How to Delete a Snapchat Story: Whole Story or One Snap

Posted something you wish you hadn't? Don't panic. Here are the steps first, then everything that happens afterwards.

Steps to delete a Snapchat story

1. Open Snapchat and tap your profile picture or Bitmoji at the top left.
2. Find My Story and tap it to open the snaps you've posted.
3. Open the snap you want to remove.
4. Tap the three dots, or the bin icon if you see one.
5. Choose Delete, then confirm if Snapchat asks.

These steps are the same on iPhone and Android. Snapchat moves things around from time to time, so if a menu name looks different, search the app for the word "delete" or look for the three dots beside your story.

Delete the whole story or just one snap

You get to choose. If one snap is the problem, delete only that one and leave the rest. If you'd rather start fresh, delete the snaps one by one until the story is empty.

• One snap: open the story, go to the snap you want gone and delete it. The other snaps stay in your story.
• The whole story: repeat the same steps for each snap until your story is clear.

If you're sorting out a story you posted on Instagram, the steps are different. Here's how to delete an Instagram story you posted.

Who has already seen it, and can they still?

Once you delete a snap, nobody new can watch it. People who have already viewed it can't open it again. That's the good news.

The less comfortable part is that anyone who watched it has seen it. They may have taken a screenshot or filmed their screen with another device. Snapchat can sometimes tell you about screenshots, but it can't stop one. If you're curious, I've explained whether Snapchat notifies you about screenshots in a separate guide.

Remember too that stories fade by themselves. Snapchat stories disappear after 24 hours by default, so an old story may already be gone.

It also helps to know that deleting is quiet. Your friends aren't sent a message saying you removed a snap, so most people won't notice. If someone replied to the snap before you deleted it, that chat message usually stays in your conversation, so you may want to clear that separately if it matters. Open the chat, press and hold the message and look for the delete option.

Saved copies, public stories and Spotlight

Deleting a story doesn't always wipe every copy. It depends where else it lives.

Memories

If you saved the snap to Memories, deleting it from your story doesn't remove it there. Open Memories and delete the saved copy if you want it gone completely.

Public stories

If you have a public profile, your public stories show up there too. Open your public profile, find the story and delete it the same way.

Spotlight

Snaps posted to Spotlight are public and are separate from your private story. Find them in your profile, open the one you want to remove, tap the three dots and choose Delete.

If someone else saved or shared your public snap before you deleted it, their copy remains. That's why I always think before posting anything public.

If you notice an icon or ring around a story and don't know what it means, my guide to Snapchat symbols on stories explains them.

You can't undo a delete, so save first

Once you tap Delete, the snap is gone. Snapchat has no bin to restore it from. If you want a copy, save it before you delete.

• Open the snap and tap the download arrow to save it to Memories or your phone.
• Check that it saved by looking in Memories or your camera roll.
• Only then delete it from your story.
• If you're deleting for privacy, delete the saved copy too once you're sure you don't want it.

A quick rule I'd follow: if you're not sure, wait a minute. Most regrets about a story come from deleting in a rush, not from posting.

And if you post for a business, keep a copy of anything you might want to reuse. A story that's vanished can't be shown to a customer later.

Why can't I delete my Snapchat story?

If the delete option doesn't appear or nothing happens, one of these usually fixes it.

• Check your connection. A weak Wi-Fi or data signal can stop the delete going through.
• Update the app. An old version of Snapchat can behave oddly.
• Close the app and open it again, then try the same steps.
• Log out and back in if the story still won't clear.
• Make sure it's your own story. You can't delete a story someone else posted.

If the story belongs to someone else and it's upsetting or breaks the rules, you can't remove it yourself. You can report it from the same three dots menu, or block the person.

Choose who sees your next story

The easiest way to avoid deleting is to post to the right people in the first place. Snapchat lets you control who can see your story, so you don't have to share everything with everyone.

• Open your settings and look for Who Can View My Story.
• Choose friends only, or pick a custom group of people.
• Keep public posts for things you'd happily show a stranger.
• Look at your story again right after you post it, so you catch a mistake early.

If you run a small business, a custom audience is handy for sneak peeks. Share a behind-the-scenes snap with regular customers and keep the rest of your followers out of it.

A short checklist before you tap Delete

1. Do you want a copy? Save it first.
2. Is it only one snap, or the whole story?
3. Did you also post it to Spotlight or a public profile?
4. Does it need to come out of Memories too?
5. Are you sure? There's no undo.

Frequently asked questions

Can I delete just one snap from my Snapchat story?

Yes. Open your story, go to the snap you want gone, tap the three dots or the bin icon and choose Delete. The rest of your story stays.

Does deleting a Snapchat story delete it from Memories?

No. If you saved a snap to Memories, you need to delete that copy separately.

Can people still see my story after I delete it?

No. Once it's deleted, nobody can view it again, though anyone who already watched it may have taken a screenshot.

Can I get a deleted Snapchat story back?

No. A deleted snap can't be restored, so save it to Memories or your phone before you delete it if you want to keep it.