To delete Memories on Snapchat, swipe up from the Camera screen to open Memories, press and hold the Snap you want to remove and tap Delete. Deleted Memories can't be recovered, and Snapchat Support can't restore them, so save a copy first if there's any doubt.
Deleting a Memory takes three taps. The part worth slowing down for is what happens afterwards: Snapchat says that when you delete a Snap from Memories, its servers erase it as soon as possible, and nobody at Snapchat can bring it back. There's no recently deleted folder to rescue you.
Delete a Snap from Memories
These are the steps from Snapchat Support:
- Swipe up from the Camera screen to open Memories.
- Press and hold the Snap you want to get rid of.
- Tap Delete.
If you're clearing out a lot, take it slowly and look at each Snap before you tap, because there's no second chance once it's gone.
Before you delete: the no-undo rule
Snapchat's help pages are blunt about this. Lost or deleted Memories can't be recovered, and Snapchat Support can't restore them for you. Snapchat says that's a privacy choice: deleted Snaps are wiped from its servers rather than kept in the background.
So if you're deleting to free up space rather than because you never want to see a photo again, take a copy first. Snapchat's My Data tool has a Memories-only export, and once you've downloaded it you can save individual Memories or all of them at once. You request it at accounts.snapchat.com (or Settings, then My Data), and Snapchat emails you a link to a zip file when it's ready.
Does deleting from Memories delete it from my phone?
Not if you'd saved it to both places. Snapchat lets you choose where the Save button sends your Snaps: Memories, Memories & Camera Roll, or Camera Roll only. A copy in your phone's camera roll is a separate file, so removing the Memory leaves that copy alone, and you'd delete it in your Photos or Gallery app as normal.
| Your Save Button setting | What deleting from Memories removes |
|---|---|
| Memories | The only copy. It's gone for good. |
| Memories & Camera Roll | The Snapchat copy. The phone copy stays. |
| Camera Roll | Nothing in Memories to delete. Manage it in your phone's photo app. |
To check which setting you're on: Settings, then My App, Memories and Save Button.
Why Memories keep filling back up
If you delete a pile of Snaps and the clutter returns, the usual cause is auto-save. With Auto-Save My Story Snaps turned on, every Snap you post to My Story is saved to Memories automatically. That's handy if you want a record of your Stories, and a nuisance if you don't.
- Open Settings from the gear icon on your Profile.
- Tap My App, then Memories.
- Switch Auto-Save My Story Snaps off if you'd rather choose what's kept.
If you still want to keep particular Stories, you can save them one by one instead. I explain the options in how to save a Snapchat Story.
Clearing space versus clearing the past
People delete Memories for two very different reasons, and it's worth knowing which one you're dealing with.
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- You're running low on storage. Snapchat includes up to 5GB of Memories storage. You can see how much you're using under Settings, My App, Memories, then Cloud Storage. Exporting first and then deleting is the safe way to make room.
- You want something gone. Delete it from Memories, and check your camera roll for a second copy. If the Snap was also sent to someone or posted, deleting the Memory doesn't touch those. For a Snap you've sent, see how to unsend a Snap.
Memories you didn't delete but lost anyway
Sometimes people search for how to delete Memories because their collection already looks wrong: gaps, missing Snaps, or Snaps with a little icon on them. That icon matters. Snapchat says a backup icon on a Snap in Memories means it hasn't been backed up yet, and Memories that never finished backing up can't be recovered if they're lost.
- Open Settings and tap My App.
- Tap Memories.
- Check that Backup Progress says Complete. If it shows Snaps remaining or no connection, get on Wi-Fi and wait.
Snapchat's advice is to make sure that backup is complete before you log out, log in on another device or uninstall the app. I'd add one more moment to that list: before a big clear-out. You want to know exactly what's safely stored before you start removing things.
What deleting won't do
Deleting a Memory only removes your saved copy. It doesn't remove a Snap from a friend's chat, a Story you've already posted or a screenshot someone took. If the reason you're deleting is that something was shared that shouldn't have been, deal with the place it was shared too.
My verdict
Delete away, but treat every tap as permanent, because that's exactly what it is. My rule is simple: if there's even a chance you'll want it later, export your Memories first, then delete with a clear conscience. And if you keep finding Memories you never meant to save, switch off auto-save for My Story so you're the one deciding what Snapchat keeps.
Frequently asked questions
How do I delete a Memory on Snapchat?
Swipe up from the Camera to open Memories, press and hold the Snap and tap Delete.
Can I get deleted Snapchat Memories back?
No. Snapchat says deleted Memories can't be recovered and Support can't restore them, because the Snap is erased from its servers.
If I delete a Memory, is it removed from my camera roll?
No. A copy saved to your camera roll is a separate file. Delete it from your phone's photo app if you want it gone too.
Why do my Snapchat Memories keep coming back?
Auto-Save My Story Snaps is probably on. Turn it off in Settings, My App, Memories.
Should I download my Memories before deleting them?
If there's any chance you'll want them again, yes. Use the Memories-only export from My Data first.
