← Back to all guidesUpdated Sep 28, 2026
Snapchat deletes Snaps by default: once all recipients have opened one, the content is gone from Snapchat's servers. The only way most content survives is if it was saved to Memories, or saved explicitly in a chat. The export flow gives you a copy of what survived, plus the surrounding account data. This guide covers both the Memories flow and the broader account data download, what is in the archive, and the parts you cannot get back no matter what.
Written by Charles
Export at a glance
Request method
Multiple paths available
Archive format
JSON, CSV, HTML, MediaFiles, ZIP
Sensitivity
High: health, biometric, financial, precise location
Primary use
Backup: preserve a copy for yourself
Archive file map
Top-level structure of the export. Each entry is a file or directory with its format badge and what it contains.
index.htmlHTMLNavigator page with a left sidebar listing each category. Browse the archive without extracting manually
memories/MediaFilesPhotos and videos saved to Memories in original format (jpg/png/mp4)
snap_history.jsonJSONMetadata for Snaps you sent and received: timestamps and recipients (not content)
saved_chat_history.jsonJSONChat messages you explicitly saved
login_history.jsonJSONEvery login timestamp, IP address, device, and browser
account_info.jsonJSONProfile fields, friends list, account-creation date
purchases.csvCSVIn-app purchases: Lens Store, Bitmoji Shop
support_history.jsonJSONCorrespondence with Snapchat support
friends.jsonJSONYour friends list and saved friend metadata
location.jsonJSONSnap Map place visits with timestamps and coordinates
search_history.jsonJSONEvery search query you typed into Snapchat
bitmoji/JSONBitmoji avatar data and saved outfits
What Snapchat stores about you
Snapchat's data archive is more useful than many people expect. But also more limited in important ways. The archive covers your account, your Snaps and chats that were saved, your login history, and your Bitmoji. It does not include the contents of Snaps or chats that were sent and not saved, and it does not include Snaps that expired from a Story without being saved.
- Snap History: metadata for Snaps you sent and received, including timestamps and recipients
- Saved Chat History: chat messages you explicitly saved
- Memories: the photos and videos you saved to the Memories feature
- Login History and Account Information: every login timestamp, IP address, device, and browser
- User and Public Profiles: your profile data, friends list, and any public-facing content
- Purchase and Shop History: Lens Store, Bitmoji Shop, and any in-app purchases
- Snapchat Support History: your correspondence with Snapchat support
- Friends: your friends list and any saved friend metadata
- Location: Snap Map place visits where you opted to share your location
- Search History: every search you typed into Snapchat
- Bitmoji: your Bitmoji avatar data
Critical caveat: what is NOT in the export
Snapchat's "delete by default" policy means a lot of content is gone before the export even runs. The archive can only show you what Snapchat still has. It cannot recover deleted content.
- Snaps you sent but did not save to Memories and were not posted as a Story. The content is gone; only a metadata stub may remain
- Chats that were not explicitly saved: Snapchat deletes them ~24 hours after recipients have opened them
- Stories that expired (default 24 hours) without being saved
- Snaps in My Eyes Only if you do not remember the passphrase. The contents are encrypted with a key derived from that passphrase, and Snapchat does not store it
- Voice notes and voicemails that expired
- Snaps and chats cleared via "Clear Chat" or "Clear All Chats"
- Content from a deactivated or deleted account. Snapchat only honours requests from active accounts
- Anything Snapchat is under legal hold to retain but does not release to the user
Two flows: Memories and broader account data
Snapchat has historically offered two export paths: the Memories-specific export for your saved photos and videos, and a broader "Download My Data" flow that covers everything else. As of 2026, both flows go through the same Settings > My Data page (or the web mirror at accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/downloadmydata). You toggle the categories you want and submit once. The resulting ZIP contains everything you asked for.
- Memories toggle: includes the saved photo/video files plus an index.html viewer
- All other categories: Snap History, Login History, Friends, etc. As JSON / CSV files
- Toggle off categories you do not want to reduce processing time and archive size
My Eyes Only: set the passphrase BEFORE exporting
My Eyes Only is the password-protected subfolder of Memories. Its contents are encrypted with a key derived from the passphrase you set when you enabled the feature.
If you request an export and cannot remember the My Eyes Only passphrase, those Snaps are unrecoverable. Snapchat does not store the passphrase. Each export requires you to re-enter the passphrase to unlock the bundle before Snapchat will include the files.
- Verify the passphrase before requesting the export. Try unlocking My Eyes Only in the app
- If you have forgotten the passphrase, there is no recovery flow. The encrypted files are unrecoverable
- You can reset the passphrase in the app, but doing so will destroy any existing My Eyes Only content
- Plan ahead: if you intend to export My Eyes Only content, confirm the passphrase works first
How to request the export
- Open Snapchat and tap your profile (Bitmoji or avatar) in the top-left.
- Tap the Settings gear icon.
- Scroll to "My Data".
- Toggle "Export your Memories" to ON if you want your saved photos and videos.
- Toggle ON any other categories you want: Snap History, Login History, Friends, Location, Search History, etc.
- Pick a date range: longer ranges take longer to process.
- Confirm the email address for the notification.
- Tap Submit.
- Wait for the email. Snapchat says processing can take up to 7 days; typical simple exports arrive in minutes to hours.
- Click the link in the email OR revisit the export page in the app and tap "See exports" > "Download".
- The download link has a limited window: download promptly.
- If you want to do this on the web instead, sign in at accounts.snapchat.com and the same form is available under "My Data".
What is inside the archive
The export is a single ZIP file containing an index.html navigator plus per-category data files. Open the index.html in any browser to browse the archive without extracting it manually.
- index.html: the navigator with a left sidebar listing each category
- Memories folder: original photo and video files in their original format (jpg/png/mp4), with the index showing date, location, and capture type
- Snap History: JSON metadata for Snaps sent and received
- Saved Chat History: JSON or CSV of explicitly saved chat messages
- Login History: JSON of login timestamps, IP addresses, devices, browsers
- Account Info: JSON with profile fields, friends list, account-creation date
- Purchase and Shop History: CSV of in-app purchases
- Snapchat Support History: correspondence with support
- Friends: JSON of friends list and metadata
- Location: JSON of Snap Map place visits and timestamps
- Search History: JSON of every search query
- Bitmoji: Bitmoji avatar data and any saved outfits
How long it takes and expiry
- Simple exports (Memories only, recent range) typically arrive in minutes to hours
- Larger historical exports commonly take 1 to 3 days
- Snapchat's documented upper bound is "up to 7 days or longer"
- Requests cannot be cancelled once submitted: pick the categories and date range carefully
- The download link in the notification email has a limited window (historically ~30 days)
- Re-downloads from the "See exports" page are also subject to expiry
- If the link expires, submit a fresh export
Common pitfalls
- Mistaking the Memories tab in the app for an export. It is not. The export has to go through Settings > My Data or accounts.snapchat.com
- Expecting unsaved Snaps to appear: they are gone by design; the export only contains what was saved
- Forgetting the My Eyes Only passphrase: content encrypted with that passphrase is unrecoverable
- Picking too-wide a date range: longer ranges take days and may hit processing limits; split into chunks
- Letting the download link expire: set a reminder to download promptly after the email arrives
- Trying to export from a deactivated account: Snapchat only honours requests from active accounts
- Expecting saved chats to mean ALL chats: Snapchat only saves chats you explicitly saved; the rest are gone after ~24 hours
Where to store it
- The Memories folder is the most valuable part. Keep the original photo and video files, not just the index.html
- Store the full archive in a folder named snapchat-2026-09
- Save the index.html separately so you can browse the archive without extracting it
- Off-site copy in encrypted cloud storage: Snapchat data includes login IPs and precise location data, so treat it as sensitive
- Off-site options: ProtonDrive (ProtonDrive) or pCloud (pCloud)
Quick version
If you want the short checklist instead of the full guide, use the service page.
FAQ
Can I recover Snaps I sent but did not save to Memories?
No. Snapchat deletes the content of Snaps once all recipients have opened them. Only a metadata stub may remain in Snap History. The only way to preserve a Snap's content is to save it to Memories (or post it as a Story) at the time you sent it.
How long does the Snapchat export take?
Simple exports typically arrive in minutes to hours. Larger historical exports commonly take 1 to 3 days. Snapchat's documented upper bound is "up to 7 days or longer". You cannot cancel a request once submitted.
Does the export include My Eyes Only Snaps?
Yes, but only if you remember the passphrase. My Eyes Only content is encrypted with a key derived from the passphrase you set when you enabled the feature. If you cannot remember the passphrase, those Snaps are unrecoverable. Verify the passphrase before requesting the export.
Does the export include Snap Map location history?
Yes: Snap Map place visits are included under the "Location" category of Download My Data. The file contains timestamps and coordinates of places you opted to share your location.
Can I export from a deactivated or deleted account?
No. Snapchat only honours requests from active accounts. If your account is deactivated, reactivate it first before requesting the export.
Does the export include chats I did not explicitly save?
No: Snapchat only saves chats you explicitly saved. Non-saved chats are deleted ~24 hours after recipients have opened them. The export cannot recover them.
How long do I have to download the archive?
The download link in the notification email has a limited window (historically ~30 days). Re-downloads from the "See exports" page are also subject to expiry. If the link expires, submit a fresh export.
Does downloading delete my Snapchat data?
No. Exporting creates a copy. Your data stays on Snapchat's servers unless you separately request deletion or close the account.
Can I request the export on the web instead of in the app?
Yes. Sign in at accounts.snapchat.com and the same form is available under "My Data". The web and in-app flows route to the same backend and produce the same archive.
Why are very old Snaps missing from the export?
Snapchat's help pages say "we store different types of information for different periods of time". Very old Snaps, even if saved to Memories, may no longer be on Snapchat's servers. Pre-2014 Memories in particular have known gaps.
Last verified: Sep 3, 2026. Steps checked against accounts.snapchat.com. Report an outdated step →