Snapchat is a popular messaging app that lets users send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. One of Snapchat’s key features is that by default, snaps (photos/videos) sent between users are deleted after they are viewed. This allows for more authentic, in-the-moment sharing without having to worry about permanent records.
However, sometimes users want to save a snap before it disappears forever. There are a few main reasons why your snaps may not be saving properly:
You don’t have permissions enabled
Snapchat’s default setting does not allow recipients to save your snaps. As the sender, you need to enable additional permissions for the recipient to be able to save your snaps. To do this:
- When sending a snap, press and hold on the snap to bring up options.
- Tap the icon in the bottom left corner (it looks like an arrow moving downwards into a box).
- Select how long you want to allow the recipient to view and save the snap.
You can choose to allow saving for up to 24 hours after the snap is first opened. Keep in mind you have to select these permissions every time you send a new snap – it doesn’t permanently enable saving capabilities.
Your phone’s storage is full
If your phone is low on storage, Snapchat may not be able to properly save snaps. Check that you have enough free space on your device. As a rule of thumb, you need at least 500MB of available storage for Snapchat to work properly.
You can also try the following:
- Close any apps you aren’t using to free up RAM
- Delete old photos, videos, downloads, and files you no longer need
- Offload unused apps
- Upgrade iCloud storage if you have an iPhone
Making more room on your phone can help Snapchat save properly again.
App issues or glitches
Sometimes app glitches happen! Closing and reopening the Snapchat app may resolve temporary issues. You can also try fully force quitting the Snapchat app:
On iPhone
- Double click the Home button to bring up your recent apps.
- Swipe up on the Snapchat preview to force close it.
- Reopen Snapchat.
On Android
- Open Settings > Apps & Notifications > See all ___ apps > Snapchat.
- Force Stop.
- Clear Cache.
- Reopen Snapchat.
Restarting your phone can also help refresh the app if there are issues.
As a last resort, you may need to uninstall and reinstall Snapchat to resolve persistent glitches. Just be sure to back up your Memories first!
You haven’t updated Snapchat
Make sure you’re running the latest version of Snapchat. Outdated versions of the app may have bugs or issues with saving snaps properly.
On iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and check the Updates tab for any pending Snapchat updates.
On Android, open the Play Store, tap the hamburger menu, tap My Apps & Games, and check the Updates tab for pending Snapchat updates.
Install any updates to see if it fixes your saving issues.
Your saved snaps disappeared
There are a couple reasons your saved snaps may have disappeared:
- You saved them to Memories but they expired. Saved snaps only stay in Memories for 30 days.
- The sender deleted the snap before you saved it. If a sender deletes a snap from their end, it disappears from recipients’ phones too.
- Your Memories were cleared. Snapchat automatically clears Memories after you’ve saved a certain number of snaps.
Unfortunately, if snaps disappeared due to any of these reasons, there is no way to retrieve them.
Your phone’s screenshots aren’t saving
If you’re trying to save snaps by taking screenshots, but they aren’t showing up in your Photos app, try the following on iPhone:
- Go to Settings > Snapchat and make sure Save to Camera Roll is enabled.
- Close Snapchat entirely and reopen it.
- Take the screenshot again. Give Snapchat permission to access your photos if prompted.
On Android, make sure you have granted Snapchat the necessary permissions to save photos and media to your device.
You may also need to clear your phone’s cache partition to resolve any system glitches preventing screenshots from saving:
On iPhone
- Hold down Power button and Home button together until phone restarts.
- Let go when you see the Apple logo.
On Android
- Power off your phone.
- Press and hold Power button and Volume Down button together until you see the Android logo.
- Use Volume buttons to highlight ‘Wipe cache partition’ then press Power button to select it.
This will wipe the cache and may fix your saving issues.
Quick Troubleshooting
Here are some quick answers to common “Why can’t I save Snapchats?” questions:
Why can’t I save my boyfriend’s Snapchats?
Your boyfriend needs to enable saving permissions on each snap he sends you. To save his snaps, have him press and hold on the snap before sending, tap the down arrow icon, and enable a save time.
Why do my saved Snapchats disappear?
Saved snaps only stay in Snapchat Memories for 30 days and then they are deleted. Additionally, Snapchat automatically clears out older Memories as you add new ones up to a limit.
Why can’t I screenshot my Snapchat story?
Snapchat prevents screenshots of stories to protect privacy. You can only save your own story by posting it as a memory.
Why is Snapchat not saving my videos?
Check that you have enough storage space for Snapchat to save videos. Close other apps running in the background as well. On iPhone, give Snapchat access to your photos and camera.
Why can I only save 10 second Snaps?
The default maximum Snap length is 10 seconds. Your friends must send longer Snaps if they want you to be able to save longer videos. Tap and hold on a Snap to see if a longer time is available.
Troubleshooting by Phone Type
Here is some additional troubleshooting advice for common saving issues on specific devices:
iPhone Snapchat Saving Issues
On iPhone, start by making sure Snapchat has access to your photos and camera:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Photos and enable access for Snapchat.
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Camera and enable access.
You may also need to enable saving to your camera roll in Snapchat’s settings:
- In Snapchat, go to your profile icon > Settings > tap your name.
- Enable Save to Camera Roll.
Check that you have enough iCloud storage if storing photos there. Apps can behave oddly when your iCloud storage is completely full.
Updating to the latest version of iOS can also resolve app glitches that prevent saving Snapchats.
Android Snapchat Saving Issues
On Android, start by making sure Snapchat has permission to access photos, media, and files:
- Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Snapchat.
- Tap Permissions and enable access to photos, media, and files.
Check that you have enough free internal storage and clear space if needed:
- Go to Settings > Storage to check available space.
- Delete old photos, videos, and files as needed.
- Uninstall apps you no longer use.
Updating to the latest version of Android can help resolve app issues preventing Snapchat from saving properly.
Samsung Snapchat Issues
On Samsung Galaxy phones, make sure the Minimum aspect ratio under Camera settings is set to Full:
- Go to Camera > Settings cog icon > Aspect ratio.
- Select Full.
This prevents cropped screenshots that can happen if it is set to 4:3 or 16:9.
Also check that HEIF images are enabled in Samsung Camera settings. Snapchat may have issues saving HEIC image formats from the Galaxy camera.
You can also try wiping the Camera app’s cache:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Camera > Storage.
- Tap Clear Cache.
Google Pixel Snapchat Issues
On Pixel phones, start by disabling Night Sight in Snapchat as this can cause saving issues:
- Open Snapchat Camera.
- Tap More Settings > toggle off Night Sight.
You can also wipe the Snapchat app’s cache:
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Select Snapchat > Storage > Clear Cache.
Check that HEIF is disabled in your Pixel camera settings if needed.
Lastly, make sure you have the latest Pixel Feature Drops installed, as Google releases tweaks to improve Snapchat performance on Pixel devices.
Preventing Snapchat Saving Issues
Here are some tips to avoid Snapchat saving problems in the future:
- Regularly clear old snaps and memories you no longer need. Snapchat’s automatic deletion can cause you to lose snaps you want to keep.
- Update to the latest Snapchat version whenever possible.
- Keep your phone operating system updated to the newest version.
- Don’t fill up all your phone’s storage.
- Disable Night Mode in low light when taking snaps.
- Double check that saving permissions are enabled before sending snaps.
- Take screenshots quickly before snaps disappear to save them.
- If your saved snaps disappear from Memories, back them up outside the app.
When to Contact Snapchat Support
If you are still having issues saving your Snapchats after thoroughly troubleshooting, you may need to reach out to Snapchat Support for additional help:
- If no troubleshooting fixes work, contact Support through the in-app form or Twitter.
- If your Memories are erased unexpectedly, report the bug.
- If specific snaps won’t load or save, provide details to Support.
- If screenshots taken in Snapchat aren’t showing up, describe the problem.
- If you’re unable to update the Snapchat app, mention the error.
Be prepared to provide details about when the issue started, what troubleshooting you’ve tried, the make/model of your phone, and any error messages you are getting.
Snapchat’s Support team can dig deeper into technical issues that standard troubleshooting can’t resolve. They may request log files from you or escalate persistent app bugs to Snapchat’s developers.
With some patience and good troubleshooting, hopefully you can get your Snapchat saving woes fixed, either on your own or with help from Support staff. Snapchat’s automatic deletion is great for privacy but can be frustrating if you want to keep special photos and videos. Just take comfort in the fact that fixing Snapchat saving issues is usually doable with a few targeted steps for your particular device and situation.
Conclusion
Snapchat’s ephemeral nature makes it tricky when you want to save snaps before they disappear. With the right troubleshooting steps for your specific phone and situation, plus learning how to use Snapchat’s saving options properly, you can resolve most issues that prevent saving Snaps. Check your app permissions, storage levels, app version, camera settings, and more. Contact Support if problems persist after troubleshooting. With the right fix, you’ll be saving your favorite Snaps and Memories in no time.