Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photos and videos that disappear after being viewed. Snapchat also has public profiles that allow you to share photos and videos that remain visible until you delete them.
If you decide to delete your Snapchat public profile, it is not permanently gone. There are a few different ways you can try to restore your profile on both iOS and Android devices.
Can You Recover a Deleted Snapchat Account?
Yes, it is possible to recover a deleted Snapchat account in most cases. When you delete your Snapchat account, it actually just gets deactivated for 30 days before being permanently deleted. This gives you a 30 day window to reactivate your account and get everything back.
Here are the main ways to recover a deleted Snapchat account:
- Log back into Snapchat within 30 days – This will automatically reactivate your account
- Contact Snapchat support – They can help restore accounts within the 30 day window
- Use your one-time restore option – Snapchat gives every account one restore option if you log in within 30 days
The easiest way is to simply log back into your Snapchat account within 30 days of deleting it. This will automatically begin the process of reactivating your account. All your friends, snaps, chats, etc will still be there.
If you already used your one-time restore option, your only choice is to contact Snapchat support. They will need to verify your identity, but can restore your account as long as it has not been over 30 days since deletion.
How to Recover Your Snapchat Account on iPhone
If you deleted your Snapchat account on an iPhone and need to restore it, follow these steps:
- Re-download the Snapchat app from the App Store if necessary
- Open up Snapchat and tap “Log in”
- Enter your username and password to log back in
- Tap “Activate” to reactivate your account
This process allows you to log back into your account within 30 days and restore everything. Snapchat should automatically begin reactivating your account.
If you already used your one-time restore option, tap “Need help?” on the login screen. You can submit a request for Snapchat to restore your account. Make sure to provide details to confirm your identity.
What If I Can’t Log Back In?
If you can’t log back into your account on iPhone to restore it, there are a few options:
- Reset your password if you forgot it
- Contact Snapchat if you can’t reset your password
- Use account recovery if you lost access to your username
Snapchat has an account recovery process that can help you get back into a deleted account if you lost access to your username and can’t log in. You’ll need to provide personal info to confirm your identity.
How to Recover Deleted Snapchat Account on Android
On Android, you can recover a deleted Snapchat account by following these steps:
- Reinstall Snapchat if you deleted the app
- Open Snapchat and tap “Log in”
- Enter your username and password
- Tap “Activate” to restore your deleted account
As long as it hasn’t been over 30 days, this process will allow you to revive your old Snapchat account. All of your snaps, chats, friends, etc. will still be there.
If you already used your one-time restore, tap “Need help?” on the login screen and submit a request to Snapchat. You’ll need to provide personal details to verify your identity.
Dealing With Login Issues on Android
If logging back into your old Snapchat account on Android doesn’t work, try:
- Resetting your password if forgotten
- Contacting Snapchat support for login help
- Using Snapchat account recovery if you lost your username
The account recovery process will allow you to provide personal details to prove your identity and regain access to a deleted account. This can help if you no longer have your username.
What Happens When You Delete Snapchat?
Here’s an overview of exactly what happens when you delete your Snapchat account:
- Your account is deactivated for 30 days
- Your profile, snaps, chats, etc. disappear for other users
- You have 30 days to reactivate your account
- After 30 days, your account is permanently deleted
So you have a 30 day window after deleting your account where your data is hidden but still retrievable if you log back in. After 30 days, Snapchat deletes all your data and your account is gone for good.
What Gets Deleted Right Away?
When you delete Snapchat, some account data gets immediately deleted, including:
- Your Snapchat friends list
- Your Snapchat trophies and score
- Your Snapchat groups
- Your Snapchat login credentials
So your friend connections, achievements, custom groups, and login info are gone as soon as you hit delete. Your snaps, chats, stories, etc. remain recoverable for 30 days.
Can You Restore Select Data?
Unfortunately, when you restore your Snapchat account within 30 days, it’s an all or nothing process. You cannot pick and choose to restore just certain photos, friends, or chat logs.
Once you reactivate your account, everything will be restored. So if you only want to rescue certain snaps or chats, you’ll need to back them up before deleting your account.
Does Deactivating Delete Snapchat?
No, deactivating your Snapchat account is different than fully deleting it. Here’s what happens when you deactivate:
- Your profile disappears from search results
- You stop getting notifications
- Your data remains intact
- You can easily reactivate anytime
With deactivation, all your Snapchat data including snaps, chats, friends, etc. stays on Snapchat’s servers. You can quickly restore everything by simply logging back in.
How Long Does Deactivation Last?
There is no time limit on how long deactivation lasts. Your Snapchat account can remain deactivated indefinitely.
Unlike deletion, deactivation does not start a 30 day countdown. All your data will be there when you log back in, even years later.
Should You Deactivate Instead?
For most situations, deactivating your account is safer than deleting it. Deactivation allows you to take a break while keeping your data intact.
Only permanently delete your account if you are sure you never want to use Snapchat again. Deletion is irreversible after 30 days.
Can You Delete Snapchat Without Losing Memories?
Unfortunately, deleting your Snapchat account means losing access to all your Snaps, Memories, and Story posts after 30 days. However, there are a few options to preserve your data before deleting:
- Save photos/videos externally from Memories
- Use a third party app to back up your Snapchat data
- Screenshot important chats and Snaps
Backing up your Snaps, Stories, and Chats externally is the best way to keep your Snapchat memories if you need to delete your account.
How Do You Save Snapchat Memories?
Here are the steps to save your Snapchat Memories before deleting your account:
- Open Memories and tap on a photo/video to view it
- Tap the 3-dot menu icon in the corner
- Select “Save” to save the Snap externally to your camera roll
- You can also save by taking a screenshot
Make sure to save all your important Snaps and Stories this way before you delete your Snapchat account.
Can You Recover Deleted Snapchat Memories?
If you accidentally deleted important Snapchat Memories, there are some ways you may be able to recover them:
- Restore Memories from a Snapchat backup
- Use data recovery software to extract deleted Snapchat files
- Ask friends if they saved the deleted Snaps/Stories
If you have a recent automatic Snapchat backup from Android or iOS, you may be able to restore deleted Memories from it.
Third party iOS/Android data recovery software can also dig into your phone to find deleted Snapchat files. This gives you a chance to rescue them.
Does Snapchat Have a Trash Folder?
No, Snapchat does not have a trash folder or recycle bin for deleted Memories. Unlike the camera roll, deleted Snaps and Stories are immediately removed from Snapchat’s servers.
Your only hope of restoring deleted Snapchat Memories is through an external backup or data recovery app. There is no built-in Snapchat deletion safety net.
Can You Restore Snapchat Streaks If Deleted?
Unfortunately, Snapchat streaks are permanently reset when you delete your account and cannot be restored. Even if you reactivate your account within 30 days, your streaks will be gone.
Streaks are tied to your friend connections, so they are deleted immediately when your account is deactivated and cannot be recovered.
Do Snapchat Streaks Disappear if Deactivated?
No, deactivating your Snapchat account does not reset your streaks. Since all friend connections remain intact, your streaks will pick up where they left off if you reactivate.
However, streaks can expire after 2 weeks of inactivity. So if your account is deactivated for more than 14 days, your streaks may disappear.
Can You Save Your Streak Data?
There is no way to directly export and save your Snapchat streak data externally. The only option is to take screenshots before deactivating or deleting your account.
You can screenshot your friends list and any active streak icons. This will give you a record in case those streaks are lost.
Conclusion
Deleting your Snapchat account is not necessarily permanent, since you have a 30 day window to restore everything by logging back in. However, some data like streaks and friend connections are still lost immediately during the deletion process.
To play it safe, consider deactivating your account instead of fully deleting if you think you may want your Snapchat back in the future. Also make sure to save your Memories externally before deleting.
With some effort, it is possible to recover a deleted Snapchat account in most cases. But prevention methods like deactivation and backups are always the best way to avoid losing your Snapchat memories and connections.