Snapchat Storage Full? How to Free Up Space Safely (Before They're Deleted)
Hit the dreaded 5GB limit? Snapchat will soon delete your memories. Here is how to free up space without losing a single photo.
⚠️ Critical Warning
Do NOT simply "Delete" memories to make space until you have a confirmed, verified backup. Once deleted from Snapchat's servers, there is no "Trash" folder for Memories. They are gone forever.
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For over a decade, Snapchat Memories was an unlimited cloud locker for our lives. That changed in 2026. With the introduction of the 5GB cap for free accounts, millions of users are now seeing the notification: "Storage Full. Upgrade to Snapchat+ or free up space."
Understanding the New 5GB Limit
Snapchat's new policy is simple but strict: free accounts get 5GB of cloud storage. If you exceed this, you can no longer back up new Snaps. More alarmingly, Snapchat has announced that starting mid-2026, they may begin removing older Memories from over-limit accounts that haven't upgraded to a paid tier.
How Many Photos is 5GB?
It sounds like a lot, but videos eat it up fast.
- Photos: ~3,000 - 5,000 photos (depending on quality)
- Videos: Only about 30-60 minutes of HD video total.
If you've been using Snapchat since 2016, you almost certainly have more than 5GB.
How to Safely Offload Memories
You have two choices: pay $1.99/month forever, or move your files to your own computer (which is free). But you must do it correctly to avoid the "Wrong Date" bug.
The Workflow:
- Request Data: Go to Settings > My Data > Request Memories in the Snapchat app.
- Wait: Get the email (usually 24 hours).
- Download HTML: Save the `memories_history.html` file to your PC/Mac.
- Use Memory Downloader: Do not click the links manually! Use Memory Downloader to extract the photos with their original dates restored.
Verifying Your Local Backup
Before you delete anything from the app, verify your backup.
- Open your local folder.
- Check file counts (Do you have 5,000 files locally vs 5,000 in app?).
- Spot check dates (Does a Christmas 2021 photo actually say Dec 25, 2021?).
- Play a few videos to ensure they downloaded fully.
Deleting from Snapchat (After Backup)
Once you are 100% sure your files are safe on your computer (and ideally backed up to an external hard drive or cloud like Google Photos), you can start freeing up space.
You can now safely delete old Memories from the Snapchat app to get back under the 5GB limit, knowing you have the high-quality originals safe on your desktop.
Secure Your Memories Now
Don't let a subscription fee hold your history hostage.
Download Memory Downloader