How to Uninstall Snapchat Without Losing Your Memories

Before you do, back up your Memories. Snapchat Support says to make sure your Memories are completely backed up before you log out, log in on a different device or uninstall Snapchat, and that it can't recover Memories that go missing.

Below are the steps for each phone, what uninstalling does and doesn't do to your account, and the checks worth doing first. The steps come from Apple's iPhone User Guide, Android Help and Snapchat Support, read in October 2026.

Uninstalling vs deleting your account

These are different, and they're easy to mix up.

What you do	What happens	Can you undo it?
Uninstall the app	The app and its data come off your phone. Your Snapchat account stays	Yes, reinstall and log in
Remove from Home Screen (iPhone)	The icon disappears, but the app stays in App Library	Yes, it's still installed
Delete your Snapchat account	Your account itself is closed	Follow Snapchat's account deletion rules

If you want to leave Snapchat for good, uninstalling isn't enough. My guide on deleting your Snapchat account covers that.

Before you uninstall: three checks

1. Back up your Memories. Snapchat says to do this before you uninstall, because it can't get lost Memories back. The quickest way is to download all your Snapchat Memories.
2. Check Snapchat+. Snapchat says you view billing or cancel through your phone's App Store or Google Play, so deleting the app doesn't stop the subscription. If you want it stopped, cancel Snapchat Plus first.
3. Know your login. You'll need your username or email and password to get back in after you reinstall.

How to uninstall Snapchat on iPhone

Apple's iPhone User Guide says deleting an app removes it and its data from your iPhone.

1. Touch and hold the Snapchat icon on the Home Screen or in App Library.
2. Tap Remove App.
3. Tap Delete App.
4. Tap Delete to confirm.

Apple adds that it may take a moment for your available storage to update after you delete an app.

If you only want the icon out of sight, Apple gives a gentler option: touch and hold the app, tap Remove App, then Remove from Home Screen. Snapchat moves to App Library and still works from there. That isn't uninstalling.

How to uninstall Snapchat on Android

Android Help gives these steps for apps you installed yourself:

1. Open the Google Play Store app.
2. At the top right, tap the Profile icon.
3. Tap Manage apps and device, then Manage.
4. Tap Snapchat.
5. Tap Uninstall.

Google notes that some of these steps only work on Android 13 and up, and that if you delete an app, you can add it back to your phone later.

How to reinstall Snapchat later

On iPhone, Apple says you can reinstall any app you downloaded before if it's still in the App Store. Open the App Store, tap your picture, tap Apps and Purchase History, then Your Apps, find Snapchat and tap the download icon. On Android, Google says you can add a deleted app back from the Play Store. Then log in with your usual details.

Uninstalling Snapchat on a shared or family phone

If Snapchat is on a phone someone else uses too, remember that deleting the app on iPhone removes its data from that phone, according to Apple. Anyone else who logged in on that device will need their details to get back in. And if the goal is to stop a child using it rather than remove it, Apple points to Screen Time settings to block an app and to its Lock or hide an app feature, which may suit you better than deleting it.

What happens to Snapchat+ and your friends list

Deleting the app doesn't touch your subscription. Snapchat says you view billing and cancel Snapchat+ through your phone's App Store or Google Play, so you'll keep being charged until you cancel there. Your friends list belongs to your account, not the phone, so it's there when you log back in. What you can lose is anything you hadn't saved, which is why the Memories backup comes first.

What uninstalling won't fix

People often uninstall Snapchat to fix a bug. Sometimes it works, but Snapchat's own advice usually starts with smaller steps: update the app, then clear the cache, which Snapchat says won't delete your Memories, Snaps or Chats. Try those first. Reinstalling does nothing for your account itself, so problems tied to your login or friends list will still be there when you log back in.

My verdict

Uninstalling Snapchat is quick and reversible, but only if you've backed up your Memories first, so do that before anything else. Remember that the app and the account are separate: deleting the app doesn't close your account or cancel Snapchat+. If you're leaving for good, cancel any subscription and delete the account itself. If you're just taking a break, removing it from your Home Screen might be all you need.

Frequently asked questions

Does uninstalling Snapchat delete my account?

No. Uninstalling removes the app and its data from your phone. Your Snapchat account stays, and you can log back in after you reinstall.

Will I lose my Memories if I uninstall Snapchat?

Snapchat says to make sure your Memories are completely backed up before you uninstall, because Support can't recover Memories that go missing. Download them first.

Does deleting the Snapchat app cancel Snapchat+?

No. Snapchat says you manage and cancel Snapchat+ through your phone's App Store or Google Play subscriptions, not by deleting the app.

Can I hide Snapchat instead of uninstalling it?

On iPhone, yes. Apple says you can touch and hold the app, tap Remove App, then Remove from Home Screen. Snapchat moves to App Library and still works, so nothing is deleted.

Do I lose my friends if I uninstall Snapchat?

No. Uninstalling only removes the app from your phone. Your friends list belongs to your Snapchat account, so it's there when you reinstall and log back in.

How do I uninstall Snapchat on iPhone?

Touch and hold the Snapchat icon, tap Remove App, tap Delete App, then tap Delete to confirm.

How do I uninstall Snapchat on Android?

Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, tap Manage apps and device, then Manage, tap Snapchat and tap Uninstall.