Snapchat Storage Costs: How to Save Memories for Free

Snapchat to Charge for Memories Storage After Years of Free Access

For almost ten years, Snapchat has functioned as a digital repository for personal snapshots and experiences. Now, the platform is introducing a fee for its Memories feature.

Last week, Snapchat announced a 5GB cap on complimentary Memories storage. Users exceeding this limit will be required to take action to retain their content.

New Storage Plans Available

To continue preserving Memories beyond the free tier, users can either export their data or subscribe to one of Snapchat’s newly introduced storage plans.

According to a statement provided to TechCrunch, the initial storage option provides 100GB of capacity for $1.99 each month.

Subscribers to Snapchat+ will receive up to 250GB of storage included within their existing $3.99 monthly fee.

Those opting for the Snapchat Platinum subscription will benefit from a substantial 5TB of storage, bundled with their $15.99 monthly payment.

What Happens If You Don't Subscribe?

Users who surpass the 5GB limit and do not enroll in a paid plan will experience automatic data management.

The oldest Snaps will be preserved, while newer content will be deleted to ensure compliance with the storage restriction.

Snapchat has offered a grace period of 12 months of temporary storage for Memories exceeding the 5GB allowance. However, some users are opting to export their data as a preventative measure rather than incur subscription costs.

Preserving Your Snapchat Memories: Your Options

We will detail the two available methods for safeguarding your Snapchat Memories.

• Exporting Memories: This allows you to download your photos and videos to an external storage device.
• Subscribing to a Storage Plan: This provides ongoing storage within the Snapchat platform.

Preserving Snapchat Memories: A Guide to Camera Roll Export

A common method for backing up your Snapchat Memories involves transferring them to your device's camera roll. While direct downloads are possible through the mobile application, they are restricted to increments of 100 Snaps at a time.

This limitation can prove inefficient when dealing with extensive collections of saved content. However, it does offer a focused approach to curation.

The following steps detail the process:

• Launch the Snapchat application and navigate to the “Memories” section, indicated by the icon adjacent to the camera shutter button.
• Within Memories, select the “Select” function located in the upper-right corner of the screen.
• Choose up to 100 Memories you wish to preserve.
• Tap the “Export” button, which will become visible at the bottom-right of the interface.
• Confirm your selection by choosing “Download” to initiate the saving process to your camera roll.

To archive additional Memories, this procedure must be repeated in 100-Snap increments.

This method allows for selective saving, ensuring only desired content is stored locally.

Accessing Your Snapchat Data

For users seeking to preserve their Snapchat Memories without manually exporting them in smaller groups, Snapchat provides a "Download My Data" feature. This allows for a comprehensive archive of your Memories to be compiled and delivered via email as a .zip file.

The following steps outline the process:

• Begin by launching the Snapchat application and accessing your personal Profile.
• Locate and tap the Settings icon, typically found in the upper-right corner of the screen.
• Scroll through the settings menu until you find the "My Data" section.
• Choose to download your Memories, HTML Files, and JSON Files. (Optional data, like chat logs and user information, can be included, but may complicate locating your Memories within the archive.)
• Proceed by tapping the "Next" button.
• When prompted for a date range, select "All Time" to ensure a complete export.
• Verify the accuracy of your registered email address.
• Finally, tap "Submit" to initiate the data download request.

The duration for receiving your downloaded data will fluctuate based on the total volume of information stored within your Snapchat account.