Among younger generations, Snapchat is notably the social media of choice. It provides a certain measure of privacy because the messages and Snaps sent aren’t permanent and can only be viewed once before they’re gone. There are, however, ways around this that mean the privacy Snapchat provides isn’t foolproof.
Snapchat automatically deletes messages one day after everyone in the chat has viewed them or a week after the message was sent, whichever is sooner. If the message remains unread for a week, it will be deleted more quickly. It is gone from the server (unrecoverable) once Snapchat does this.
Let’s take a closer look at how long Snapchat keeps messages around before deletes them, if it’s possible to recover deleted Snapchats, and how to save them if you don’t want the Snapchat server to delete them.
Does Snapchat Automatically Delete Messages?
Much like photo and video Snaps, Snapchat does automatically delete messages. This is in keeping with the theme of the app, which is that nothing is permanent, and you can expect everything to disappear.
Unfortunately, it’s not the messaging app for those who like to check back on messages they’ve sent and received!
How Long Does Snapchat Keep Chats?
If in a group chat, for example, Snapchat will keep the message for a week after it’s sent before it is deleted entirely, but if everyone views it, it will be deleted after one day.
This is the same way for chats between two people.
Can You Recover Deleted Snapchats?
It depends on which form of Snapchat you want to recover. Snapchat messages cannot be recovered once deleted and are gone for good, so if you’ve missed some vital information, you’ll have to check back in with the user that sent the messages.
Videos and pictures can be replayed once, but once gone; they are also gone for good.
However, if it’s your content you want to recover, that’s a little different. Instead, you can head into the Snapchat app and click the pictures button on the left-hand side of the camera. You’ll then have access to every story you ever posted and can scroll through and find the one you want.
If it was a Snap you sent to a specific person or group, it will be gone unless you saved it separately.
Can You Delete Snapchats?
While Snapchat will delete messages after 24 hours as their default, you can also hold down on a message and choose to delete it yourself. This will get rid of it for everyone in the conversation; if no one has already seen it, it will be as if the message never existed.
Pictures and videos, however, are a different story. While some platforms like Facebook Messenger will let you unsend pictures and videos the same way you might unsend messages, Snapchat doesn’t offer the same luxury. Instead, once you send a picture or video to someone, it’s with them until the system deletes it.
You can, however, delete Snaps from your story. Your story is yours to control; otherwise, Snapchat will delete content from it in 24 hours, though it will always be available to view in your archive.
Can Anyone See My Deleted Stories?
Whether you delete stories or they expire after 24 hours, no one can view them in your story archive except you. This is private for each Snapchat user and only there for memories, so you can repost the stories if you choose.
How to Save Your Snapchats
If you want to save a message while in a chat, you can do so before it disappears. First, press the message you want to choose and save “Save in Chat.” Next, you can swipe up on a video or photo and select the same option, which will then be saved in the chat.
Can I Save Snapchats Without the Other Person Knowing?
There is no official way to save a Snapchat without the other person knowing. Taking a screenshot of a Snapchat will alert the other person, and if you use Snapchat’s save feature, anyone within that chat will be able to see you’ve done so.
The only real way to save Snapchats without someone knowing is to take a picture of your phone or write down/type out the message and save it. Generally, it’s considered bad etiquette to save a screenshot of a Snapchat without permission, as the point of the app is its impermanence.
How Do I Know if Someone Saved My Snapchats?
If you’re in a group with someone who saves Snapchats the traditional way, you can see that the messages are saved in the chat. If someone screenshots a conversation or picture of yours, you will get an alert to let you know they have done so. This will also happen if the person is using screen-recording software.
If they use an unofficial way, like taking a picture of their phone, you will not receive any alert.
To Conclude
Snapchat is notorious for deleting messages, saying, “Deleting is our default.”
However, the point of the platform is that nothing is permanent, and you can freely chat and share images and videos in the knowledge they will soon be deleted, and it seems Snapchat doesn’t have plans to change this anytime soon.