How to Delete Your Snapchat Account (Step-by-Step Guide)

Ever felt like Snapchat just isn’t your vibe anymore? Maybe you’re tired of streak pressures, constant notifications, or just want a digital detox. Deleting your Snapchat account sounds simple, but there’s a catch—if you don’t do it right, your data could still be hanging around.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to delete your Snapchat account step by step, what happens afterward, and what to consider before you hit that final delete button.

What Happens When You Delete Your Snapchat Account?

Before you go, it’s important to understand what deleting your Snapchat account actually means:

• Your account enters a 30-day deactivation period.
• During this time, friends can’t view or contact you.
• If you log back in within 30 days, Snapchat reactivates your account.
• After 30 days, your account and data are permanently deleted.

There’s no “pause” or temporary deactivation option like on Instagram or Facebook. Deleting means wiping out:

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• Chats and Snaps
• Memories
• Bitmoji
• Friends list
• Account settings

So, if you want to save any of that, back up your data first.

Things to Consider Before Deleting Snapchat

Ask yourself these questions before pulling the plug:

• Do you want a temporary break or a permanent exit?
• Are you okay with losing all Snaps, chats, and Memories?
• Have you backed up important content you might want later?

If you’re not 100% sure, you may want to just log out or delete the app for now. But if you’re all in, here’s how to back up your Snapchat data and move forward.

Backup Your Snapchat Data First

Deleting removes all your Snapchat data. If you want to keep your Memories, chats, and other content safe, you can back it up before deleting your account.

On Desktop

Here’s how to back up your Snapchat data using a desktop:

1. Visit the Snapchat accounts portal and log in.
2. Click My Data.
   
3. In the Select data to include section, checkmark or toggle all data you want to download.
4. Scroll down and click Next.
   
5. On the next page, choose a specific timeline if needed.
6. Click Submit.
   
7. Snapchat will email you a download link.

On Android and iPhone

Here’s how to back up your Snapchat data using your phone:

1. Open the Snapchat app and tap your profile icon at the top left.
2. Tap the cogwheel icon at the top right to open Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Privacy Control section.
4. Tap My Data.
   
5. Select all data you want to download and tap Next.
6. On the next page, select the time range of data you want to export.
7. Tap Submit.
8. You’ll get a confirmation message, and Snapchat will email you the download link shortly.
   

Want a more detailed breakdown? Here’s our full guide to downloading Snapchat data.

How to Delete Your Snapchat Account on iPhone or Android

To delete your Snapchat account from the mobile app:

1. Open Snapchat and tap your profile or Bitmoji icon at the top left.
2. Tap the cogwheel icon at the top right to open Settings.
3. Scroll down and select Delete account at the bottom of the My Account section.
   
4. This will redirect you to the Snapchat website. Sign in again.
5. Re-enter your account credentials on the Delete Account page.
6. Tap Continue, and you’ll see Account Deactivated.
   

How to Delete Your Snapchat Account on Desktop

Prefer doing it on a computer? Follow these steps:

1. Visit the Snapchat accounts portal and log in to your Snapchat account.
2. Scroll down and click on Delete My Account.
   
   
3. Enter your username and password to confirm.
4. Click Continue. Your account will now be deactivated for 30 days before permanent deletion.
   

How to Reactivate a Deleted Snapchat Account

If you regret deleting Snapchat, you can recover your account within 30 days:

• Open the Snapchat app.
• Log in with your username (email/phone won’t work during deactivation).
• Tap Yes to confirm reactivation.
• Wait for Snapchat to restore your account – it might take a few minutes to a few hours.
  
  

After 30 days, you won’t be able to recover your account—it’s gone forever.

Alternatives to Deleting Snapchat

Not ready to say goodbye for good? You can take a break without permanently deleting your account. Try these options instead:

1. Log Out of Snapchat: Simply logging out can give you space without deleting your account. You can log back in anytime.
2. Delete the App: Removing the app stops notifications and prevents endless scrolling. Your account remains safe, and you can reinstall whenever you’re ready.
3. Mute Notifications: If notifications are overwhelming, turn them off in your phone’s settings or within Snapchat’s notification settings.
4. Turn Off Background Data: Save data and battery by restricting Snapchat from running in the background.

These small changes can give you the break you need, without erasing your Snapchat presence forever.

Related articles worth reading:

• How to mute someone in Snapchat on iPhone
• Snapchat keeps crashing on iPhone? 6 Easy fixes
• How to use My AI in Snapchat on iPhone
• How to remove a friend on Snapchat (3 easy ways)