Having issues with Snapchat not saving your Snaps? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is a common problem that many Snapchat users face from time to time. In this article, we’ll walk through the top reasons why your Snaps may not be saving, along with steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issue.
Snapchat Server Issues
One of the most common reasons your Snaps aren’t saving is due to problems on Snapchat’s end. Like any app, Snapchat servers can go down or experience intermittent issues that prevent features like saving Snaps from working properly. Usually these server-side problems are temporary and resolve themselves within hours.
There are a few ways to check if Snapchat is having server issues:
- Check Snapchat’s System Status page – This will show any identified problems with Snapchat services.
- Check social media – Search Twitter or Facebook for posts about Snapchat issues. Seeing a spike in complaints is a sign of widespread problems.
- Try using Snapchat on different networks – If Snaps aren’t saving on WiFi, try cellular data, and vice versa. Issues on one network point to a broader outage.
If Snapchat is down, unfortunately all you can do is wait for them to resolve the problem on their end. Retrying your Snap periodically to see if saving starts working again once services are restored.
App Needs to be Updated
Another common reason for issues saving Snaps is needing to update the Snapchat app. Snapchat releases new versions of their app regularly, often to fix bugs and improve performance of features like saving Snaps.
If you haven’t updated Snapchat in awhile, you may be running an outdated version with bugs or limitations around saving Snaps. Here are the steps to update Snapchat on both iOS and Android devices:
Update Snapchat on iPhone/iPad
- Open the App Store app
- Tap your profile icon in the top right
- Scroll down and tap “Update” next to Snapchat
- Enter your App Store password or use Touch ID/Face ID
Update Snapchat on Android
- Open the Play Store app
- Tap the menu icon in the top left
- Tap “My apps & games”
- Tap “Update” next to Snapchat
Updating to the latest version of Snapchat can help resolve issues with Snaps not saving correctly in the app.
Insufficient Storage Space
Snapchat needs available storage space on your phone in order to save new Snaps. If your phone is running low on storage, it can prevent Snapchat from being able to save properly.
Here are some ways to check your available storage space:
On iPhone/iPad
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage – This will show total used/available space
- Or go to Settings > General > Manage Storage – This lets you manage and delete apps/media taking up space
On Android
- Go to Settings > Storage – Check how much space is free/used
- Or go to Settings > Storage > Free up space – Lets you remove apps and files to free up space
Try deleting unused apps, photos, or media files to free up storage space. You may need at least 100-200MB of available storage for Snapchat to reliably save Snaps.
Background App Refresh Disabled
On iOS devices, having Background App Refresh disabled for Snapchat in your settings can prevent Snaps from saving properly.
Background App Refresh allows apps like Snapchat to refresh their content in the background when you’re not using them. This allows Snapchat to save new Snaps even when you aren’t in the app.
To make sure it’s enabled for Snapchat on iPhone/iPad:
- Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
- Make sure Background App Refresh is toggled ON at the top
- Scroll down and make sure Snapchat is toggled ON
Re-enabling Background App Refresh specifically for Snapchat can help resolve issues with Snaps not saving.
Airplane Mode Enabled
If Airplane Mode is enabled on your phone, it will disable all internet connectivity and prevent apps like Snapchat from being able to contact their servers.
Go to your Settings and make sure Airplane Mode is disabled. Toggling it off and back on reconnects your phone to WiFi/cellular data and allows apps to access the internet again.
With Airplane Mode disabled, Snapchat should once again be able to save Snaps.
Logged Out of Snapchat
An obvious but sometimes overlooked reason for Snapchat issues – make sure you’re actually logged into your Snapchat account! If you’ve been logged out due to inactivity or a password change, being in Snapchat while not logged in can prevent your Snaps from saving correctly.
To check if you’re logged out, look for a “Login” button instead of your Snapchat Bitmoji at the top of the Snapchat screen. Simply log back into your account with your username and password to resolve the issue.
Snapchat Account Banned
In extreme cases where someone has violated Snapchat’s Community Guidelines, Snapchat may ban your account which can prevent saving Snaps. Some signs your Snapchat may be banned include:
- Unable to login, as it says “Oh no your account was locked!”
- Friends don’t receive your Snaps and you don’t see views/screenshots
- Your Snaps disappear immediately after sending
If you think your Snapchat account has been wrongly banned, you can submit an appeal to Snapchat here. However, if you did break their Terms of Service, the ban will likely be upheld.
Corrupted App Cache/Data
In some cases, corrupted app data or cache for Snapchat can cause issues saving and sending Snaps. Clearing this bad data from Snapchat and letting the app re-sync itself can help resolve problems.
Here’s how to clear cache and data for Snapchat on iOS and Android:
On iPhone/iPad
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Tap Snapchat, then tap Offload App
- Reinstall Snapchat from the App Store
On Android
- Open phone Settings > Apps > Snapchat
- Tap Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data
- Force stop the Snapchat app if it’s running
- Open Snapchat again – it will re-sync
Clearing out old Snapchat data forces the app to freshly re-sync and can resolve underlying data corruption issues.
Try Repairing the App
If no other troubleshooting steps have worked, try repairing the Snapchat app installation. This has Snapchat re-install itself which can fix any corrupted files.
On iPhone/iPad
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Tap Snapchat > Offload App
- Go back to the list of apps and tap Reinstall next to Snapchat
On Android
- Open phone Settings > Apps > Snapchat
- Tap Uninstall > OK to confirm
- Open the Play Store and reinstall Snapchat
Repairing the app fully reinstalls Snapchat and can fix issues caused by corrupted files.
Update Your Phone Software
Having an outdated version of your phone’s operating system can also cause problems with apps like Snapchat. Ensure your iPhone or Android phone is updated to the latest OS version.
On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update to update to the newest iOS version. On Android, go to Settings > System > Advanced > System Update to update your Android version.
Keeping your phone OS up-to-date ensures compatibility with the latest Snapchat app and can help resolve issues.
Restart Your Phone
One simple step you can try – restart your iPhone or Android phone. Restarting fully reboots the device and clears out any minor glitches that could be interfering with saving Snaps.
To restart an iPhone 8 or earlier, hold down the Power button until you see “Slide to Power Off”. For iPhone X or later, hold either volume button and the side button until the power slider appears.
To restart Android, hold down the Power button for 30+ seconds or navigate to Settings > Power > Restart.
Restarting your phone resets Snapchat and other apps and can clear up problems like Snaps not saving.
Reset Network Settings
For connectivity issues causing problems with saving Snaps, try resetting your phone’s network settings entirely. This wipes any problematic network settings and allows them to be reconfigured properly.
On iPhone/iPad
- Go to Settings > General > Reset
- Tap Reset Network Settings
- Enter your passcode if prompted
- Tap Reset Network Settings again to confirm
This will reset WiFi networks/passwords, cellular data, and other network settings on an iPhone.
On Android
- Go to Settings > System > Advanced > Reset Options
- Tap Reset WiFi, Mobile & Bluetooth
- Tap RESET SETTINGS
Resetting network settings can fix connectivity issues interfering with saving Snaps.
Contact Snapchat Support
If you still can’t resolve Snapchat Snaps not saving after trying all troubleshooting steps, reach out directly to Snapchat Support for help identifying any other issues.
You can contact Snapchat Support through:
- The in-app Support menu
- The Snapchat Support Website
- Twitter @SnapchatSupport
Snapchat Support has additional tools to troubleshoot problems and identify any account-specific issues that are preventing saving Snaps. Reaching out to them should be your last resort to fix persisting problems.
Third-Party Snapchat Apps
Using third-party or modified Snapchat apps can also cause issues with saving Snaps, as they interfere with Snapchat’s intended functionality. Stick to the official Snapchat app from the App Store/Play Store if you are having problems to ensure best compatibility.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting Snaps not saving comes down to a mix of checking for Snapchat server issues, updating the app, clearing cache/data, ensuring OS/connectivity is up-to-date, and contacting Snapchat Support if problems persist. With the right combination of steps, you should be able to resolve most issues around saving Snaps.