Your Snapchat data export ZIP file contains JSON metadata files with download links to your memories, chat history, friend lists, account information, and more. The ZIP itself is small (typically 1-50 MB) because it stores links to your media rather than the actual photos and videos. Here is a complete breakdown of every component inside the export.
How to Request Your Snapchat Data Export
Before diving into the contents, here is a quick refresher on how to get your export:
- Visit accounts.snapchat.com in a web browser
- Log in with your Snapchat credentials
- Click "My Data"
- Scroll down and click "Submit Request"
- Wait for Snapchat's email with the download link (usually 24-48 hours)
- Download the ZIP file from the link
Once downloaded, you can open the ZIP file to explore its contents. On most devices, you can simply tap or double-click the ZIP file to extract it.
Top-Level ZIP Structure
When you extract your Snapchat data export, you will find a folder structure that looks something like this:
- index.html - A browsable HTML file that presents your data in a readable format
- html/ - Contains HTML pages for viewing different data categories in your browser
- json/ - Contains the raw JSON data files with all your account information
The index.html file is the easiest way to browse your export. Opening it in a web browser gives you a navigable interface with links to each data category. However, the JSON files in the json/ folder contain the actual structured data that apps like Memories Import use to process your memories.
The JSON Folder: Your Data in Detail
The json/ folder is the heart of your export. It contains multiple JSON files, each covering a different aspect of your Snapchat account. Here is what each file contains and what it means.
memories_history.json - Your Memories
This is the most important file for anyone looking to save their Snapchat memories. It contains an array of entries, one for each saved memory, with the following information:
- Date - The exact date and time the memory was created, stored in ISO 8601 format (e.g., "2023-07-15 14:32:10 UTC")
- Media Type - Whether the memory is a photo (IMAGE) or video (VIDEO)
- Download Link - A temporary URL where you can download the actual media file. These links are hosted on Snapchat's CDN and expire after 7 days.
- Location - If available, the latitude and longitude where the memory was captured. Not all memories have location data, especially older ones or those taken with location services disabled.
A single entry in the file looks something like this conceptually: it has the date the snap was taken, a link to download the media, the type of media, and optionally the GPS coordinates. Memories Import reads this file to know which files to download, what dates to assign, and what location data to embed.
chat_history.json - Your Conversations
This file contains the text content of your Snapchat conversations. It includes:
- Messages you sent and received
- The sender and recipient for each message
- Timestamps for each message
- The type of content (text, media, sticker, etc.)
Note that actual images and videos sent in chats are generally not available for download in the export, as Snapchat deletes chat media after it has been viewed (unless saved by the recipient). Only text content and metadata are reliably preserved.
friends.json - Your Friend List
Contains your complete Snapchat friend list with:
- Usernames and display names of friends
- The date each friend was added
- Friend source (how you connected: added by username, phone contacts, Quick Add, etc.)
account.json - Your Account Information
Basic account details including:
- Your username and display name
- Email address associated with the account
- Phone number (if provided)
- Account creation date
- Birthday (as entered in Snapchat)
snap_history.json - Your Snap Activity
A log of snaps you have sent and received, including:
- Recipient or sender usernames
- Timestamps of when snaps were sent and opened
- Media type (photo or video)
- Whether the snap was viewed or not
This file does not contain the actual snap media, as snaps are designed to be ephemeral. Only the metadata about the exchange is recorded.
user_profile.json - Your Profile Data
Information about your Snapchat profile such as:
- Your Bitmoji ID (if you have a Bitmoji linked)
- Your Snapchat score
- Profile settings and preferences
Other JSON Files You May Find
Depending on your account activity and how long you have had Snapchat, you may also see:
- search_history.json - Terms you have searched for within Snapchat
- story_history.json - Information about stories you have posted
- location_history.json - If you use Snap Map, this contains your location sharing history
- ranking.json - Data about your interactions and how Snapchat ranks your friends
- talk_history.json - Voice and video call logs
- spotlight_history.json - Your Spotlight submissions if applicable
- community_history.json - Any community or group channel activity
- connected_apps.json - Third-party apps connected to your Snapchat account
- in_app_surveys.json - Your responses to any in-app surveys
The HTML Folder: Human-Readable Views
The html/ folder contains pre-formatted HTML pages that mirror the data in the JSON files but in a format you can read in any web browser. These pages are generated by Snapchat as part of the export process and include:
- A memories page with links to each memory listed chronologically
- Chat transcripts formatted as readable conversations
- Account information displayed in a clean layout
- Friend lists with dates added
While these HTML files are useful for casually browsing your data, they are not used by tools like Memories Import. The app works with the JSON files directly because they contain the structured data needed for automated processing.
Why the ZIP File Is So Small
Many people are surprised when their Snapchat export downloads in seconds and is only a few megabytes. If they have thousands of photos and videos, should the file not be gigabytes in size?
The answer is that Snapchat does not include your actual media files in the ZIP. Instead, the export contains temporary download links that point to your media on Snapchat's servers. This design choice keeps the export file small and fast to generate, but it means you need to download each memory individually through its link before the links expire.
This is exactly what Memories Import handles for you. The app reads the download links from your export, fetches each memory, and saves it to your camera roll with the correct metadata. Without an app to process these links, you would need to manually click each download link one by one, a process that could take hours for a large library.
Understanding the Download Links
The download links in your export deserve special attention because they have important limitations:
- They expire after 7 days from when the export was generated. After expiration, the links return an error and cannot be used to download your media.
- They are unique to your export. Each time you request a new export, you get new links. Old export links cannot be reactivated.
- They require authentication. The links are pre-signed URLs that work without logging in, but only until they expire.
- They point to original quality media. The files you download through these links are the same quality as what Snapchat stores, not compressed or downscaled versions.
If your links expire before you process them, you will need to submit a new data export request from accounts.snapchat.com and wait for a fresh export with new links.
What Is NOT in Your Export
It is equally important to know what your Snapchat export does not include:
- Snaps sent to you that you did not save - Ephemeral snaps are deleted from Snapchat's servers after viewing and cannot be recovered through a data export.
- Chat media that was not saved - Photos and videos sent in chats are typically deleted after viewing unless explicitly saved to Memories.
- Other people's stories - You only get your own story content, not stories from friends or public accounts.
- Lens and filter data - The specific filters or lenses applied to snaps are not included as separate data.
- Deleted memories - If you manually deleted memories from Snapchat before requesting the export, they will not appear in the export.
How Memories Import Uses Your Export
When you open your Snapchat export ZIP file in Memories Import, the app performs the following process:
- Parses the JSON files to find all memory entries with their download links, dates, and locations
- Downloads each memory through its temporary link, one at a time or in parallel depending on your network
- Embeds metadata into each file, setting the EXIF creation date, modification date, and GPS coordinates to match the original values from Snapchat
- Saves to your camera roll with all metadata intact, so the photos and videos appear at the correct position in your timeline
This entire process happens on your device. Memories Import does not upload your data to any server, does not require an account, and processes everything locally for complete privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't my Snapchat export contain actual photos and videos?
To keep the ZIP file size manageable, Snapchat provides download links to your media rather than embedding the files directly. Your memories are stored on Snapchat's servers, and the export gives you temporary links (valid for 7 days) to download each one. An app like Memories Import automates the process of downloading every file through these links.
What JSON files are included in the Snapchat export?
The export includes JSON files for memories metadata (memories_history.json), chat history, friend list, account information, snap history, search history, and various other data categories. The memories_history.json file is the most important for photo recovery as it contains the download links, dates, and location data for all your saved memories.
How big is a typical Snapchat data export ZIP file?
The ZIP file itself is usually quite small, typically between 1 and 50 MB, because it contains metadata and links rather than actual media files. The actual size of your memories when downloaded can range from a few hundred megabytes to tens of gigabytes depending on how many photos and videos you have saved.
Can I open and read the JSON files in my Snapchat export?
Yes. JSON files are plain text and can be opened with any text editor such as Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac, or VS Code. However, they can be difficult to read in their raw format. You can use a JSON formatter tool online or a code editor with JSON formatting to make them more readable. Alternatively, the export includes an index.html file that presents the data in a more user-friendly format.
Ready to process your Snapchat export?
Memories Import reads your export ZIP file and saves all your photos and videos to your camera roll with original dates and locations. No server uploads, no account required.
Download Now - $4.99