If you’ve been saving Snaps for years, the camera roll button won’t get them all out in any reasonable time. The quickest way to get a complete copy is Snapchat’s free My Data export, which bundles your Memories into a download.

It’s worth doing now. Snapchat gives each account 5GB of free Memories storage. From January 2027, older Memories beyond that allowance will be archived, meaning you’ll see thumbnails but need a paid plan or a download to open them. A copy on your own device means that change won’t matter.

This guide covers both methods: saving a few Snaps to your phone and exporting your full archive.

Method 1: Save selected Memories to your camera roll

This works best when you only want a handful of Snaps. The files land on your phone immediately.

1. Open Snapchat and swipe up from the Camera screen to open Memories.
2. Press and hold a Snap, then tap Export.
3. Choose where to save it.

To save several at once, tap the select icon at the top of Memories, tap each Snap you want, then export them together. You can only select about 100 at a time, so this is slow for thousands of Snaps.

The steps are the same on iPhone and Android. On iPhone, files go to the Photos app. On Android, they go to your gallery, sometimes in a Snapchat folder depending on your phone’s brand.

Method 2: Export all your Memories through My Data

For a full backup, use the My Data export. It’s free, and you don’t need Snapchat+.

Before you start

• Use the official site. Only request your data at accounts.snapchat.com, or through Settings > My Data in the app, which opens the same page. Never give your Snapchat login to a third-party “Memories downloader.” Fake pages built to harvest logins are common, as Condia’s report on phishing pages that steal OTPs shows.
• Check the size. Open Memories in the app to see how much storage you’re using. Several gigabytes of Memories means a big download.
• Plan your data. A multi-year archive can be many gigabytes. With Nigerian data prices up since the 2025 tariff hike, use Wi-Fi or a large bundle.

Request the export

According to Snapchat Support:

1. Log in at accounts.snapchat.com and open My Data.
2. Under “Select data to include,” turn on Export your Memories. For a smaller file with only your Memories, choose the Memories-only request option instead of the full account export.
3. Set the date range. Turn the date filter off, or choose all time, to get your whole history. A shorter range processes faster if you only need one year.
4. Confirm the email address for the notification.
5. Click Submit.

Check the Memories toggle before submitting. It starts switched off, and if you miss it, you’ll get account data and chat text but none of your photos or videos.

Wait for Snapchat

Processing time depends on how much you’re exporting. Small requests can arrive within hours. Snapchat says large exports can take up to about a week. You’ll get an email when it’s ready.

Download and open your export

When the email arrives, don’t click unfamiliar links. Go straight to accounts.snapchat.com, open My Data, select See exports, then Download. Don’t wait long, because download links expire. If yours has, submit a new request.

Your export arrives as a ZIP file. Large archives may be split into several ZIPs. Download every one, or you’ll be missing part of your history.

On a computer: Double-click the ZIP to extract it. Inside, open index.html in your browser to view and download your Memories.

On a phone: You’ll need a file manager app that can extract ZIP files. Android’s built-in Files app usually can. On iPhone, the Files app handles it.

Expect some rough edges. Filenames are often just timestamps. Captions, text and stickers can be saved as separate overlay files instead of being burned onto the photo, and dates or GPS data may not show up correctly in your gallery. Some tools merge overlays back onto the images and fix dates. They’re optional, and they should work on the export file you downloaded. Never give them your Snapchat login.

Check that your backup actually works

A download isn’t a backup until you’ve checked it. Before you delete anything from Snapchat:

• Open photos from different months and years, not just the latest ones.
• Play several videos all the way through to make sure they aren’t corrupted or cut short.
• Compare the rough number of files against what you remember having in Memories.
• Look for your oldest Snaps specifically, since they’re the easiest to miss.

If Memories are missing

• Wrong date range: Request a new export with the date filter off.
• Missing ZIP parts: Go back to See exports and download every file.
• My Eyes Only: Snaps saved there are protected separately. If they aren’t in your export, move them out of My Eyes Only in the app, then export again.
• Already lost: Snapchat says Memories lost from the app without a backup can’t be recovered. An export only captures what’s still in your account.

Keep a copy outside Snapchat and your phone

Once your export checks out, store at least one copy somewhere other than the phone Snapchat is installed on. Good options include:

• A laptop folder that’s backed up separately
• An external hard drive or flash drive
• A cloud service such as Google Photos or Google Drive

Phones get lost, stolen and wiped. If your only copy of five years of Snaps is on one device, it isn’t safe.

Also remember that Snapchat doesn’t back up your camera roll into Memories. Your phone’s gallery and your Snapchat export are separate collections, and each needs its own backup.

Frequently asked questions

Can I download all my Snapchat Memories at once?

Yes. Use the My Data export at accounts.snapchat.com with Export your Memories turned on. The in-app camera roll option only handles about 100 Snaps at a time.

Where do downloaded Snapchat Memories go?

A My Data export goes to your browser’s Downloads folder. Snaps exported from the app go to Photos on iPhone or your gallery on Android.

How long does a Snapchat data export take?

It depends on the size. Small exports can take hours, and large ones can take several days.

Can I download deleted Snapchat Memories?

No. The export only includes Memories still in your account. Deleted or lost Memories can’t be recovered.

Do I need Snapchat+ to download my Memories?

No. The My Data export is free for all accounts.

Last updated: September 26, 2026