This tutorial will quickly educate you on how to deactivate Snapchat and delete your account across various platforms and devices with step-by-step screenshots of Snapchat deactivation:
Snapchat has been a very popular social media app since its launch in 2011. For over a decade, there has been a sanctum of exclusive offers, behind-the-scenes videos, user-generated content, and influencer takeovers.
Its ‘carpe diem’ feature of disappearing messages seconds after the receiver looks at it earned this app its popularity. It has more than 500 million monthly active users with a revenue of over $1 billion. It ranks right after other most popular apps like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok.
Here’s data from the website searchenginejournal about monthly active users and revenue of some top social media apps.
Table of Contents:
- Do You Know How to Deactivate Snapchat
- How to Delete Snapchat Account
- Disable a Snapchat Account in a Computer Browser
- Delete Snapchat Accounts Permanently on Android & iOS Devices
- Is Permanent Snapchat Account Deletion a Fact
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. Can I temporarily deactivate my Snapchat?
- 2. How do I deactivate my Snapchat without deleting it?
- 3. What do your friends see when you deactivate Snapchat?
- 4. Can you still search for someone who deactivated their Snapchat?
- 5. How many times can you deactivate Snapchat?
- 6. How to reactivate your Snapchat account?
- 7. What is the difference between the deactivation and deletion of a Snapchat account?
- Conclusion
Do You Know How to Deactivate Snapchat
However, it has been hard for Snapchat to hold on to its user base. It has been facing a rising concern about its security and privacy policies, along with the number of personal data it collects and stores.
Also, we can’t forget the self-image it promoted and the jokes about domestic violence. So, it’s okay if you move away from Snapchat for any reason. You can just have your fill for an app and move on to another, better, more exciting app.
Many of the readers have asked, “Can you delete a Snapchat account?” Well, yes you can.
If you are ready to delete your Snapchat, we are here to help you through it. We will tell you how to deactivate your account and delete the app across various platforms and devices.
Why Deactivate Snapchat
Snapchat’s takeaway feature has always been its automatic self-destruct and disappearance feature of images and videos. You can share your photos and videos using its Augmented Reality (AR) lenses, add filters, and add a timer to them. After some time runs out, those photos and videos self-destruct automatically.
However, users have always doubted that feature. They had wondered whether the photos and videos really got deleted. If you have similar doubts, you were right to have them. Turns out, the receiver can take a screenshot of your message and you wouldn’t even know. Also, they can buy replays of snaps via in-app purchases.
Snapchat admitted that the photos and videos don’t really disappear. They are stored on their backup server for some time.
Since then, there has been an issue with data collection on Snapchat. It keeps all kinds of tabs on you, including the data from your use of the app like location, device data, and such. It saves all the information you deliberately offer them.
Snapchat has access to the contact list you share, either through your social media network or phone. The company freely shares this information with various business partners and advertising companies.
A few years back, in 2019, it also became apparent that employees of Snapchat used SnapLion, a software tool, to spy on their users. Also, the app enables live location sharing for one of its features called SnapMap, allowing users to find each other. This can be very dangerous since it allows people to stalk someone.
These are reasons enough to move away from Snapchat.
Suggested Reading => Top App to Hack into Someones’s Snapchat
How to Delete Snapchat Account
Before you delete your Snapchat you will want to download and back up your app data because once you delete a Snapchat account, all your data will be lost forever.
Download Your Snapchat Data
Before you delete your Snapchat account, you might want to hold on to old photos. Here’s how to download your data.
Download Data on the Browser
Here’s how you can download your data using a browser before Snapchat deactivates:
#1) Visit Snapchat on your browser.
#2) Log in to your account.
#3) You will be taken directly to the Manage My Account page.
#4) Go to My Data.
#5) Enter and confirm your email address at the bottom of the page.
#6) Select Submit Request.
#7) You will get a link to download your data on your email ID.
Further Reading => List of the most downloaded apps
Download Data on Android and iOS Devices
If you want to use the app to take data backup before you delete your Snapchat account, you can do it as easily. Here’s how:
#1) Launch the app.
#2) Tap on the gear icon for settings.
#3) Select My Data.
#4) Scroll down and enter your email address.
#5) Click on Submit Request.
#6) You will receive a link in your email address to download your data.
However, log in to Snapchat on your mobile browser to download the ZIP file containing your data.
It’s Time to Deactivate Snapchat
Once you have downloaded your data, now let’s deactivate Snap and delete the account once and for all. You can do it using your computer or Android or iOS device, whatever you feel comfortable with.
Disable a Snapchat Account in a Computer Browser
You can easily perform Snapchat delete steps on your computer:
#1) Go to the Manage My Account page on your browser.
#2) Click on Delete My Account.
#3) Enter your username and password.
#4) Click on Continue
#5) You will receive a message about Snapchat deactivation.
Delete Snapchat Accounts Permanently on Android & iOS Devices
If you are asking how to delete my Snapchat account on Android and iOS, welcome to the party. Snapchat delete is a little elaborate for Android and iOS apps, but not difficult.
Further Reading => Explore All About Snapchat Planet Order
Here’s how you can delete your Snap account on the app:
#1) Open your Snapchat app.
#2) Tap on your Avatar in the top left corner.
#3) Select the gear icon in the top right corner.
#4) Go to Support.
#5) Select I Need Help.
#6) Type Delete in the search bar.
#7) Tap on Delete My Account.
#8) Select the Account Portal Snapchat link.
#9) Type in your username and password
#10) Tap on continue
#11) You will receive a message saying your account is deactivated
Your account will be deactivated. You can reactivate it within 30 days by entering your username and password in your Snapchat app. If you don’t log in to your account in the next 30 days, it will permanently delete your Snapchat account.
Is Permanent Snapchat Account Deletion a Fact
Once you disable Snapchat by putting in a delete account request, your account will be invisible to your connections. If you don’t log in to your Snapchat account after 30 days, it will be deleted forever. But can you delete a Snapchat account forever? Well, not really.
According to Snapchat’s privacy guidelines, the app will retain certain personal data for its legal, business, and security needs. That means, even when your account is gone, information about your accepted terms of service and in-app purchases will still be out there on Snapchat.
If you want all your information to be removed permanently, you can drop an email to Snapchat’s support team at support@snapchat.com. Email them at your request to delete whatever information they still have on you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I temporarily deactivate my Snapchat?
No. you can’t temporarily deactivate Snap. Once you have submitted the delete request, you will only be able to reactivate it within 30 days. After that, your account will be permanently deleted.
2. How do I deactivate my Snapchat without deleting it?
There’s no way of deactivating Snapchat without deleting it.
3. What do your friends see when you deactivate Snapchat?
When you deactivate Snapchat, your account disappears. Your friends cannot see anything, any information, or even any message from you.
4. Can you still search for someone who deactivated their Snapchat?
If someone has deactivated their Snapchat, their Snap profile will not appear in any search results.
5. How many times can you deactivate Snapchat?
Your account will remain deactivated for 30 days before it gets deleted permanently once you have put in the request for deleting your account. You can log in within this time span to reactivate your account and you can do this as many times as you want.
6. How to reactivate your Snapchat account?
You just have to log in to your Snapchat account within 30 days of the deactivation request to reactivate it. You can’t reactivate your Snapchat account after 30 days.
7. What is the difference between the deactivation and deletion of a Snapchat account?
Your account will be deactivated before it gets deleted. Once your account is deactivated, you can reactivate it within 30 days by logging into it. After 30 days, your account gets deleted and there will be no possible recovery.
Conclusion
COVID-19 has made people get too much screen time, and now most need a detox. For that reason alone, temporarily deactivating your social media account is a good idea. However, with Snapchat, there’s nothing temporary, unless it’s the disappearing messages.
So, before you move ahead with Snapchat deletion, make sure you want to do it. You will only have 30 days to change your mind. We have already discussed all the reasons why you might want to delete your Snap account and how to do it. Don’t forget to back up your Snapchat data before you delete your account unless you want to get rid of them, too.