Snapchat does not delete all Memories on a fixed date, but new rules mean they can delete anything over your free storage limit if you do not pay or download them. How and when this happens depends on your account’s storage usage and any notifications you received.

What Snapchat’s policy says

Snapchat now gives every user about 5 GB of free Memories storage; anything you save beyond that is considered “over‑limit” content. For users already above 5 GB, Snapchat is giving roughly a 12‑month temporary or “grace” period to either buy extra storage or download/export Memories before any deletions start.

If you cancel a paid Memories plan while still over 5 GB, Snapchat says you have about 48 hours to resubscribe before the extra, over‑limit Memories start being removed. Once a Memory is deleted by Snapchat under these rules, the company states it cannot restore it.

When your Memories might be deleted

Snapchat has indicated that for over‑limit accounts, it will keep enough Snaps to stay within the 5 GB free cap and remove the rest if you do not upgrade. Several guides report that Snapchat tends to keep the oldest Memories within the limit and delete newer ones that exceed the cap, but the key trigger is staying over 5 GB without a plan after your grace period ends.

Users who received an in‑app notification about storage generally have about 12 months from when that notice appeared before Snapchat starts enforcing deletions on excess Memories. If you never hit 5 GB of Memories, Snapchat’s current policy indicates your saved Memories should remain available and not be automatically deleted.

How to avoid losing Memories

To avoid any deletion, you can either subscribe to a Memories storage plan so all existing Memories stay backed up, or reduce your usage below 5 GB. Exporting and downloading your Memories to your phone or computer (via the “My Data” option in Snapchat settings) protects them even if Snapchat later removes them from its servers.

If your Memories suddenly appear to be missing, Snapchat support suggests steps like clearing the app cache and restarting the device to rule out display glitches, though this will not recover content that was truly deleted from their servers. For your exact deadline, check any in‑app banner or email from Snapchat about storage, because your 12‑month window is tied to when that specific notice was shown on your account.