Is Snapchat Deleting Memories?

Last updated October 2026 · Free · Works in any browser

Short answer: partly. Snapchat is not deleting Memories as a feature — but it did put a 5GB cap on free Memories storage in September 2025, gave people over the cap a 12-month grace period, and that window has now closed. From late September 2026, Memories above the 5GB limit on accounts that don't upgrade or download them can be deleted. Here's exactly what that means, and how to make sure nothing you care about is in the blast radius.

What's actually happening with Memories storage

On September 26, 2025, Snap announced Memories Storage Plans (official announcement): free accounts get up to 5GB of Memories storage, and paid plans unlock more. Anyone whose Memories exceeded 5GB got 12 months of temporary storage to either download their content or upgrade to a paid plan. That grace period ran to around late September 2026 — so this is happening now, not at some vague point in the future.

Snap also said the average user is nowhere near the cap, and that most people will never notice the change. If you've saved a few hundred Memories, you're likely fine. If you've been using Snapchat daily since 2016, read on.

What Snapchat is not doing

• It is not deleting everyone's Memories. Content within the 5GB free allowance is untouched.
• The Memories feature is not shutting down. New Memories save to it exactly as before.
• Paying users keep everything within their plan's limit — the entry plan is around $1.99/month for roughly 100GB, with larger tiers (pricing varies by region; check in-app).

The viral posts claiming "Snapchat is deleting all your memories on [date]" are an exaggeration. But the kernel of truth is real enough: over-cap content on accounts that take no action is genuinely at risk now that the grace period has ended.

How to check if you're affected

Open Snapchat → Settings (the gear icon on your profile) → Memories, and look at the storage indicator. Snapchat has also been sending in-app notices to accounts over the cap. If your storage reads well under 5GB, you're not in the deletion pool — though the backup advice below is still worth acting on, for reasons that have nothing to do with this policy (lost phones happen).

How to save your Memories for free, before anything happens

1. Request your archive. Sign in at accounts.snapchat.com, open My Data, and submit a request with the Memories export enabled. Snapchat emails you a download link when the ZIP is ready — this is free, regardless of storage plans. The full walkthrough is in how to export Snapchat Memories.
2. Download and convert the ZIP. The raw archive is a folder of machine-named files with no capture dates. Snapkeep converts it in your browser — nothing is uploaded — into dated, year-sorted photos and videos, with the dates written into the files themselves.
3. Verify and keep two copies. Spot-check dates and counts against memories_history.json, then keep one copy on your computer and one on a cloud drive. The checklist is in back up Memories before deleting Snapchat.

Where the rumor came from

Throughout 2026, countdown posts have circulated on TikTok, Instagram, and X: "In just 47 days Snapchat will start deleting your Memories!" They're overstated — but they're relay-racing a real policy, which is why they keep resurfacing. The accurate version is the one on this page: storage capped at 5GB, a year to act, deletions possible for over-cap free accounts after that. Anything scarier than that is clickbait; anything more reassuring than that ignores the announcement.

Questions people ask

Is Snapchat really deleting Memories?

Not all of them. Content within the 5GB free allowance is untouched. After the 12-month grace period, content above 5GB on accounts that don't upgrade or download it can be deleted.

When did Snapchat start deleting Memories?

The temporary-storage window announced September 26, 2025 ended around late September 2026. Deletion of over-cap content on free accounts is possible from that point — affected users see in-app notices.

Which Memories get deleted first?

Snap hasn't published the order. Treat everything above 5GB as at risk and export what you care about rather than waiting for a personal deadline.

How do I know if I'm over the 5GB limit?

Open Snapchat → Settings → Memories and check the storage indicator. Accounts over the cap have also been receiving in-app notices about storage plans and the grace period.

Does downloading my Memories cost anything?

No. Exporting your data from accounts.snapchat.com and downloading your Memories is free regardless of whether you pay for a storage plan.