Old Snapchat on iPhone: Get It Back Permanently

This guide explains how to get an older version of Snapchat back on your iPhone permanently, and what limits you’ll hit. The short answer: you can’t truly downgrade on a modern iPhone without jailbreaking, but you can stop auto-updates, block the App Store update, and use a workaround that keeps your current old version running. Here’s exactly what to do.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone running iOS 12 or later (the method below works on all recent versions)
• Your Apple ID password (for turning off auto-updates)
• A computer with iTunes or Finder (only if you need to restore from a backup)
• Patience — the workaround is not a one-tap fix

Step-by-Step

1. Turn off automatic app updates. Go to Settings > App Store and toggle off App Updates. This stops Snapchat from updating itself in the background.
2. Delete the current Snapchat app. Press and hold the Snapchat icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App. Confirm with Delete. This removes the new version completely.
3. Find the old version you want. You need the exact IPA file (the app package) of the Snapchat version you want. You can get it from a trusted third-party IPA library or from a backup you made earlier. If you have a local iTunes backup from when the old version was installed, you can extract the IPA from it using a tool like iMazing or Apple Configurator 2.
4. Install the old IPA using a sideloading tool. On a Mac or PC, download a free sideloading tool like AltStore or Sideloadly. Connect your iPhone via USB, open the tool, drag the IPA file into it, and follow the on-screen prompts. The tool will sign the app with your Apple ID and install it to your phone.
5. Trust the developer certificate. After installation, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. Tap your Apple ID under Developer App and tap Trust. Without this, the app won’t open.
6. Open Snapchat and log in. The old version should now launch. Log in with your account. If it asks you to update, tap Later or Not Now — do not tap Update.
7. Block the update prompt permanently. Open the App Store, search for Snapchat, and you’ll see an Update button. Do not tap it. To prevent the app from auto-updating, go back to Settings > App Store and make sure App Updates is still off. Also, in Settings > General > Background App Refresh, turn off background refresh for Snapchat so it can’t check for updates in the background.
8. Re-sign the app every 7 days. Free Apple ID sideloads expire after 7 days. When the app stops opening, connect your iPhone to your computer, open AltStore (or your sideloading tool), and re-install the same IPA. This refreshes the certificate and keeps the old version working.

Common Mistakes

• Tapping “Update” on the App Store. Even if you have auto-updates off, one accidental tap will replace the old version with the newest one. Be careful and don’t open the App Store page for Snapchat unless you have to.
• Using a cracked or modified IPA. Many “old Snapchat” IPAs floating around are modified to remove ads or add features. These can contain malware or get your account banned. Stick to the official IPA from a backup you made yourself.
• Forgetting to trust the certificate. If the app won’t open and says “Untrusted Developer,” you skipped Step 5. Go back and trust your Apple ID in Device Management.
• Not re-signing after 7 days. The app will crash or close immediately after the certificate expires. You must re-install it weekly. If you don’t, you’ll lose access until you do.
• Logging out of Snapchat. Once you log out, the old version may not let you log back in because the server rejects outdated clients. Stay logged in.

Tips

• Make a full backup before you start. Use iCloud or iTunes/Finder to back up your whole phone. If something goes wrong, you can restore and try again.
• Use AltStore for easier re-signing. AltStore can automatically re-sign apps when your phone is on the same Wi-Fi as your computer. Set it up once and it handles the weekly refresh for you.
• Keep the IPA file safe. Store the IPA in a folder on your computer and in cloud storage. If you lose it, you’ll have to find it again.
• Expect some features to break. Snapchat’s servers may disable certain features (like filters or lenses) for very old versions. This is normal and unavoidable.
• Consider a second phone. If you really need the old Snapchat permanently, some users keep an older iPhone (like a 6s or 7) on an old iOS version that can’t update Snapchat past a certain point. That’s the only truly permanent method.

Troubleshooting

• App won’t install. Check that the IPA is not corrupted (re-download it). Make sure your iPhone has enough free storage. Try a different USB cable or port, and restart both your computer and phone.
• App opens then crashes immediately. This usually means the certificate expired. Re-install the IPA using your sideloading tool. If it still crashes, delete the app, re-install, and trust the certificate again.
• Snapchat says “Update required” and won’t let you in. This happens when the server blocks your version. You have two options: find a slightly newer old version that still works, or accept that you can’t use that version anymore. There’s no way to bypass the server-side block without modifying the app, which risks a ban.
• Logging in fails with “Invalid credentials” or “Network error.” The old version may not support the current login protocol. Try logging in on a newer version first, then use the old version only if it lets you stay logged in. Some users find that logging in once on the new version, then immediately downgrading, works.
• AltStore won’t install. Make sure you have the latest version of AltStore and that your computer’s firewall isn’t blocking it. On Windows, you may need to install iTunes from the Microsoft Store (not the web version) for AltStore to work.
• Your Apple ID gets locked. Sideloading with a free Apple ID is fine, but if you try to sign too many apps, Apple may temporarily lock your ID. Wait a few hours and try again. Don’t use a shared or work Apple ID for this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just delete the app and reinstall an old version from the App Store?
No. The App Store only offers the latest version of Snapchat. Once you delete the app, you can’t get an older version back from Apple’s servers.

Is this legal?
Sideloading apps you own is generally allowed for personal use, but it violates Snapchat’s terms of service. Your account could be temporarily locked if Snapchat detects you’re using an unsupported version.

Will I get banned?
Possibly. Snapchat’s servers can detect old clients and may restrict features or lock your account. The risk is low if you just use the app normally, but it’s not zero.

Why does the app expire after 7 days?
Free Apple ID certificates are only valid for 7 days. Apple requires all sideloaded apps to be re-signed weekly. Paid developer accounts ($99/year) allow 1-year certificates, but that’s not worth it for most people.

Can I use a VPN to avoid the “Update required” message?
No. The block is on Snapchat’s servers, not your network. A VPN won’t help.

What’s the oldest Snapchat version that still works?
It changes constantly. Snapchat periodically raises the minimum supported version. As of now, versions from around 2020-2021 may still log in, but there’s no guarantee. You’ll have to test different versions to find one that works.

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