Updated July 2025 – A full guide to backing up your Snapchat archive before permanently deleting or deactivating your account.
Thinking of leaving Snapchat? Whether it’s for privacy reasons, digital detox, or simply moving on – deleting your account is a big decision. But before you go, make sure you download your full Snapchat data archive so you don’t lose access to important personal information.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through:
- How to request and download your Snapchat data
- What’s included in the archive
- How to safely delete or deactivate your account
- Where to store your exported data securely
✅ Step 1: Download Your Snapchat Data Archive
Before deleting your account, follow these steps to back up your personal data:
- Go to the official data request page:
🔘 Download Your Snapchat Data → - Log in to your Snapchat account.
- Confirm your identity by entering your password.
- Make sure your email address is verified – Snapchat sends your data via email.
- Click “Submit Request.”
📩 You’ll receive a download link within minutes to a few hours.
💾 Save the ZIP file to your computer or cloud storage.
📦 What’s in Your Archive?
Your Snapchat archive includes:
- Message logs (chat history – text only)
- Your friend list and pending requests
- Login & device history
- Account creation info and Bitmoji status
- Search, story & ad interaction logs
- Metadata about your Snaps (but no media content)
For a full breakdown, check our article:
👉 What’s Inside Your Snapchat Archive? →
📁 Where to Store Your Snapchat Archive
After downloading, your data needs to be stored securely.
Recommended tools:
✅ pCloud
10 GB free encrypted cloud storage – perfect for long-term backups.
✅ WinZip
Unpack your ZIP archive on any device, and browse it easily.
✅ EaseUS Backup
Automatically save copies of your archive to multiple locations (optional).
🔄 Step 2: Deactivate or Permanently Delete – What’s the Difference?
| Option | What happens |
|---|---|
| Deactivate | Your account is hidden but not deleted. You can reactivate it by logging in again within 30 days. |
| Delete | Your account and all data will be permanently removed after 30 days. |
If you’re unsure, start with deactivation – it’s reversible.
🗑️ Step 3: How to Delete Your Snapchat Account
Here’s how to delete your account after saving your data:
On Mobile App:
- Open Snapchat
- Tap your profile icon → ⚙️ Settings
- Scroll to “Account Actions”
- Tap “Delete Account”
- Enter your credentials again to confirm
On Desktop:
- Visit accounts.snapchat.com
- Log in
- Click “Delete My Account”
- Follow the prompts to confirm
📅 Snapchat will deactivate your account for 30 days before permanently deleting it. During this period, you can log in to cancel the deletion.
🔐 Final Tips to Keep Your Data Safe
- ✅ Store your downloaded archive in secure, encrypted storage
- ✅ Don’t share the ZIP file – it contains private info
- ✅ Consider backing up archives from other platforms too (e.g., Instagram, TikTok)
📌 Summary
Deleting your Snapchat account doesn’t mean losing your digital history. With a quick export of your data and a few simple steps, you can protect your personal information before saying goodbye to the app.
🔘 Request Your Snapchat Archive Now →
🛡️ Open it with WinZip and store it in pCloud