How to Delete Your Snapchat Account

Follow these steps to permanently delete your Snapchat account. You have 30 days to change your mind before everything is gone forever.

By Techevangelist · Updated Jun 11, 2026

Deactivation vs Deletion: Understanding the Timeline

Snapchat does not delete your account immediately. When you request deletion, your account enters a 30-day deactivation period. Here is what happens at each stage:

• Day 0: You submit the deletion request. Your account is immediately deactivated and becomes invisible to friends.
• Days 1-29: Your account sits in deactivation. Friends cannot find you, and your profile disappears from search results. Snapstreaks pause but are not lost - they resume if you reactivate.
• Day 30: Permanent deletion. All data, Memories, Chats, and your friend list are erased from Snapchat's servers. This is irreversible.

The key distinction: deactivation is reversible, deletion is not. If you log in during the 30-day window, your account reactivates automatically and the deletion is canceled.

Step 1: Download Your Data Before Deleting

Once your account is permanently deleted, there is no way to recover your data. Download everything first:

• Go to accounts.snapchat.com and log in with your username and password
• Click "My Data" in the menu
• Select the data categories you want - Memories, Chat history, Bitmoji, location data, and more
• Click "Submit Request"
• Snapchat emails you a ZIP file within 24 hours containing your data
• Download and extract the ZIP file to verify everything is there
• Save a backup copy to cloud storage or an external drive

What the ZIP file contains: Your saved Memories (photos and videos), Chat history (text only - media in chats is not included), login history, Bitmoji data, Snapcode, friend list, and account settings. Media sent in chats that you did not save to Memories is gone permanently after deletion.

Step 2: Deactivate Your Account

Once you have downloaded your data, proceed with the actual deactivation:

• Go to accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/delete_account
• Log in if prompted
• Enter your password to confirm your identity
• Click "Delete My Account"
• Your account is now deactivated for 30 days
• You will see a confirmation screen - screenshot it for your records

Step 3: What Happens During Deactivation

• Your account becomes invisible to friends - they cannot search for you or view your profile
• Your name disappears from friends' contact lists
• Snapstreaks are paused (not lost - they resume if you reactivate within the window)
• You cannot send or receive Snaps, Chats, or Stories
• Your username is reserved - nobody else can claim it during the 30-day period
• If you have Snapchat+, your subscription continues billing unless you cancel separately

How to Reactivate Within 30 Days

Changed your mind? Reactivating is simple as long as you are within the 30-day window:

• Open the Snapchat app on your phone
• Log in with your username and password (not your email - use your exact username)
• Tap "Yes" when prompted to reactivate
• Wait for the reactivation process to complete - it can take up to 24 hours for full data restoration
• Your account, friends, and Snapstreaks are restored
• Check your Memories to make sure everything is back

Important: If you log in even once during the 30-day deactivation, your account reactivates automatically. If you truly want to delete, do not open the app or log in on any device.

What Gets Deleted Permanently After 30 Days

• All Memories (saved Snaps and Stories)
• Chat history and any unsaved media in chats
• Friend list and Snapstreaks
• Snapchat+ subscription (cancel separately through your app store)
• Bitmoji and avatar customization
• Your Snapcode and username - they become available for anyone to claim
• Snap Map location history
• Spotlight and public profile content
• Snap Games and minis progress

What Snapchat may retain: Even after permanent deletion, Snapchat may retain some anonymized data for legal and analytics purposes. Messages you sent to other users remain visible in their chats. Content you posted publicly (e.g., Spotlight videos) may persist on Snapchat's servers for up to 30 additional days.

Canceling Snapchat+ and Linked Subscriptions

Deleting your Snapchat account does not automatically cancel paid subscriptions. You must do this separately:

• Snapchat+: Open Snapchat → Settings → Snapchat+ → Manage Subscription → Cancel. Or cancel through your app store (Google Play or App Store) under Subscriptions
• App Store (iOS): Settings → your name → Subscriptions → Snapchat+ → Cancel Subscription
• Google Play (Android): Google Play → Profile → Payments & Subscriptions → Subscriptions → Snapchat+ → Cancel
• Third-party linked apps: If you used Snapchat to log in to other apps (e.g., Bitmoji, Zenly successors, games), visit each app separately to unlink or delete those accounts

Important: If you do not cancel Snapchat+ before deactivation, you will continue to be billed during the 30-day deactivation period. Cancel first, then delete.

Deleting Snapchat vs Deleting the App

These are two different actions with very different outcomes:

• Deleting the app (uninstalling) removes Snapchat from your phone but your account remains active. Friends can still send you Snaps, your Stories remain visible, and your data stays on Snapchat's servers. Reinstall and log in to pick up where you left off
• Deleting your account starts the 30-day deactivation clock and permanently erases your data after the window closes. This is the only way to truly remove your presence from Snapchat

If your goal is a temporary break, simply uninstall the app. If you want your data gone permanently, follow the deletion steps above.

Deleting an Account for a Deceased Family Member

Snapchat offers two options for accounts of deceased users:

• Memorialization: The account is preserved with a "Remembering" label. Friends can still view Memories, but nobody can log in.
• Deletion: The account and all associated data are permanently removed.

To request either option:

• Go to support.snapchat.com
• Click "Contact Us" and select the appropriate option
• Provide the deceased person's username
• Submit a valid death certificate or obituary link
• Include your relationship to the deceased and your contact information
• Snapchat reviews the request and typically responds within 7-14 business days

Deletion Timeline Summary

FAQ