Quick answer
Save: tap the message (tap again to unsave); saved messages turn gray for everyone. Delete: press and hold the message or Snap > Delete. Save a Snap in Chat: press and hold it (or swipe up) > Save in Chat; this only works for photo Snaps with no limit or looping videos (look for the ∞ timer).
Does this match what you see?
- “Save in Chat” isn’t showing for a Snap.
- Your friend saved a Snap you want gone.
- Friends can see “deleted” in the chat.
- A deleted Snap still showed up briefly.
- Saved messages disappeared after you stopped being friends.
iPhone & iPadAndroid
Based on five Snapchat Support articles supplied by the site owner. For deleting what you shared with My AI, see Snapchat My AI.
Why this happens: the possible causes
What you can and can’t save or delete, according to Snapchat.
| Situation | Can you do it? |
|---|---|
| Delete your own message, Snap, Bitmoji, Memory or Camera Roll photo | Yes |
| Delete a Snap you sent that a friend saved | Yes, as the sender (details) |
| Delete a message someone else sent | No |
| Save a Snap with a timer (not ∞) | No; only no limit photos or looping videos |
| Save or delete in a chat with someone you blocked | No; you can’t see that chat |
- The Snap has a timerCheck this first
Snapchat says only photo Snaps set to no limit and video Snaps set to loop can be saved in Chat.
- Someone else sent itCheck this first
Snapchat says you can’t delete messages sent by other Snapchatters.
- Bad connection or an old app versionPossible
Snapchat says deleting may not work right away if someone has a bad internet connection or an old version of Snapchat.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Our tip: update Snapchat, since Snapchat says old versions can delay deletions.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Save or unsave a Chat message
Snapchat says saving keeps a message in Chat for you and your friend to see.
- Tap the message to save it.
- Tap it again to unsave it.
Snapchat says saved messages have a gray background, so everyone in the Chat can see what’s saved. Find everything you’ve saved with a friend: swipe right from the Camera and tap their Bitmoji to open your Friendship Profile; Snapchat says saved Snaps and messages show there, just for the two of you. Snapchat notes that screenshotting a Friendship Profile may notify that friend.
Did it work? The message has a gray background.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Save a Snap or friend’s Story in Chat
Snapchat says you can save a Snap or a friend’s Story in Chat while you’re viewing it.
- While viewing it, press and hold and tap Save in Chat, or swipe up and tap Save in Chat.
No Save in Chat option? Snapchat says only photo Snaps set to no limit and video Snaps set to loop can be saved. Look for the timer with the ∞ icon. Saved Snaps show in the chat as Chat Media, and Snapchat says either you or your friend can delete saved content in your 1:1 Chat.
Did it work? It appears in the chat as Chat Media.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 3: Delete a message or Snap you sent
Snapchat says you can delete messages, Snaps, Bitmoji, Memories and photos sent from your Camera Roll.
- In the chat, press and hold the message or Snap.
- Tap Delete.
Snapchat says you can delete a Snap while it’s Delivered or after it’s Opened (by one or all people in the conversation). Friends can see that it was deleted. Snapchat tries to remove it from its servers and friends’ devices, but a bad connection or old app version can delay this, so a deleted Snap may still appear briefly.
Did it work? The chat shows it was deleted.
Did Fix 3 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 3. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 4: Delete a Snap a friend saved
Snapchat says the sender keeps control: you can delete Snaps you sent to Chat even after they’ve been saved there.
- In the chat, press and hold the saved Snap you sent.
- Tap Delete.
Snapchat says this only works for Snaps you sent to Chat. Story replies work differently; Snapchat has a separate help page for those.
Did it work? The saved Snap is gone from the chat.
Did Fix 4 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 4. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
When you can’t save or delete
- Someone else sent it: Snapchat says you can’t delete messages sent by other Snapchatters.
- You blocked them: Snapchat says you can’t see that chat anymore, so you can’t save or delete messages in it. See block someone on Snapchat.
- Saved messages vanished: Snapchat says if you’re no longer friends (you removed or blocked each other), saved messages in your 1:1 chat may be removed over time and may no longer appear.
- Group chats with My AI: clearing your My AI data doesn’t delete group messages; delete your own messages there as above. See Snapchat My AI.
How to know it worked
- Saved messages are gray, and deleted ones show as deleted in the chat.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Messages or Snaps not sending at all? See Snapchat Snaps not sending.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
- Snapchat Support: How do I save or delete Snapchat Chat messages?Snapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Snapchat Support: How to Save a Snap or Friend’s Story in ChatSnapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Snapchat Support: How can I delete a Snap in Chat?Snapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Snapchat Support: How do I delete Snaps after they’ve been saved?Snapchat Support (external site, opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Can my friends see if I delete a Snapchat message?
Yes. Snapchat says friends can see that a message or Snap was deleted, and they can screenshot it before you delete it.
Can I delete a Snap my friend saved?
Yes, if you sent it. Snapchat says the sender can delete Snaps they sent to Chat even after they’re saved: press and hold > Delete.
Why can’t I save a Snap in Chat?
Snapchat says only photo Snaps set to no limit and video Snaps set to loop can be saved. Look for the ∞ timer.
Can I delete messages someone else sent on Snapchat?
No. Snapchat says you can’t delete messages sent by other Snapchatters.
Why did my saved Snapchat messages disappear?
Snapchat says if you’re no longer friends, for example after removing or blocking each other, saved messages may be removed over time.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- How do I save or delete Snapchat Chat messages? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How to Save a Snap or Friend’s Story in Chat (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How can I delete a Snap in Chat? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do I delete Snaps after they’ve been saved? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- How do Friendship Profiles on Snapchat work? (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 6 November 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 6 May 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 6 November 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Snap Inc.. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.