How to Save Photos from Snapchat

Snapchat is designed to make photos disappear, but there are legitimate ways to save photos you’ve received or your own snaps. This guide covers the built-in saving features, the chat saving function, and how to save your own snaps to Memories or your camera roll. You’ll need the Snapchat app installed on your phone and an active account.

What You’ll Need

Snapchat app (latest version recommended)
A smartphone (iOS or Android)
An active Snapchat account
For saving received snaps: the sender must allow saving (or you must be in a chat where saving is enabled)

Step-by-Step

Saving Your Own Snap (Before Sending)

Open Snapchat and take a photo or video as you normally would.
Before sending, tap the download icon (downward arrow) at the bottom-left of the preview screen. This saves the snap to your camera roll.
Alternatively, tap the Memories icon (two overlapping squares) at the bottom-center, then select “Save Snap” to store it in Memories (private, accessible only by you).
If you want to save a snap you’ve already sent, go to your chat with that friend, tap the snap you sent, and select “Save” (or the download icon) to save it to Memories or your camera roll.

Saving Snaps You Receive in Chat

Open the chat where you received the snap (photo or video).
Tap and hold on the snap to view it (if it’s a photo, it will display; if a video, it will play).
While viewing, look for a download icon (downward arrow) in the bottom-left corner. Tap it to save the snap to your chat (and optionally to your camera roll).
If the sender has disabled saving, you won’t see the download icon. You can still screenshot, but the sender will be notified.

Saving Snaps from Stories

Open the story you want to save (your own or a friend’s).
For your own story: tap the three dots (⋯) at the bottom-right, then select “Save Story” to save all snaps to Memories or your camera roll.
For a friend’s story: if saving is enabled, you’ll see a download icon on the snap. Tap it to save. If not, you’ll need to screenshot (sender will be notified).

Saving to Memories vs. Camera Roll

When you tap the download icon, Snapchat may ask where to save: choose “Memories” (private, in-app) or “Camera Roll” (phone’s gallery).
To change default behavior, go to Settings > Memories > Save Button and select “Save to Memories” or “Save to Camera Roll” or “Ask Each Time”.

Common Mistakes

Not checking if saving is allowed: If you don’t see the download icon, the sender has disabled saving. Screenshotting will notify them.
Confusing Memories with camera roll: Saving to Memories keeps the snap private within Snapchat; it won’t appear in your phone’s gallery.
Saving a snap you sent without saving it first: Once a snap you sent expires, you can’t save it from the chat unless you saved it before sending or the chat is set to save.
Using third-party apps: Apps that claim to save snaps without notification violate Snapchat’s terms and can get your account locked.

Tips

Enable Auto-Save to Memories: Go to Settings > Memories > Auto-Save My Story Snaps to automatically save your story snaps to Memories.
Use Multi-Save: In Memories, tap “Select” and choose multiple snaps to save to camera roll at once.
For important snaps, save them immediately before sending, as the sender may not allow saving.
If you want to keep a snap privately, save it to Memories and then export it to your camera roll from there.
Remember that screenshots are always notified, so use the official save feature whenever possible.

Troubleshooting

No download icon appears: The sender has disabled saving. You can screenshot (they’ll be notified) or ask them to re-send with saving enabled.
Snap won’t save to camera roll: Check your phone’s storage space. Also, ensure Snapchat has permission to access photos (Settings > Privacy > Photos on iOS; Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Permissions on Android).
Saved snap is missing from camera roll: It may have been saved to Memories instead. Check Memories in Snapchat. Also, verify your default save location in Settings > Memories.
Can’t save a snap from a chat: If the chat is set to “View Once” or the sender disabled saving, you can’t save. For your own sent snaps, make sure you saved them before sending.
Saving a story snap fails: Try saving the story again after a few seconds. If it persists, restart the app or update Snapchat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save a snap without the sender knowing?

No. Snapchat notifies the sender when you screenshot or save a snap (if saving is allowed, the sender is notified that you saved it). Using third-party apps to bypass this is against the rules and risky.

Why can’t I save a snap I received?

The sender has disabled saving for that snap. You can only save if the sender has allowed it (the download icon appears).

Does saving a snap in chat save it to my camera roll?

Not automatically. When you tap the download icon, Snapchat asks where to save. You can choose to save to chat only, to Memories, or to camera roll. You can change the default in Settings > Memories.

How do I save my own snap after sending it?

If you didn’t save it before sending, go to the chat, tap the snap you sent, and select “Save” (or the download icon). This works only if the chat hasn’t expired and the snap is still viewable.

What is the difference between saving to Memories and camera roll?

Memories are private, stored within Snapchat, and only you can see them (unless you share). Camera roll saves the photo/video to your phone’s gallery, where it can be edited or shared outside Snapchat.

Can I save a snap from someone’s story?

Yes, if the person allows saving. You’ll see a download icon on the snap. If not, you can screenshot, but the person will be notified.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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