Snapchat Moves to Paid Storage Model, Limits Free Memories to 5GB

Snapchat is introducing a major change to how users store their Memories. The platform will now cap free Memories storage at 5GB, pushing users toward new paid storage plans. The move marks a significant shift in how the company manages one of its most nostalgic features, a space where millions have saved years of Snaps and Stories.

Users who exceed the new limit will need to either export their Memories or subscribe to one of Snapchat’s storage plans. The company announced that its base tier offers 100 GB of storage for $1.99 per month. Snapchat+ subscribers will get 250GB as part of their $3.99 monthly plan, while Snapchat Platinum members will receive 5TB of storage for $15.99 per month.

Those who choose not to upgrade will see Snapchat automatically delete their most recent Snaps while keeping older ones intact to stay under the limit. The company has given users a 12-month grace period to manage or back up their content before the policy takes full effect. Still, many users are choosing to export their memories rather than pay for extra space.

Save Your Snapchat Memories to Your Camera Roll

One simple way to preserve your Snaps is by exporting them to your phone’s camera roll. However, Snapchat only lets you download Memories in batches of 100, which can be time-consuming for users with years of stored content. Still, this method helps you select only the moments you truly want to keep.

To export Memories from the Snapchat app:

1. Open Snapchat and tap the “Memories” icon beside the camera button.
2. Tap the “Select” option in the top-right corner.
3. Choose up to 100 memories you want to save.
4. Tap “Export” at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
5. Select “Download” to save them to your camera roll.
6. Repeat the process to export additional batches.

Download Your Snapchat Data

If exporting in small batches sounds tedious, Snapchat’s “Download My Data” tool offers a faster way to back up your Memories. It lets users receive their full archive via email in a .zip file.

To download your complete Snapchat archive:

1. Open Snapchat and go to your profile.
2. Tap the Settings icon in the top-right corner.
3. Scroll down and select “My Data.”
4. Check Memories, HTML Files, and JSON Files.
5. Uncheck any unnecessary options to simplify your archive.
6. Tap “Next.”
7. Choose “All Time” as the export range.
8. Confirm your email and tap “Submit.”

The delivery time will vary depending on how much data is stored on your account.