messages are meant to disappear after being viewed. However, many users wonder if their snaps really vanish forever after being deleted. Here is an overview of how long Snapchat keeps data after you delete it.
Does Snapchat delete snaps after they are viewed?
Yes, Snapchat does delete snaps after they are viewed by the recipient. When you send a snap, the app transfers the photo or video to the recipient’s device where it is decrypted and viewed. Once the snap is opened, the recipient can view it for up to 10 seconds before it disappears from the screen.
After the snap is viewed, Snapchat’s servers are notified that the content has been consumed. The encrypted version of the snap that is stored on Snapchat’s servers is then deleted. So in theory, an unopened snap will be deleted from Snapchat’s servers after 30 days. An opened snap is deleted almost immediately after being viewed.
What about screenshots?
Snapchat notifies the sender if the recipient takes a screenshot of their snap. However, Snapchat cannot prevent screenshots or stop the recipient from saving the snap through other means. So even though the app deletes the snap from its own servers, the content can still be saved by recipients before it disappears.
Does Snapchat keep deleted messages?
Unlike snaps, messages sent through Snapchat Chat do not disappear. Users can delete messages that they have sent, but the messages will still be visible in the recipient’s chat history. Deleting a chat message will remove it from your own view of the conversation, but not for anyone you are chatting with.
Snapchat states that they delete chat conversations from their servers after 30 days. However, chat logs can still be accessed on the user’s device if neither party has deleted the messages. Snapchat also notes that certain data, like usernames and phone numbers, may be kept for longer periods.
What about Snapchat Memories?
Snapchat Memories allows users to save their sent snaps, received snaps, and stories to their device’s memory storage. These saved snaps do not have an expiration and can be viewed multiple times. Users can delete individual snaps from their Memories storage when they no longer want them.
However, deleting a snap from Memories does not delete it from Snapchat’s servers immediately. Any snaps or stories saved to Memories are backed up on Snapchat’s servers for 30 days after being deleted. This allows Snapchat to restore deleted snaps if the user requests it. After 30 days, deleted Memories content is permanently erased from Snapchat’s servers.
Does deleting your account erase Snapchat data?
Deleting your Snapchat account is the best way to fully remove your information from Snapchat’s system. When you delete your account, your profile, friends list, group memberships, and Memories will be permanently erased. Your snaps and chats will no longer be accessible.
However, Snapchat notes that data from deleted accounts may persist in their systems for up to 90 days, either as backup copies or logs. Fully purging all data related to a deleted account takes up to 90 days after it is canceled.
Conclusion
In summary:
- Viewed snaps are deleted nearly instantly from Snapchat’s servers.
- Unopened snaps may be kept for up to 30 days before deletion.
- Chat messages are deleted after 30 days unless users save them.
- Memories are erased after 30 days of being deleted by the user.
- Deleted accounts have their data purged from Snapchat’s systems within 90 days.
While Snapchat does its best to delete ephemeral content quickly after it is viewed, there are still ways data can be retained by recipients or backups. Deleting your account is the most comprehensive way to erase Snapchat data.
Does Snapchat keep usage history and metadata?
In addition to snaps, chats, and other content, Snapchat also collects usage data and metadata about how you use the app. This includes information like:
- Posting times and frequencies
- Usage duration and frequencies
- Content preferences
- Location data
- Information about your device
This information allows Snapchat to analyze user behavior and improve the app’s features and suggestions. Snapchat states this metadata is kept until it is no longer needed for these purposes.
Snapchat also says they may retain some non-identifying usage statistics indefinitely. For example, general statistics about how long users spend on Snapchat on average could be kept long-term even if individual usage data is deleted.
How does Snapchat use data they keep?
Snapchat uses the data it continues to store after you delete content for the following purposes:
- Troubleshooting and bug fixing
- Analysis to improve Snapchat’s products and services
- Detecting abuse, spam, and illegal activity
- Enforcing Snapchat’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
Snapchat states that any data retained is kept separately from your personal identity and not used to build profiles about specific users. However, they do analyze aggregated user data to improve their systems and algorithms.
Does Snapchat share deleted data with third parties?
According to Snapchat’s Privacy Policy, they do not share personal content like snaps and chats with third parties. However, some anonymous data may be shared after it has been deleted:
- Anonymous usage statistics
- Device data for third-party service providers
- Location and other data with advertising partners
Snapchat emphasizes that they take measures to ensure any shared data is not directly tied to identifiable user profiles or accounts after it has been deleted. But they do leverage aggregated usage and demographic data for advertising and monetization purposes.
How to download your Snapchat data
Snapchat allows you to download an archive of the data associated with your account. Here’s how:
- Go to your profile page and tap the Settings (gear) icon.
- Scroll down and select “My Data.”
- Tap “Submit Request.” Snapchat will gather available data from your account.
- Check back after 24-48 hours. When the archive is ready, tap “Download Data.”
- Open the ZIP file on your computer to access your Snapchat data.
The download includes your profile info, friends list, settings, saved photos and videos, chat logs, story data, location details and more. It does not include deleted content.
What’s in my Snapchat data archive?
Your Snapchat data download will contain:
- Your profile settings and bio
- Friends list and contact details
- Chat logs and histories
- Memories and Camera Roll photos/videos
- Purchase receipts
- Context cards you’ve viewed
- Advertisers you’ve interacted with
- Certain location data
Reviewing the archive gives you a good sense of what Snapchat data exists about you, and what is deleted versus retained. But remember it only reflects information currently saved, not data deleted 30+ days ago.
How to delete Snapchat data
If you want to actively delete specific Snapchat data, here are your options:
Delete individual chats
- Open the chat you want to delete
- Tap and hold on the message thread
- Tap “Delete Chat” to erase the entire conversation
Clear your conversation history
- Go to your profile and tap the Settings (gear) icon
- Select “Clear Conversations”
- Confirm that you want to delete your entire chat history
Delete Memories
- Go to your profile and tap the Memories icon
- Tap and hold on any snaps or stories to delete
- Tap “Delete” to confirm removal
Note that clearing data in the app itself only deletes content from your device/account. It does not affect the 30-day backup copies retained by Snapchat.
Deactivate your account
- Go to your profile and tap the Settings (gear) icon
- Select “Support”
- Tap “I need help with My Account”
- Select “Deactivate Account” and confirm
Deactivating logs you out temporarily but retains all your data in case you reactivate. It does not delete anything.
Delete your account
- Go to your profile and tap the Settings (gear) icon
- Select “Support”
- Tap “I need help with My Account”
- Select “Delete Account” and confirm
Deleting your account erases your profile and all content after 90 days. This is the most comprehensive way to remove Snapchat data.
Does deleting Snapchat also delete Bitmoji?
Bitmoji is Snapchat’s avatar creation app that integrates with your Snapchat account. Deleting your Snapchat does not automatically delete your Bitmoji account or avatar.
If you want to erase your Bitmoji after deleting Snapchat, go to Bitmoji’s Privacy Settings and select “Delete Bitmoji.” Confirm that you want to permanently delete your avatar and Bitmoji account.
Key Takeaways
- Snaps usually delete almost instantly after being viewed.
- Unopened snaps are deleted within 30 days.
- Chat logs are erased after 30 days unless users save them.
- Memories are deleted 30 days after removal by the user.
- Accounts have all personal data deleted 90 days after deletion.
- Some usage data may be retained anonymously long-term.
- Deleting your account is the most comprehensive way to erase Snapchat data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Snapchat keep snaps after they’ve been screenshotted?
No, Snapchat deletes the snap from their servers after it is viewed, even if the recipient takes a screenshot. The screenshot only saves to the recipient’s camera roll, not Snapchat’s systems.
Can police recover deleted Snapchats?
In some cases, law enforcement may be able to recover deleted snaps by extracting data from the phones that sent/received them before deletion. They cannot recover deleted snaps from Snapchat’s servers directly.
Do deleted Snapchat messages disappear from both sides?
Yes, when you delete a chat message it disappears from your chat screen and your recipient’s. But Snapchat servers retain messages for 30 days before permanent deletion.
Can you recover a deleted Snapchat account?
Snapchat does not allow accounts to be recovered after being deleted. The only way to get your old Snaps back is if you had previously downloaded your Snapchat data or saved it to Memories.
Does clearing Snapchat conversations delete them forever?
No, clearing conversations only deletes the chat logs from your device’s storage. They remain on Snapchat’s servers for 30 days before being permanently erased.
Conclusion
Snapchat has become hugely popular by enabling users to share ephemeral content that disappears shortly after being viewed. However, some data does persist either in backups or user devices even after you delete it from the app interface.
While Snapchat deletes most temporary snaps and stories nearly instantly after viewing, other data like chat logs and account info can be retained for up to 90 days on their servers. The only way to fully purge all Snapchat data is to permanently delete your account.
Overall, Snapchat does make an effort to get rid of unnecessary user data relatively quickly compared to other social media sites. But some metadata and usage information is kept anonymously for analytics and troubleshooting purposes. Understanding what gets deleted and what doesn’t allows users to better control their privacy.