You can absolutely delete your Snapchat account and keep all your memories. The key is to export your data before you delete. This guide gives you a complete pre-deletion checklist and walks you through every step so you do not lose a single photo or video.
What Happens When You Delete Your Snapchat Account
Before diving into the export process, it is important to understand exactly what Snapchat account deletion involves. Snap Inc. follows a two-phase deletion process, as described in their official privacy documentation:
Phase 1: 30-Day Deactivation Period
When you request account deletion, your account is not immediately removed. Instead, it enters a 30-day deactivation period during which:
- Your account becomes invisible to other users
- Friends cannot see your profile, Snap Score, or send you messages
- Your Bitmoji is removed from the Snap Map
- You cannot log into the app
- Your data still exists on Snapchat's servers
- You can reactivate by simply logging in
This 30-day window is your safety net. If you change your mind, all you need to do is log in and your account will be fully restored with all data intact.
Phase 2: Permanent Deletion
After 30 days, Snapchat permanently deletes your account and all associated data. This includes:
- All Memories: Every photo and video you ever saved to Memories
- My Eyes Only content: All password-protected memories
- Chat history: All sent and received messages
- Stories: Any saved or archived stories
- Friend list: Your entire contact list
- Snap Streaks: All active streaks are permanently ended
- Account settings: Display name, Bitmoji, linked accounts
- Snapchat+ subscription: Your subscription is not automatically canceled -- you must cancel it separately through the App Store or Google Play
This deletion is irreversible. Snapchat support cannot restore your account or any data after the 30-day window closes. There are no exceptions.
The Pre-Deletion Checklist
Complete every item on this checklist before you submit the deletion request. Skipping any step could result in lost data.
1. Request Your Full Data Export
This is the most critical step. Your data export is the only way to get a comprehensive backup of everything Snapchat has stored for you.
- Open a web browser on your phone or computer
- Go to accounts.snapchat.com
- Log in with your Snapchat username and password
- Click on "My Data" in the navigation menu
- Review the data categories listed (Account Information, Memories, etc.)
- Click "Submit Request" at the bottom of the page
Snapchat will begin preparing your export. You will receive an email within 24 to 48 hours with a link to download your data as a ZIP file. The download link remains valid for 7 days.
Do not proceed with account deletion until you have received and downloaded this ZIP file.
2. Download and Verify Your Export
When the email arrives, download the ZIP file to your device. The export typically contains:
- memories_history.json: A file listing all your memories with download links
- chat_history.json: Your message history
- account.json: Your account details and settings
- friends.json: Your friend list
- Additional JSON files with activity data, login history, and more
Open the ZIP file and verify that the memories_history.json file contains entries for your photos and videos. Each entry includes a download link that you will use to retrieve the actual media files.
3. Save Your Memories to Your Camera Roll
The data export ZIP file does not contain your actual photos and videos directly. Instead, it contains download links that are used to fetch the media from Snapchat's servers. You need to download each file and save it to your camera roll.
Manual approach: You can click each download link in the JSON file individually, save the resulting photo or video, and manually add it to your camera roll. For a handful of memories, this works fine. For hundreds or thousands, it is completely impractical.
Using Memories Import: The Memories Import app is designed specifically for this workflow. Open your Snapchat export ZIP file in the app, tap Import, and it will automatically download every memory and save it to your camera roll with original dates and locations preserved. The entire process typically takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on the size of your library. Everything is processed on your device -- your photos never pass through any external server.
4. Verify Your Camera Roll Backup
After importing, spend a few minutes verifying that everything transferred correctly:
- Open your Photos app and scroll through recent additions
- Check that dates are correct -- a photo from 2019 should appear in your 2019 photos
- Open several videos to make sure they play properly
- Compare the count of imported items to the number of memories listed in your Snapchat export
Once verified, make sure your camera roll is backed up. On iPhone, check that iCloud Photos is enabled (Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos). On Android, verify Google Photos backup is active (Google Photos app > Profile icon > Photos settings > Backup). This gives you a cloud backup of your memories that is completely independent of Snapchat.
5. Save Chat History and Other Data
While memories are usually the primary concern, your data export also contains other information you might want to keep:
- Chat history: Your JSON export includes text messages. You can open the chat_history.json file in any text editor to read through old conversations.
- Friend list: The friends.json file lists all your Snapchat friends by username and display name. Save this if you want to reconnect on other platforms.
- Account information: Email address, phone number, and other details associated with your account.
Save these JSON files somewhere accessible -- a cloud storage folder, email them to yourself, or keep them on your computer.
6. Cancel Snapchat+ Subscription (If Applicable)
Deleting your Snapchat account does not automatically cancel your Snapchat+ subscription. You must cancel it separately through your device's payment provider:
On iPhone: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > Snapchat+ > Cancel Subscription.
On Android: Open the Google Play Store > Menu > Subscriptions > Snapchat+ > Cancel Subscription.
If you do not cancel, you will continue to be charged even after your Snapchat account is deleted.
7. Notify Important Contacts
Let close friends and contacts know you are leaving Snapchat and how they can reach you instead. Once your account is deactivated, friends will see your profile disappear and will not be able to send you messages. Providing an alternative contact method (phone number, Instagram, etc.) prevents you from losing touch with people.
How to Delete Your Snapchat Account
Once you have completed every step on the checklist above, you are ready to delete your account.
- Open a web browser and go to accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/delete_account
- Log in with your Snapchat username and password
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm deletion
- Your account will be deactivated immediately
Alternatively, you can delete through the Snapchat app:
- Open Snapchat and go to Settings (profile icon > gear icon)
- Scroll down to "Account Actions"
- Tap "Delete Account"
- Follow the prompts to confirm
Remember: you have a 30-day window to change your mind. Simply log in during this period to reactivate your account with all data intact.
After Deletion: What to Expect
Once you have deleted your account and your memories are safely in your camera roll, here is what to expect:
- Immediate: Your profile disappears from friends' lists, ongoing chats show you as unavailable, and your Snap Map presence is removed.
- Within 24 hours: Any active Snap Streaks end. Friends will notice your profile is gone.
- After 30 days: All data is permanently erased from Snapchat's servers. Your username becomes available for new registrations after an additional period.
- Your memories: Continue to exist safely in your camera roll, backed up to iCloud or Google Photos. They are yours permanently and do not depend on any Snapchat service.
Alternatives to Full Deletion
If you are not completely sure about deleting your account, consider these alternatives:
- Deactivation only: The 30-day deactivation that comes with the deletion process effectively removes your presence from Snapchat. If you reactivate within 30 days, everything comes back. Use this as a trial separation.
- Uninstall without deleting: Simply deleting the Snapchat app from your phone removes the temptation without permanently losing your account. Your data remains on Snapchat's servers, and you can reinstall anytime.
- Export and reduce usage: Export your memories to your camera roll, then keep the account but use it less actively. This preserves the account for occasional use while ensuring your photos are safely backed up locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my Snapchat memories when I delete my account?
When you delete your Snapchat account, it is first deactivated for 30 days. During this period, you can reactivate by logging in, and your data is preserved. After 30 days, Snapchat permanently deletes your account and all associated data, including all Memories, Snaps, Stories, chat history, friend list, and Bitmoji. This deletion is irreversible -- there is no way to recover your data once the 30-day window closes.
Can I recover my Snapchat memories after deleting my account?
You can only recover your memories during the 30-day deactivation period by logging back in to reactivate your account. After 30 days, all data is permanently deleted from Snapchat's servers and cannot be recovered. This is why it is essential to export your data before initiating account deletion.
How long does it take to get my Snapchat data export?
After submitting a data export request at accounts.snapchat.com, Snapchat typically sends the download link via email within 24 to 48 hours. The download link is valid for 7 days. The export includes a ZIP file with links to download your photos and videos, along with JSON files containing your chat history, account information, and other data.
Does Snapchat's data export include My Eyes Only content?
Yes, Snapchat's data export includes content from My Eyes Only, provided you still have access to your account. The exported data does not require the My Eyes Only passcode to view once it is in the ZIP file. Make sure to request and download your export before initiating account deletion.
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