To download your Snapchat data, log in at accounts.snapchat.com or open Settings in the app and tap My Data. Choose what to include, set a date range or switch it off for everything, confirm your email and submit. Snapchat emails a link to a zip file, usually within 7 days.
Snapchat's My Data tool is the official way to get a copy of what the app holds about you, from your login history and friends list to saved chats, Memories and search history. You request it, Snapchat prepares it, and you download one zip file. Before you hit submit, though, it helps to know what's in there, what isn't, and the one setting people regret skipping.
The steps, start to finish
- Go to accounts.snapchat.com and log in. In the app, open Settings (the gear icon on your Profile) and tap My Data to reach the same page.
- Click My Data.
- Select the types of data you want in the download.
- Choose a date range, or toggle the range off to get everything Snapchat still has.
- Confirm the email address for the notification.
- Click Submit.
- When the email arrives, or when you check back on the exports page, select See exports and then Download.
The file is a zip. On a phone you'll need an app that can open zip files, which is why I'd do the whole job on a laptop if you can. Once it's extracted, Snapchat's instructions point you to the index.html file, which opens in your browser with a navigation bar on the left, so you can click straight to the part you care about.
What you'll find in the file
Snapchat lists these categories in the Download My Data file:
| Category | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Login History and Account Information | When and where your account was accessed, plus account details |
| User & Public Profiles | What's on your personal and public profile |
| Snap History | A record of Snaps sent and received |
| Saved Chat History | Chats you or a friend saved |
| Memories | Your saved Snaps and Stories |
| Friends | Your friends list and related details |
| Location | Any place data Snapchat has kept |
| Search History | What you've searched for in the app |
| Purchase & Shop History, Support History, Bitmoji | Orders, past help requests and your avatar data |
Snapchat says the full, current list always lives on accounts.snapchat.com, so treat the table as a guide rather than a promise.
What won't be in it
This is the catch most people miss. Snapchat stores different types of information for different lengths of time, so the download won't go all the way back to the day you joined. Snapchat gives a specific example: if you and another Snapchatter are no longer friends, saved messages from that Chat may no longer be stored, and so may not be in your download.
So if you're requesting your data to find an old conversation with someone you've since removed, be prepared for it not to be there. Unsaved Snaps and chats aren't kept the way saved ones are, either.
Do you even need the full download?
Often you don't. Snapchat says a lot of your key account information is visible right in the app: your name, username, birthday, mobile number, email, Snapscore, the people you've blocked, Memories, Bitmoji, Snapcode, orders and Spectacles details. If you only want to check who's on your block list, you can see that without waiting days for a zip file, and my guide to unblocking someone on Snapchat shows where that list sits.
Likewise, if what you're after is your photos and videos, there's a Memories-only request inside the same My Data page, which is quicker to process than the whole lot.
How long it takes
Snapchat says it strives to deliver data within 7 days, but larger downloads can take longer. Your choices make a difference: a short date range with a few categories comes back much faster than every category since day one.
If you didn't request it
Snapchat sends a notification when a data download is requested. If you get one and it wasn't you, Snapchat's advice is to act straight away:
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- Change your password.
- Turn on Login Verification.
- Store your Recovery Code somewhere safe.
Snapchat also points out that data download requests can't be cancelled, which is exactly why securing the account matters. While you're in there, open Session Management (accounts.snapchat.com, or Settings, then My Account in the app) to see every device and browser signed in, and log out anything you don't recognise.
It's also a good moment to tidy the privacy settings that feed into what Snapchat records. If location data in your file surprised you, it's worth reviewing who can see you on Snap Map, and you can turn off your active status if you'd rather friends didn't see when you're online.
Common hiccups
- Wrong email address. Log in at accounts.snapchat.com and open My Data. The download is waiting there.
- The link has gone quiet. Check the exports page rather than waiting on the email.
- It won't open. It's a zip file, so extract it first on a computer.
My advice
Request your Snapchat data once a year, even if nothing's wrong. It shows you exactly what the app holds, it gives you a backup of your Memories and saved chats, and it's the fastest way to spot logins you don't recognise. Keep the date range tight if you only need something recent, and if a request ever turns up that you didn't make, change your password before you do anything else.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download my Snapchat data?
Log in at accounts.snapchat.com or open Settings, then My Data. Choose what to include and a date range, confirm your email and submit. Snapchat emails a download link.
How long does Snapchat take to send my data?
Snapchat aims to deliver within 7 days, but large downloads can take longer.
Will my Snapchat data include deleted chats?
Not necessarily. Snapchat keeps different data for different periods, and saved messages with someone who's no longer your friend may not be available.
Can I cancel a Snapchat data request?
No. Snapchat says data download requests can't be cancelled. If you didn't make one, change your password and turn on Login Verification.
What format is the Snapchat data download?
A zip file. Extract it on a computer to open the contents.
