Snapchat, the popular instant messaging and content-sharing platform boasting over 450 million daily users, has announced a significant shift in its storage policy: it will now cap free storage for Memories at just 5GB.
The change means users who have already exceeded this limit, or who will do so in the future, face a critical choice: either subscribe to one of the platform’s new paid plans or risk the automatic deletion of their most recent Snaps.
New Subscription Tiers Introduced
To retain additional storage capacity beyond the 5GB cap, Snapchat has rolled out tiered paid options:
Users who opt not to upgrade will find their newer Snaps automatically deleted until their total storage falls back below the 5GB limit, though older Memories will remain accessible. Snapchat has assured users a generous 12-month grace period to back up or clear their data before the new policy is strictly enforced.
Options for Data Preservation
Many users are now rushing to transfer their vast archives of Memories directly to their phone’s camera roll—a reliable, albeit time-consuming, method of preservation.
How to Export to Camera Roll (Batch Process):
- Open Snapchat and tap the Memories icon.
- Select up to 100 Memories (the maximum allowed per batch).
- Tap Export Download.
- Repeat this process until all desired Memories are saved.
Since the limit is 100 Memories per export, users with large archives may need several rounds to complete the full transfer.
The Faster Method: “Download My Data” Tool
For users seeking to back up their entire archive in one go, Snapchat offers the “Download My Data” tool, which sends a complete archive as a .zip file via email.
Steps to use the tool:
- Go to your Profile Settings.
- Select My Data.
- Ensure Memories is checked and select both HTML and JSON formats.
- Choose “All Time” as the export range.
- Confirm your email and hit Submit.
Delivery time will depend on the size of the user’s archive, but once received, this provides a comprehensive backup of all Snaps outside the app, safeguarding them against the new storage limit.
