How to allow or prevent someone from saving your snaps in Snapchat chats (2024)

Snapchat stands out among the sea of messaging platforms for revolutionizing the way we communicate. It introduced a novel concept for the time: sending photos for a one-time, brief viewing. Initially, this meant no saving pictures and no replays -- you got one chance to see the message, and that was it.

However, as Snapchat evolved, it introduced features allowing for repeated views of Snaps, permanent messages, and other engaging functionalities. Despite these additions, the core idea remained -- tuning our attention spans for quick, fleeting moments of joy. Yet, this approach had its drawbacks, particularly when receiving something crucial. After 10 seconds, content vanished. Thankfully, the issue was addressed. Now, you can send Snaps that recipients can save, without eliminating the classic, ephemeral 10-second Snaps. You now have the freedom to choose how you want to share.

The good news is that Snapchat now offers several settings to control whether your contacts can save the content you send in Snap conversations, be it photos or videos. Plus, you can adjust these permissions for each Snap, making it incredibly quick and easy to change settings as needed.

How to stop your photo snaps from being saved in Snapchat chats

You can adjust who can or can't save photos in your Snapchat chats

If you're well-versed in Snapchat, you're likely aware that recipients can't save your standard, 10-second Snaps. However, this doesn't mean it's impossible for your friends to save a photo you send -- you just need to adjust a few settings. Here's how you can make your sent photos savable:

1. Open Snapchat
2. Take a photo snap by pressing the capture button.
3. On the edit screen, look for the infinite timer in the menu on the right side of the screen and tap it. It's an icon of an infinite symbol inside a clock.
4. On the next screen, you'll see 1 to 10 seconds and No limit. Choose No limit. This will be your default setting going forward for all photo snaps unless you change it. If you don't choose No Limit, friends won't be able to save your photo snaps in chats.
5. You're done. Now, simply tap the bottom right button to continue and share your Snap with your friends. They'll be able to save your photo snaps in chat.

If you don't choose No Limit in Step 4 and opt for either of the timed options instead, friends won't be able to save your photo snaps in chats. So do that if you prefer your photos to disappear.

How to stop your video snaps from being saved in Snapchat chats

You can also adjust who can or can't save videos in your Snapchat chats

This applies to photos as well; if you send a standard Snap video, saving it isn't an option. To make it savable, you'll need to tweak the duration settings of your Snap.

1. Open Snapchat.
2. You can take a video snap by pressing and holding the capture button.
3. On the edit screen, look for the Snap timer button at the bottom of the menu on the right. Tap it -- it's an icon of an infinite symbol inside a loop.
4. You'll see Bounce, Play Once, and Loop as options. Choose Loop. This will be your default setting going forward for all video snaps unless you change it.
5. Now, simply share your video Snap by tapping the bottom-right button. They will be able to save your video snaps in chat.

If you don't choose Loop in Step 4, friends won't be able to save your video snaps in chats. So do that if you prefer.

FAQ

Q: How to save or unsave snaps in Snapchat chats

Whether it's a photo snap or a video snap you want to save, the method is identical.

When viewing the Snap, tap the three-dot icon in the corner and choose Save in Chat. If you change your mind and want to delete it later, just press and hold the saved Snap in the chat and select Unsave. Keep in mind, if your friends have their settings adjusted to prevent saving snaps, you won't be able to save their snaps in direct messages or group chats on Snapchat.

Q: Is it safe to send photos on Snapchat?

Snapchat, known for its feature that allows photos to be viewed once before disappearing, might seem like the perfect platform for sending a variety of photos -- whether they're on the spicier side or just private moments you wish to share once. But, is it truly safe to send all types of content on Snapchat?

As with many digital privacy concerns, the answer is both yes and no. Snapchat does provide end-to-end encryption, but this only covers photos and videos, not text chats. And while photos with a time limit vanish after viewing, there's a persistent issue: Screenshots. Unlike other messaging platforms, Snapchat allows users to take screenshots or use third-party software to capture the screen, rendering the 10-second limit ineffective.

This means that if someone is determined to keep your limited-time photos, they can easily do so, and there's nothing you can do to prevent it. Therefore, when it comes to any kind of sensitive images, the safest approach is to not send them online at all. If you're dealing with sensitive information, there are far more secure methods than Snapchat. And if you're looking to exchange spicy photos, there are specialized platforms designed for that purpose, offering significantly better protection for both you and the recipients.