If your Snapchat messages have been accidentally deleted, the best way to get them back is by requesting the data for your Snapchat account.
Snapchat messages will be automatically deleted after a certain time, and even though that's one of the many security features of the app, it can be annoying at times.
Luckily, I've been able to successfully recover deleted messages using the My Data feature. However, I keep hearing from my friends that Snapchat was not able to provide them with the data.
Don't worry! I've got some alternatives you can try out if that happens.
Keep reading if you want to recover deleted Snapchat messages on your Android phone.
- How To Recover Deleted Snapchat Messages On Android?
- 1. Submit Request To Snapchat Support Team
- 2. Using The Snapchat Cache Folder
- 3. Use A Third-Party Recovery Software
- How Long Does Snapchat Keep Message Data?
- Are Snapchat Messages Deleted Forever?
- Can I Save Snapchat Messages?
- Can You Recover Deleted Snapchat Messages On Android?
- Conclusion
How To Recover Deleted Snapchat Messages On Android?
I'll be going over solutions involving both your Android smartphone and a PC, so you can try out different methods and see what works for you.
Here are the 3 most effective ways to recover deleted Snapchat messages.
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1. Submit Request To Snapchat Support Team
If you've been using Snapchat for a while, you might have seen an option called "My Data" in the app settings or on Snapchat's website.
This is exactly what we're going to use to retrieve Snapchat messages and other lost data.
The My Data feature helps you to submit a request to Snapchat support and download all your data in a zip file format. Here are the steps to get all your deleted data:
- Open the Snapchat My Data page. If you're using the Android app, you can go to Snapchat settings and choose the My Data option. Folks on PC can simply click on the link.
- Now login to your Snapchat account using your e-mail and password.
- Scroll down to the bottom until you find the Submit Request button. Click on it and it'll prompt the Snapchat support team to prepare your data and send it to your e-mail.
- Wait for some time and you'll receive an e-mail with a link to access your data. Open it.
- This will again take you to the My Data page where you'll find a link to download the data. Click it and the "mydata.zip" file will automatically start downloading.
That's it!
This zip file contains all your earlier snap data, chats data, story history, etc. Once downloaded, you can easily find all your messages by following these steps:
- Open the File Manager on your phone or PC and locate the downloaded zip file. This is usually in the Downloads or Recent Documents folder.
- Extract/Unzip this file and open the extracted folder.
- Here you'll find all the different files named chat_history.html, snap_history.html, etc. Open the desired HTML file. Or you can simply open the index.html file to view your entire Snapchat account data.
Usually, this step is enough for most users who want to recover their Snapchat data.
In rare cases, the Snapchat team won't be able to provide you with all the required data (for example when you don't have a verified e-mail address). Or sometimes, they will send you the data but it won't have the deleted messages you wish to retrieve.
In all those cases, you can try out some of the other solutions given below.
2. Using The Snapchat Cache Folder
Most of the time, even if the messages may be gone from Snapchat, they'll still be stored somewhere in your device's memory.
You might be aware that most Android apps store cache on your phone, which is nothing but temporary files and data created when using the app.
The good news is that Snapchat also stores data like photos, videos, and messages in a cache folder. If any of this is deleted from Snapchat, you might find them in the cache files.
Here's how to locate it on your Android phone:
- Launch the File Manager and go to your phone's internal storage.
- Now click on the Android folder and inside that open the Data folder.
- Look for the folder named com.snapchat.android.
- Open the Cache folder and you'll find all your recent messages.
- If you see files having the .nomedia extension, you'll have to rename the files and remove the extension to access them.
If you find it too confusing to do this on your Android phone, you can connect your device to a PC and do the same process.
You might not be able to find old Snapchat messages as they usually get deleted after a while, but you might be able to find some of the recent ones.
3. Use A Third-Party Recovery Software
This is probably the most cumbersome and risky method to recover Snapchat messages. However, if none of the above methods work for you, this might be worth trying out.
There are a bunch of third-party apps available that claim to do this, but not all of them are reliable.
Personally, I've found Android Data Recovery to be a decent option. Not because there's a 100% guarantee that it will work, but because it's among the most popular and safest recovery tools out there. Plus, it works with pretty much all the popular manufacturers namely Samsung, LG, Sony, Redmi, Oppo, etc.
One important thing you need to know before proceeding - this process will root your Android phone, which will also void its warranty.
Download and install the software on your PC, and then follow the steps mentioned:
- Connect your Android phone to your PC using a USB cable.
- Open Android Data Recovery software and enable USB debugging on your Android device.
- Select all the data you want to recover. For Snapchat messages, you can select Messages and App Documents.
- You can choose between Quick Scan and Deep Scan. For better results, choose Deep Scan and let it scan your phone.
- Once finished, you can preview all the retrieved files. Select the desired data and download it on your phone or PC.
The Deep Scan option will root your phone to access hidden files and deleted data. Only perform it if you know what you're doing.
How Long Does Snapchat Keep Message Data?
Snapchat is known for providing its users with plenty of control over the data and content they share. This is why they use Ephemeral Messaging.
Ephemeral messaging is simply a type of chat that self-destructs, i.e., the messages get automatically deleted once a viewer has opened them or after a fixed period of time.
This not only protects the privacy of users but also saves a lot of storage space on your device. The obvious downside is that you would lose any memorable photos and videos.
As for the time period, here's how long each type of content stays on Snapchat servers:
- All the photos and videos (Snaps) are automatically deleted once they're viewed by the recipient. Whereas unopened snaps get deleted after 30 days.
- Chats can be set to delete right after they've been viewed, or after 24 hours.
- Unopened messages and videos will get deleted 30 days after they've been sent.
- Uopnened group chats get deleted after 24 hours.
- Snaps that have been added to your "Stories" get deleted after 24 hours.
Are Snapchat Messages Deleted Forever?
Contrary to what most of us think, Snapchat messages are not deleted permanently even when they've disappeared from the app.
Your messages remain on Snapchat's server until all the recipients have viewed them. During that time, you can find them in the app's cache folder.
Once every recipient has opened them, they get removed from the app. But you can still request Snapchat support to send you a copy of your deleted messages.
Can I Save Snapchat Messages?
Although Snapchat messages are deleted automatically after you view them, there's a way you can actually save them so you can read them later.
To save Snapchat messages on Android:
- Open Snapchat and go to the chat you want to save.
- Now press and hold the message. Tap Save in Chat and it'll show a prompt saying "Saved."
- The message will be highlighted in grey, meaning that it has been saved.
This will ensure that all your saved messages are retained in you and your friend's Snapchat app, until of course, you choose to unsave the message.
Another thing to note is that even if you now delete the conversation, the saved messages will NOT be deleted. When you start a chat with the same friend, the saved messages will show up.
Can You Recover Deleted Snapchat Messages On Android?
Yes, it's possible to recover deleted Snapchat messages using the methods discussed above. However, there's no guarantee that you will be able to fully restore all the deleted messages from older chats.
Usually, messages that have been deleted recently will be stored in your Android phone's internal memory. You can easily find them in the cache files.
If you don't see them in the cache folders, you can lodge a data request to the Snapchat team using the "My Data" page. Most of the time, their support team is really helpful and you'll be able to get all the files without much trouble.
Related Reading
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Conclusion
I'd like to conclude by saying that you don't need to worry if any important messages get deleted from your Snapchat application.
Using the methods discussed above, you can easily recover lost Snapchat messages on your Android device.
If you're having any other issues with the Snapchat app, check out some of our other guides.
As always, thanks for reading!