snapchat
How to delete your Snapchat account
Snapchat is an ephemeral messaging and short-video app from Snap Inc., used by around 400 million daily active users. Even though Snaps are designed to disappear, Snapchat stores your username, friends, Bitmoji, location history (via Snap Map), Memories you saved, chat metadata, and Spotlight submissions. Deletion has a 30-day grace period during which the account is hidden but recoverable.
Delete your Snapchat account, step by step
- 01Go to accounts.snapchat.com in a desktop browser
- 02Log in with your Snapchat username and password
- 03Click 'Delete My Account' (or go straight to accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/delete_account)
- 04Re-enter your username and password
- 05Click 'Continue'
- 06Account is deactivated for 30 days then permanently deleted
What actually happens when you delete
Gets removed
- Your username, display name, Bitmoji, Snapcode, and profile
- Friends list, Snapscore, Streaks, and Snap Map location history
- Memories (saved photos and videos) — back these up first
- Chat history visible from your side (recipients keep their copy)
- Spotlight submissions and Stories
Stays behind
- Snaps and chats other users saved to their Memories or screenshots
- Limited records Snap keeps for trust & safety and legal compliance
- Aggregated data used for ad and recommendation models
- If you used 'Login with Snapchat' on third-party apps, your accounts there may persist
- Your username is generally retired (not released to others)
Download your data from Snapchat first
Most platforms only honor a data-export request while the account is still active. Do this before you delete.
- 01Go to accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/downloadmydata
- 02Verify your password
- 03Click 'Submit request'
- 04You'll get an email when the archive is ready (usually 24–48 hours)
- 05Return to the same page and download the ZIP — link expires after a few days
Want to take a break instead? Deactivate
Deactivation hides your profile without permanently destroying it. Logging back in restores everything.
- 01The 30-day deletion period IS the deactivation flow. To reactivate during that window, just log in to the app and you'll be prompted to recover the account.
legal_escalation
If deletion fails — or you live in the EU, UK, or California
You have a legal right to request erasure of your personal data under GDPR (EU/UK) and CCPA (California). Use these official channels if the self-service flow doesn't work.
Snapchat deletion FAQs
Can my friends still send me Snaps during the 30-day deletion period?
No. Once you submit deletion your account is hidden and friends can't message you, see your Bitmoji, or appear connected to you. If you log back in within 30 days, the account and all connections are restored.
Will my Memories be deleted with my Snapchat account?
Yes. Memories (photos and videos you saved within Snapchat) are deleted permanently with the account. Use 'Export Snap' or the data download tool to save them locally before you start the deletion process.
Does deleting Snapchat cancel Snapchat+ ?
No. Snapchat+ is billed by Apple or Google. You must cancel through the App Store (Subscriptions) or Google Play (Payments & subscriptions) BEFORE deleting, or you'll keep getting charged.
Will my Bitmoji avatar survive a Snapchat deletion?
Only if you have a separate Bitmoji account using a different login. By default, Bitmoji is tied to your Snapchat account and is deleted together. To preserve your Bitmoji, link it to a standalone Bitmoji app login before deleting Snapchat.
Can someone take my Snapchat username after deletion?
Generally no. Snap retires deleted usernames rather than releasing them, which protects against impersonation but means you can't grab back your old handle if you sign up again.
Will Snapchat keep any of my data after I delete?
Most personal content is purged after the 30-day window, but Snap retains a small set of records (transaction history, trust and safety logs, content moderation evidence) for as long as required by applicable law.
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