Snapchat's 5GB Memory Limit: What It Means and Your Options

The Change: What Happened

Snapchat has implemented a 5GB storage limit for Memories. Users who exceed this limit will need to either:

• Pay for additional storage
• Delete memories to get under the cap
• Export memories and remove them from Snapchat

This change affects users who have years of saved Snaps and Stories.

What Counts Toward Your 5GB

Your storage quota includes:

• Saved Snaps (photos you've saved)
• Saved Stories (your stories you've preserved)
• Videos (which use significantly more space than photos)
• My Eyes Only content (private memories)

Generally not counted:

• Cached content (temporary storage)
• Received Snaps (these are stored by sender until viewed)

How to Check Your Usage

To see how much storage you're using:

1. Open Snapchat
2. Go to Memories (swipe up from camera)
3. Look for storage indicators or notifications
4. Check your account settings for specific numbers

Option 1: Pay for Additional Storage

Snapchat offers paid storage tiers:

• Monthly subscription plans
• Pricing varies by region
• Storage scales with payment tier

Pros:

• Keep everything in Snapchat
• No effort required beyond payment
• Seamless experience continues

Cons:

• Recurring cost forever
• Still platform-dependent
• Memories still only accessible in Snapchat

Option 2: Delete Old Memories

You can free up space by removing content:

1. Open Memories
2. Select items to delete
3. Confirm deletion

Pros:

• Free
• Immediate space recovery

Cons:

• Permanent loss of memories
• No way to recover deleted content
• Emotional difficulty of choosing what to remove

Option 3: Export Everything

Export your memories, then delete them from Snapchat:

1. Use Download My Data or in-app export
2. Verify all files downloaded successfully
3. Back up to cloud storage (Google Photos, iCloud)
4. Delete memories from Snapchat to free space

Pros:

• One-time effort
• Permanent ownership of files
• No recurring costs
• Free up all Snapchat storage

Cons:

• Requires time and effort
• Technical challenges with large exports
• Manual organization needed

Cost Comparison: Storage vs Export

Let's compare the long-term costs:

Over 10 years, the difference between paying Snapchat monthly versus exporting once is substantial.

Why Ownership Beats Rental

Paying for Snapchat storage means:

• You're renting access to your own memories
• If you stop paying, access may be limited
• Snapchat controls the terms
• No easy export if you leave the platform

Owning exported files means:

• Files exist on your devices and backups
• No ongoing payments required
• Access from any application
• Platform-independent

Grace Period and Timeline

If you're over the limit:

• Snapchat may provide a grace period to reduce storage
• No immediate deletion of content
• Warnings about approaching or exceeding limits
• Time to make a decision

Don't wait until the deadline. Export proactively while you have time.

How to Export Before the Limit Hits

Quick Export (Small Collections)

1. Open Memories
2. Select and export groups of 100 at a time
3. Save to camera roll
4. Back up camera roll to cloud

Complete Export (Large Collections)

1. Go to accounts.snapchat.com
2. Request Download My Data with Memories enabled
3. Download the ZIP when ready
4. Use MemorEasy (free, technical) or LeaveSnap (paid, easy) to process
5. Upload to Google Photos or iCloud

Making Your Decision

Choose paid storage if:

• You have a small amount of content
• Convenience matters more than cost
• You plan to keep using Snapchat heavily
• Monthly fee doesn't concern you

Choose deletion if:

• Old memories don't have sentimental value
• You save Snaps habitually without meaning
• You're comfortable with permanent deletion

Choose export if:

• You have years of meaningful memories
• You want true ownership
• You prefer a one-time effort
• You may leave Snapchat eventually

Taking Action

Regardless of which option you choose, the key is to take action now:

1. Pay if you prefer the convenience and can afford ongoing costs
2. Delete if you don't value old memories (think carefully)
3. Export if you want to preserve memories without recurring fees

Your memories are windows to your past. Whether they're worth 3 dollars per month or a one-time export effort is your decision, but letting them disappear through inaction isn't a choice you can undo.