Snapchat is putting a cap on free Memories storage, limiting accounts to 5GB. If your saved Snaps and Stories exceed that limit, you’ll need to either export them or upgrade to a paid Memories Storage plan to keep everything intact.
What happens if you don’t upgrade
– If you’re over the 5GB cap and don’t subscribe, Snapchat will preserve your oldest Snaps and delete the most recent ones to stay under the limit.
– Snapchat is offering 12 months of temporary storage for Memories that exceed the cap, giving you time to export or choose a plan.
Paid storage options
– Intro plan: Up to 100GB for $1.99 per month.
– Snapchat+: Up to 250GB included with the $3.99 monthly subscription.
– Snapchat Platinum: Up to 5TB included with the $15.99 monthly subscription.
How to keep your Snapchat Memories without paying
You have two main options: export your Memories to your phone’s camera roll in batches or request a full archive via Snapchat’s Download My Data tool.
Option 1: Export Memories to your camera roll
Best for selectively saving highlights and curating what you keep.
– Open Snapchat and tap the Memories icon next to the camera button.
– Tap Select in the top right.
– Choose up to 100 Memories at a time.
– Tap Export at the bottom right.
– Tap Download to save to your camera roll.
– Repeat as needed for additional batches.
Tips
– This method is ideal if you only want to keep your favorite Snaps and Stories.
– Make sure your device has enough storage and you’re on Wi‑Fi to speed up downloads.
Option 2: Download your full Snapchat data archive
Best for saving everything at once without manual batching.
– Open Snapchat and go to your Profile.
– Tap the Settings gear in the top right.
– Scroll to My Data.
– Select the options for Memories, HTML Files, and JSON Files. Uncheck other categories unless you also want extras like chat history and account data.
– Tap Next.
– Choose All Time when prompted for a date range.
– Confirm your email address.
– Tap Submit to request your archive.
You’ll receive a .zip file by email when the archive is ready. The preparation time varies based on how much you’ve saved.
Which option should you choose?
– Choose export to camera roll if you want to trim your collection and keep only meaningful Snaps.
– Choose the data download if you want a comprehensive backup quickly and don’t want to manage 100‑item batches.
What to do now
– Check your current Memories usage in the app and decide whether to curate, export, or upgrade.
– If you’re near or over 5GB, start exporting or request your archive early to avoid losing recent Snaps when the limit takes effect.
– If you rely heavily on Memories and want the least hassle, consider one of the storage plans that match your needs.
By acting before your temporary storage window expires, you can preserve your Snapchat Memories exactly the way you want—whether that’s a carefully curated camera roll or a complete, downloadable archive.
