How to Deactivate Snapchat Account Properly in 2024

Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people, since it launched in 2011. With over 293 million daily active users as of 2024, Snapchat shows no signs of slowing down. However, some users may be looking to take a break from the platform or delete their accounts altogether. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to deactivate your Snapchat account properly in 2024.

What is Deactivate Snapchat?

Deactivating your Snapchat account is a way to temporarily disable or pause your Snapchat profile and usage without permanently deleting your account and data altogether.

Here are some key things to know about deactivating Snapchat:

• It temporarily pauses your account, hiding your profile and information until you choose to reactivate
• Your memories (snaps, stories, messages) remain securely saved for up to 30 days while deactivated
• Friends cannot search for or view your deactivated profile – you essentially “disappear” from visibility
• Your snapstreaks and snapscore are paused until the account is reactivated again
• You can easily restore your account within 30 days by logging back in – it immediately reactivates
• After 30 days inactive, Snapchat permanently deletes the account and data

Deactivation allows you to safely take a break from Snapchat while preserving your information for up to a month, giving you the option to restore everything if you return. It’s ideal for a temporary Snapchat hiatus.

Is it Possible to Deactivate Snapchat Account?

Yes, it is definitely possible to deactivate your Snapchat account.

Deactivating your Snapchat account is an official feature supported within Snapchat’s account settings. It allows you to temporarily disable your Snapchat profile without permanently deleting the account.

Here are some key things to know about deactivating your Snapchat account:

• You can deactivate your Snapchat account directly within the Snapchat app or on the Snapchat website. Just head to your account settings.
• When deactivated, your profile and information will become hidden from friends until you choose to reactivate again.
• Your Memories, friends list, settings and other data will be saved by Snapchat while your account is deactivated.
• After 30 days with no activity, Snapchat will go ahead and delete your deactivated account permanently.
• As long as you reactivate within 30 days, you can restore your account seamlessly picking up right where you left off.

Yes, Snapchat absolutely provides the ability to deactivate your account as needed. It’s quick, official, and reversible. Just be mindful of that 30 day reactivation limit.

Reasons to Deactivate Snapchat

Here are some common reasons why you may want to deactivate your Snapchat account:

1. Too Distracting or Addictive: The premise of having content disappear makes Snapchat addictive for some users. Catching quick photos and videos from friends can be fun, but also distracting and time-consuming. Deactivating your account can help reclaim focus.
2. Privacy Concerns: There have been some privacy concerns around Snapchat in recent years in terms of data collection and usage. If you feel uncomfortable about how much of your data they may have, deactivating can provide more peace of mind.
3. Unhappy with Changes: Snapchat is constantly implementing new tweaks and features. If you find the app becoming cluttered or going in a direction you don’t like, deactivating sends a message to the company.
4. Temporary Break: Sometimes we all just need a break from technology and social media. A Snapchat deactivation allows you to take a vacation without losing your profile and data.
5. Leaving Old Memories Behind: For some long-time users, old Snaps may represent memories, places, or people they have moved on from. Deactivating can help put the past in the past.

Now that we’ve covered why you may want to deactivate, here is how to actually do it properly in just a few simple steps.

How to Deactivate Snapchat – Simple Method

Deactivating your Snapchat account is straightforward and can be done right from your smartphone device:

1. Open the Snapchat app on your iPhone or Android device.
2. Navigate to your profile page within the app. This can be accessed by tapping/clicking on the avatar icon in the top left corner.
3. Scroll down and tap “Settings” followed by “Account Actions.”
4. On the Account Actions screen, tap “Deactivate Account.”
5. On the confirmation screen, select the reason you are looking to deactivate from the dropdown menu.
6. Finally, click “Continue” to confirm the deactivation.

In just a few seconds, your Snapchat account should now be fully deactivated. The app may prompt you to log back in with your username and password, at which point your reactivation will be complete.

To keep your account deactivated for longer and prevent this immediate reactivation, use the more advanced method outlined below:

How to Deactivate Account From a Computer: Step-by-step Guide

Deactivating from a computer’s web browser prevents Snapchat from having your login information cached and making reactivation too easy:

• Step 1: Pull up the Snapchat login page in your web browser of choice: https://accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/login?continue=%2Faccounts%2Fwelcome
• Step 2: Log in with your Snapchat username and password through the web interface.
• Step 3: Click on your profile avatar icon in the top right corner.
• Step 4: Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
• Step 5: Click “Account” from the left sidebar.
• Step 6: Under account, click “Deactivate Account.”
• Step 7: Select your reason for deactivating from the dropdown menu and confirm.

After following these steps, your Snapchat account should now be fully deactivated through the web browser, adding an extra layer of difficulty to reactivate on a whim.

What Happens When You Deactivate Snapchat

Now let’s talk about what actually happens after you deactivate:

1. Profile Hidden: Your Snapchat profile, including your personal info, friends list, snaps, chats, etc will all be hidden until the account is reactivated. However, all of this data will remain safely stored by Snapchat during deactivation.
2. Memories Stay Intact: Any saved photos or videos in your Snapchat memories will stay on Snapchat’s servers during a deactivated period. Nothing will be deleted.
3. Friends Can’t Search: Friends will no longer be able to search for and find your deactivated profile on Snapchat. You essentially become invisible to the Snapchat world.
4. Snapscore Paused: Your Snapchat snapscore will stop incrementing when your account is deactivated and only start counting again if you choose to reactive down the road.
5. Can’t Login: You will be unable to log back into your account using your old credentials until completing a reactivation. This makes it less tempting to constantly log back in and out.

Overall the deactivation puts your account into a mostly dormant status, hiding your info and pausing any activity while storing your data for if you eventually return.

How Long Does Deactivation Last?

Snapchat deactivation can technically last indefinitely if you wish. However, if you go 30 full days without logging back in, Snapchat will automatically delete your account permanently.

Here is more detail:

• 1-29 Days Deactivated: During this period, you can reactive seamlessly anytime by logging back in with your credentials. None of your friends, snaps, memories or data will be lost.
• 30 Days Inactive: Once your account hits 30 full days with no log in, Snapchat permanently deletes all account data. Reactivation is no longer possible at this point. You would have to start a brand new account moving forward.

Deactivation buys you 1-29 days off, but return before day 30 if you ever want to retrieve your account.

How Do I Reactivate My Account?

If your break was refreshing and you decide you are ready to rejoin Snapchat again, reactivating your previously deactivated account is straightforward:

1. Simply login with your exact Snapchat username and password credentials used before deactivating.
2. That’s it! After entering the login details correctly, your account will be fully restored in seconds.
3. You may need to also re-allow certain permissions and settings that were cleared upon deactivation. But other than that, everything else should restore as normal.

If it has been less than 30 days, this process allows you to easily pickup right where you left off.

Can Someone Else Take My Username?

A common concern when deactivating any major platform account is the username. For Snapchat, there are two scenarios:

1. Within 30 Days: For the 30 day deactivated period, your username will remain fully reserved and protected by Snapchat exclusively for your potential return. No one else can take it.
2. After 30 Days: If 30 full days pass with no activity, Snapchat deletes the account fully at that point. So in that rare case, yes – the deactivated username would return to the general pool and someone else could create a new account using it moving forward.

Your username belongs to you for 30 days deactivation or less. But disappears with the account after a full month break.

Can You Deactivate Snapchat from Your Phone?

Yes, you can deactivate your Snapchat account directly from your phone. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Snapchat app on your iPhone or Android phone.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
3. Scroll down and tap “Settings.”
4. Tap “Account Actions.”
5. On the Account Actions screen, tap “Deactivate Account.”
6. Select your reason for deactivating from the menu.
7. Tap “Continue” to confirm and deactivate your account.

Deactivating from your phone is quick and easy. However, some people prefer to deactivate from a computer browser for extra security, as it prevents Snapchat from having your login details cached for easy reactivation. But the choice is yours – both methods accomplish a full deactivation of your account.

Can You Deactivate Snapchat Without The App?

Yes, it is possible to deactivate your Snapchat account without having the Snapchat app installed on your phone. Here are the steps to deactivate Snapchat from a web browser instead:

1. On your computer, go to the Snapchat login page: https://accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/login
2. Login with your Snapchat credentials through the web interface.
3. Once logged in, click your profile icon in the top right corner.
4. Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
5. On the Settings page, click “Account” in the sidebar.
6. Under the Account section, click “Deactivate Account”.
7. Choose your reason for deactivating from the dropdown menu.
8. Click “Continue” to confirm and deactivate.

This will fully deactivate your Snapchat account even without having the app on your phone. Doing it from the web browser adds extra security by not allowing Snapchat to cache your login info for easy account reactivation later.

How Long Does a Snapchat Account Take to Deactivate?

Deactivating a Snapchat account is a very quick process that only takes a few seconds.

Specifically:

• When you select the “Deactivate Account” option in Snapchat and confirm your choice, the deactivation takes effect instantly.
• Your profile, snaps, chats etc. will disappear from view to your Snapchat friends within seconds of clicking that confirmation button.
• It happens almost immediately in real time. There is no waiting period or delay before the deactivation kicks in.

A Snapchat account deactivation occurs instantly. The whole process from accessing the account settings, selecting deactivate, and having your account go dormant takes approximately 5-10 seconds.

It’s designed to be a seamless transition so that as soon as you decide you want your account deactivated, it disappears from view and use within Snapchat right away. Just be absolutely sure deactivation is what you want, because once confirming it the account will deactivate nearly instantly!

How Do I Deactivate or Delete My Snapchat Account?

Here are the complete steps to deactivate or delete your Snapchat account:

Deactivate Account (Temporary)

1. Open Snapchat and go to your profile.
2. Tap the Settings (gear) icon.
3. Select “Account Actions”.
4. Choose “Deactivate Account”.
5. Pick a reason for deactivating.
6. Tap “Continue” to confirm deactivation.

Your account will remain deactivated until you log back in with your username and password. Data is preserved during this time.

Delete Account (Permanent)

If you don’t log into Snapchat for 30 days after deactivating your account, it will be permanently deleted:

1. Follow steps above to initially deactivate account.
2. Do not log into your Snapchat account for 30 consecutive days.
3. After 30 days have passed, your account and all data will automatically delete forever.

Once permanently deleted after 30 days, there is no way to retrieve the account or any of its data. Deactivation allows you to take a break while deletion permanently erases the account.

How Do I Reactivate My Snapchat Account?

Reactivating a deactivated Snapchat account is very simple:

1. Open the Snapchat login page on your phone or by visiting: https://accounts.snapchat.com
2. Enter the username and password associated with the Snapchat account you want to reactivate.
3. Tap the “Log In” button.

That’s all it takes! Since your account was simply deactivated and not deleted, logging back in with your credentials will automatically reactivate access.

A few things to note about reactivating Snapchat:

• It must be within 29 days since deactivation. After 30 days, accounts are permanently deleted.
• Your Memories, Friends list, Settings and other data will restored as they were before deactivating.
• You may need to reset some permissions or preferences since the app “forgets” those during deactivation.

And that’s all there is to it! Just enter that old username and password to gain access once again.

Snapchat Account Portal

If you are trying to access your Snapchat account online or make changes to your Snapchat account without using the mobile app, you can visit the Snapchat account portal. Here are the details on accessing and using the Snapchat account portal:

Snapchat Account Portal URL: https://accounts.snapchat.com

On this webpage, you can:

• Log in to your Snapchat account to reactivate a deactivated account
• Change your password
• Edit your username or display name
• Change your associated email address
• Modify privacy settings
• Download data like your memories or location history
• Permanently delete your account

Essentially most account management tasks can be handled from the Snapchat account portal without needing the mobile app.

Things to note:

• You still must have an existing Snapchat account to use the account portal. It is not for creating new accounts.
• Some functionality like posting Stories or using Lenses/Filters is only available on the mobile app.

If you need to access your Snapchat account online or make changes without mobile access, navigate to accounts.snapchat.com to use Snapchat’s account management portal.

How to Delete Your Snapchat Account in the iOS App?

Here are the steps to permanently delete your Snapchat account from the iOS app:

1. Open the Snapchat app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
3. Scroll down and tap the gear “Settings” icon.
4. Tap “Account Actions” under the “Account” section.
5. Tap “Delete My Account” – note this is permanent with no option to recover any data.
6. Tap “Continue” to confirm you want to delete your account.
7. Enter your Snapchat password when prompted.
8. Tap “Delete Account” in the pop up window to fully delete your account.

That’s it! Once you complete the steps above and confirm the deletion, your Snapchat account will be permanently erased including your memories, friends, bitmojis, settings etc.

There is no way to undo a Snapchat account deletion on iOS so only follow these steps if you are absolutely certain.

Can I Delete My Account on Snapchat Web?

Yes, you can delete your Snapchat account completely through the Snapchat website as well, without needing the mobile app.

Here are the steps to permanently delete your Snapchat account on Snapchat.com:

1. Go to https://accounts.snapchat.com and login to your Snapchat account through the website.
2. Click your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Select “Settings” from the drop down menu.
4. Click “Account” on the left side menu.
5. Under the “Account Information” section, click “Delete Account”.
6. Select the reason you are deleting your account.
7. Click “Continue” to confirm account deletion.
8. Enter password and click “Delete Account”.

This will immediately and permanently delete everything associated with your Snapchat account, including Memories, Friends, etc. There is no way to restore it.

So yes, you can absolutely delete a Snapchat account fully through the Snapchat website as well.

How to Download Your Snapchat Data?

Here are the steps to download your Snapchat data before deactivating or deleting your account:

1. Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon.
2. Tap the Settings (gear) icon.
3. Scroll down and tap “My Data”.
4. Tap “Submit Request”.
5. Tap “Request Download” to submit the request.

It may take up to 30 days for Snapchat to compile and email you a download link for your data. It will be a ZIP file containing:

• Your Memories like Snaps, Stories, and Media.
• Chat logs of your conversations.
• Your Location data history.
• Your Snapchat search history.
• Other account history and information.

Having this file lets you save and backup your essential Snapchat data before deleting your account. You can also request another download before 30 days to check if all your latest data got captured.

I recommend requesting your Snapchat data download before going through the account deactivation or deletion process, just in case you ever decide to lose access and want your key memories saved.

How to Delete Your Snapchat Account on Your Computer?

Here are the steps to permanently delete your Snapchat account from a computer:

1. Go to https://accounts.snapchat.com and log in to your Snapchat account through the website.
2. Click your profile picture in the top right corner.
3. Select “Settings” from the menu.
4. Click “Account” from the left sidebar menu.
5. Scroll down and click “Delete Account” under the “Account Information” header.
6. Select your reason for deleting your Snapchat account.
7. Read the confirmation prompt carefully and click “Continue”.
8. Enter your Snapchat account’s password when prompted.
9. Click “Delete Account” in the confirmation box.

That’s it! Your Snapchat account will now be permanently deleted, including your memories, friends, bitmojis, settings and all other account data. This deletion is irreversible.

How to Delete Your Snapchat Account on Your iPhone or Android

Here are the steps to permanently delete your Snapchat account right from your iPhone or Android device:

On iPhone

1. Open the Snapchat app and tap your profile icon.
2. Tap the gear “Settings” icon.
3. Scroll down and tap “Account Actions”.
4. Tap “Delete My Account”.
5. Tap “Continue” to confirm account deletion.
6. Enter Snapchat account password when prompted.
7. Tap “Delete Account” in the confirmation box.

On Android

1. Open Snapchat and tap the profile icon.
2. Tap the 3-line menu button.
3. Scroll down and tap “Settings”.
4. Tap “Account Actions”.
5. Tap “Delete My Account”.
6. Tap “Continue” and confirm with password.
7. Tap “Delete” to permanently delete your account.

And that’s it! Your Snapchat account and all associated data will be erased instantly when completing these steps. This deletion cannot be reversed, so only proceed if you are 100% certain.

How to Permanently Delete Your Snapchat Account

Here are the steps to permanently delete your Snapchat account once you’ve made the decision to leave:

1. Login to your Snapchat account on your device or by visiting https://accounts.snapchat.com
2. Navigate to your Profile and open your Account Settings
3. Locate “Account Actions” or “Delete My Account” under the Settings menu
4. Review the confirmation prompt carefully and select “Continue” to proceed
5. Enter your account’s password when asked for verification
6. Accept the Terms and tap “Permanently Delete My Account”

After completing these steps, your Snapchat account will be erased instantly and data unrecoverable. Memories, Friends lists, Bitmojis and other information is all removed.

Some things to note about permanent Snapchat deletion:

• 30 days of account inactivity triggers automatic deletion
• You may want to download your data before deleting
• There’s no way to undo or cancel the procedure
• Your username gets freed up for reuse after deletion

These details help explain how to fully and permanently remove your Snapchat presence for good.

Pro Tips For Deactivating Snapchat

If fully deactivating Snapchat is your end goal, here are some expert pro tips worth using:

1. Delete App From Phone: Delete the Snapchat app from your smartphone after online deactivation. This adds an extra barrier to reactivating on impulse.
2. Use Other Camera Apps: The Snapchat camera can become habit forming. Replace it with alternative camera apps removed from your social network during the break.
3. Preserve Data First: Before deactivating, consider using Snapchat’s settings to download your personal Snapchat data for preservation. This provides a virtual keepsake.
4. Tell Friends First: Give friends a courtesy heads up that your are planning to deactivate and disappear from their feeds for a while. This softens the surprise.

Through a combination of the proper deactivation steps, patience, self-control and a few pro hacks, your odds of a successful and restorative Snapchat break become very high.

Also Read:

• How to Find Someone on Snapchat With Just Their Name in 2024
• How to Find Someone on Snapchat in 2024: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Hack Someones on Snapchat in 2024

Common Questions About Deactivating Snapchat

Let’s wrap up with answers to some frequently asked questions around the Snapchat deactivation process: