Snapchat Put a Limit on Your Memories. Back Them Up Before It Costs You.

The 5GB Limit is Here

Snapchat now limits Memories storage to 5GB.

Once you hit that limit, your options narrow quickly: pay for more storage or risk losing access to older photos and videos.

This guide breaks down the safest ways to back up your memories and what to watch out for.

Why This Matters

Snapchat Memories aren’t just files. They’re years of moments, spontaneous selfies, old friends, milestones, and phases of life you can’t recreate.

Unlike photos stored on your phone or in cloud services you control, Snapchat Memories exist entirely inside a "walled garden."

Method 1: In-App Export (Manual / Slow / Free)

This is the most straightforward option, but also the most time-consuming. It works best if you only need to save a handful of recent snaps.

The Tradeoff

You get original quality files, but you pay with your time. There is no "Select All" button for your entire archive.

Steps

• Open Snapchat and swipe up to access Memories
• Tap the checkmark icon to enter selection mode
• Select up to 100 photos or videos
• Tap the Export button
• Choose "Save to Camera Roll" or "Download"
• Repeat until everything is saved

The Limitation

If you have thousands of Memories, this process can take hours or days and offers no way to export everything at once. You also lose original metadata like dates and locations.

Method 2: Download My Data (Official / Complex / Free)

Snapchat provides an official data export tool at accounts.snapchat.com. This allows you to request a ZIP file of your data.

The Tradeoff

You assume this gives you your photos. It doesn't. It gives you a list of links you have to engage with one by one.

Steps

• Go to accounts.snapchat.com and log in
• Navigate to "My Data"
• Enable the "Memory" toggle under export options
• Click "Submit Request"
• Wait 1-7 days for the email notification
• Download the ZIP file (valid for ~48 hours)

The Limitation

Your actual memory files are NOT in the ZIP.

Instead, you get temporary download links that:

• Expire within 24-48 hours
• Must be clicked individually
• Often fail for large collections
• Require manual effort to download each file

Method 3: Third-Party Tools (Automated / Fast / Paid)

If you have thousands of memories and don't want to spend your weekend clicking download links, this is the solution.

LeaveSnap automates the process of taking your official Snapchat export and turning it into actual files on your computer.

The Tradeoff

It’s a paid service, but it solves the time and complexity problem instantly.

How It Works

• Request your data from Snapchat (Method 2)
• Upload the ZIP file to LeaveSnap
• We extract the download links and automatically download every memory
• You get a neat, organized folder with all your memories
• Metadata Preserved: Original dates and locations are kept intact

Comparison: Time & Effort

Even if you don't use LeaveSnap, comparing the options helps you decide what your time is worth.

• In-App Export: 10+ hours for 5k memories. Technical skill: None. Metadata: Lost.
• Download My Data: 5+ hours of clicking. Technical skill: Low. Metadata: In JSON only.
• LeaveSnap: 20 minutes. Technical skill: None. Metadata: Preserved.

If you want a complete export without manual limits or repeated downloads, automated tools exist that handle the process end-to-end.

Get started with LeaveSnap.

Take Action Now

The 5GB limit is real, and link expiration on data exports makes manual backup a race against the clock.

Whether you click through 5,000 links yourself or use a tool to handle it for you, the most important thing is to get your memories out of the "walled garden" and into your own control.

You’ll sleep better knowing your history is safe.