Snapchat allows users to delete their accounts by first deactivating the affected account for 30 days, after which it is automatically deleted.
You can deactivate your Snapchat account on the iOS app, via web or PC but not on the Android app. If you don’t delete your Snapchat account properly, it can get reactivated again the next time you check if it’s genuinely deleted.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to properly delete your Snapchat account on Android or iOS and take all of your data. I’ll also discuss mistakes to avoid, which may stop the account deletion process and make you start again.
But before we get into the meat of the post, there’s something you need to know:
PS: If you’re in a hurry, jump to the sections below to delete your Snapchat account:
Snapchat Account Deactivation vs. Deletion: What’s the Difference?
Snapchat doesn’t provide a direct button to delete your account.
You have to deactivate the account manually before it’s automatically deleted.
You can reactivate a Snapchat account if you change your mind after deactivating it. This will only be possible if 30 days are yet to lapse between when you deactivated the account and when you plan to reactivate it.
Note that deactivating the account makes it look like you have deleted it to all your Snapchat friends and family. They can’t reach you or interact with you on the Snapchat platform till you reactivate the account.
After 30 days, Snapchat permanently removes all of your account settings and details (friends, streak, device data, location data, etc.) from its servers.
What Data Can You Download From Snapchat?
Snapchat allows you to download your data anytime, and you can choose to download your Snapchat data before deleting the app.
The Snapchat data you download contains information on your:
- Login history.
- Snap History (sent and received snaps).
- Chat history.
- Purchase history.
- Shop history.
- Snapchat support history.
- Public profile.
- User profile.
- Story history.
- Terms history.
- Subscriptions, and more.
You can get a complete list of all the data you can download on the official Snapchat support page.
I’ll walk you through how to download your Snapchat data before deactivating your account in the following heading.
How to Download Your Snapchat Data Before Deactivation?
I’ve detailed how you can download your Snapchat data on a mobile app (iOS or Android) or via PC/web below.
How to Download Your Snapchat Data on iOS?
- Launch the Snapchat app.
- Tap your avatar icon/stories in the upper left corner.
- Tap on the gear settings icon.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and select “My Data.”
- You may be prompted to re-enter your username and password here.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap “Submit Request.”
- You’ll get a confirmation message. Wait for the download link to get all your data in your email.
How to Download Your Snapchat Data on Android?
- Open your Snapchat app.
- Tap the avatar/bitmoji/stories icon in the upper left corner.
- Tap the gear/settings icon in the upper right corner.
- Scroll to the “Privacy” section and select “My Data.”
- You may be prompted to log in and verify your identity at this stage.
- Choose “Submit Request” at the bottom of the screen.
- You’ll get a confirmation message from Snapchat. You’ll be notified once your data is ready for download.
How to Download Your Snapchat Data on PC?
- Go to the official Snapchat website for account management.
- Log in with your Snapchat credentials.
- Click “My Data.”
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Submit Request.”
- You’ll get a confirmation message like the one below.
- When your data is ready, you’ll see a download link in your account.
You need to have a working and verified email address with Snapchat to download your data.
Otherwise, you’d be required to add and verify an email address first.
How to Deactivate & Delete Your Snapchat Account?
Now that you have downloaded your data, we are closer to deleting your account.
The next stage is to deactivate your account first, and deletion follows automatically.
The guides below show you how to do that on Android, iOS, and PC.
Deactivate & Delete Snapchat on Mobile
Follow the steps in the visual or text guide below to deactivate and delete your Snapchat account from the Android or iOS app.
How to Deactivate & Delete Snapchat on iOS?
- Launch the Snapchat app.
- Tap the avatar/bitmoji button in the upper left corner. This icon could also be your recent stories if you have any published.
- Tap the gear icon to access account settings.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and select “Delete Account” under “Account Actions.”
- Enter your username and password on the resulting screen. Select “Continue.”
- You’ll get a confirmation message.
- Don’t login to the account for the next 31 days for Snapchat to automatically delete it.
How to Deactivate & Delete Snapchat on Android?
Deactivating your Snapchat on Android is tricky since the option is not readily presented. Follow the steps below to find that option.
- Launch your Snapchat app on your Android device.
- Tap the account avatar icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
- Select the gear/settings icon on the upper right of the screen.
- Scroll down to the “Support” section and tap “I Need Help.”
- Tap “My Account & Security.”
- Select “Delete My Account.”
- Click on the “accounts portal” link in the body of text.
- Login to your account to verify ownership.
- Follow the rest of the prompts to deactivate your Snapchat account.
- After deactivation, don’t login for the next 31 days for Snapchat to permanently delete your account.
How to Deactivate & Delete Snapchat on PC?
- Go to the official Snapchat account management website.
- Log in with your Snapchat credentials if you’re not already logged in.
- Select “Delete My Account” from the listed options.
- Re-enter your username and password, then click “Continue.”
- Your account is now deactivated.
- Leave the account deactivated for 31 days to permanently delete it.
How to Reactivate Your Snapchat Account?
If your Snapchat account was deleted in error or by an unauthorized user, you could still get the account back with all your data intact.
However, this is only possible if you try to reactivate the account within the first 30 days after it was initially deactivated. Otherwise, the Snapchat account is gone.
Here’s a quick guide to reactivating your Snapchat account within the 30-day grace period:
- Launch the Snapchat mobile app.
- Log in to the app with your last used credentials.
- Snapchat asks if you want to reactivate the account. Choose “Yes.”
- Snapchat starts working on reactivating your account in the background.
- You get an email notification once your account is ready for use again.
Remember to write down your account password if you’re deactivating it yourself with the option to reactivate it later.
Snapchat doesn’t give you the option to request a password change when your account is deactivated. So, if you don’t have the last password you used, you might lose the account permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Completely Delete a Snapchat Account?
You can permanently delete Snapchat and its data if you don’t reactivate it for 30 days after deactivation.
Snapchat reserves all your data and account settings on its servers within the first 30-day grace period if you want to return to the platform.
After that timeframe, the social media company removes all your data, preferences, account settings, and instances from its servers.
What Does Snapchat Do With Deleted Accounts?
Snapchat deletes all the user-generated data associated with deleted accounts on its main user database and prevents the user (or anyone else) from accessing that account. The company also prevents other users (or you) from reusing the old username after an account has been permanently deleted.
Does Deleting Snapchat Account Delete All Chats?
Deleting your Snapchat account will erase all chats (snaps) sent and received on your account. This Snapchat deletion process also deletes your account information, settings, stories, memories, and other data published on your account.
Note that deleting Snapchat doesn’t delete any chats with other users, pictures you sent that they’ve saved locally, or screenshots.
If you want to recover your chats and other data, Snapchat allows you a 30-day grace period to reactivate your account and restore all of your chats.
How Long Does Snapchat Keep Data After Deleting Account?
Snapchat automatically erases all of your messages, location history data, account purchase information, and related data once your account gets deleted.
The social media company may retain specific data about your account for legal security and business purposes. This includes the terms and conditions you agreed to when opening the account.
What to Do Next After Deleting Snapchat
If you’re going for a safer and more private internet experience, deleting Snapchat could be an excellent place to start from.
You might also want to look into how to protect your Facebook privacy, delete your Twitter account, manage what data Google has on you and boost your overall online privacy with a VPN.
You should also stay abreast of other things in the online privacy and data security space. We have an entire category dedicated to staying safe on the internet that you should check out.
