Snapchat is an incredibly popular app, with millions of users watching and making videos every day. Still, the time may come when someone makes the decision to delete their account. Fortunately for them, it’s fairly simple to do, although they should note that deleting their account doesn’t mean it’s immediately gone -- or that all of the data will disappear along with it.
Snapchat allows users to create sixty-second videos, known as Snaps, that disappear from feeds twenty-four hours after they’re made. Along with various filters -- which can change someone’s voice and appearance in a number of ways, from making them look like a dog to making their voices high-pitched and funny -- Snapchat also enables users to send videos directly to each other, or simply talk to each other with the chat feature. In addition, and similar to Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat utilizes Bitmoji, a feature that lets users create cartoon versions of themselves. All in all, it can be a fun and useful app for those looking to stay in contact with each other.
When it comes to deleting Snapchat, the process isn’t very difficult. Open up Snapchat and tap on the icon in the upper-left corner -- depending on activity, that will either show the user’s Bitmoji or a preview of the most recent Snap they posted. On the account page, there will be a gear icon in the upper-right corner and tapping this will take the user to the Settings section where they can then scroll down to the Support subsection. Then select “I Need Help,” and from there, tap on “My Account & Security.” Choose the Account Information option, and the option to delete the account will be near the bottom of the list, between Birthday and “Download My Data.”
Deleting Snapchat Through The Accounts Portal
Snapchat users who wish to delete their account can also do so via the accounts portal. Just log into Snapchat on a computer -- scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Support link, or visit accounts.snapchat.com. From the Support link, click on the My Account & Security link located on the left side of the screen, and click on Account Security. The “Delete My Account” link is the third one down. By logging onto accounts.snapchat.com, users are brought to the “Manage My Account” page, at which point they can click on the “Delete My Account” button. From there, just type in the username and the password of the soon-to-be deleted account, and click Continue.
However, an account doesn’t immediately disappear at this point. Instead, it is first deactivated for thirty days, giving the user the opportunity to reclaim the account without losing any settings or data. After that thirty-day time limit is up, the account moves from deactivated to permanently deleted, wiping out the friends list, in addition to Snaps, Chats and other personal history. Snapchat might also hang onto some of the user’s personal data, like when someone accepted Snapchat’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Therefore, keep in mind that a Snapchat account is still out there for thirty days even after the user has chosen to delete it, and Snapchat likely retains some user data even when the account is gone.