How to Save Snaps Without Them Knowing: Android & iOS

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A guide to downloading Snapchat pictures secretly

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: December 15, 2024 Fact Checked

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Airplane Mode (Android)

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Remote App (Android/iOS)

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On a Computer

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Snapchats are supposed to be quick, fleeting photos. Of course, anyone can take screenshots and save photos, but doing so usually notifies the sender that their photo was saved. If you want to save a Snapchat picture without the sender knowing, you will have to get a bit more creative. Snapchat has caught on to the many apps that people used to secretly save Snaps, but there are still some clever workarounds. This wikiHow article will teach you how to save Snapchat pictures without anyone knowing.

Save a Snap Without Them Knowing

On an Android, open a Snap and turn on Airplane Mode before screenshotting to avoid sending a notification. Force-stop Snapchat and clear the app's cache.
Use an app like ApowerMirror on your iPhone or Android to take a screenshot.
On a computer, go to web.snapchat.com. Use the Print Screen key (Windows) or Shift + Command + 4 keys (Mac) to screenshot without notification.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Airplane Mode (Android)

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1
Open the Snap you want to save. Make sure the snap has loaded so that you can open it without a data connection. Do not open it just yet.
- Note that this method is rather risky, as failure to follow the steps exactly will lead to a notification being sent. Consider testing this method with a friend first!
- Unfortunately, this method only works on Android. If you have an iPhone or iPad, users will still see a notification that you've taken a screenshot.
- While you could open an untimed snap right now and still successfully complete this process, it may be difficult to activate Airplane Mode while viewing a time-sensitive picture.
Pull down on your notification bar and find the Airplane Mode tile, represented by an airplane icon. Tap on it to enable Airplane Mode.

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3
Open the Snap and take a screenshot. View the picture, then screenshot it!
- On most Android phones, you can take a screenshot by holding down the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously.
With our screenshot taken, our work is not quite done. We must quickly go into our Settings and force stop the app. The easiest way to get there is to exit out of Snapchat, press down on the app icon, and tap the encircled i icon. From there, simply tap Force stop.
For good measure, let's also clear Snapchat's cache, so no lingering files can communicate to the app that a notification should be sent. Tap Storage & cache and select Clear cache.
You should find the screenshot saved.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Remote App (Android/iOS)

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There are several great apps available that are compatible with both Android and iOS, allowing you to remotely control your phone and take a picture without Snapchat sending a notification. We recommend ApowerMirror, which can be found on all Windows/macOS devices, and in both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
In order for your computer to communicate with your phone, both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi.
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Tap the LocalCast button in the app on your phone. Wait for your computer to be detected. Once it is, tap on its name.
- iOS users will now have to pull up their Control Center and enable Screen Mirroring, choosing the option "Apowersoft".
You should now see your Android or iPhone's screen on your computer.
Using your computer, remotely control your phone and open the Snapchat app.
Use ApowerMirror's screen recording feature to take a quick video of the picture you want to save. The option is on the right-hand side of the computer client, represented by a video camera icon.
Find the picture you want to save. Open it so that ApowerMirror can capture it.
Once you are content with what you have captured, stop the recording within ApowerMirror. This video will be saved to computer, and you can edit it further if you wish. And the best part is, nobody was ever notified!

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Windows or Mac

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1
Go to https://web.snapchat.com/ in a web browser. This will open a web version of Snapchat.^{[1]
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- If you aren't already logged into your account, do so now.
To be safe, you'll want to take a screenshot while you have another window active. Put your browser window on one half of your screen and open a separate browser window (or app) on the other half.
You can find your conversations on the left panel.
This will make it the active window.
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Screenshot the picture. On Windows, press the Print Screen key. On Mac, press Shift + Command + 4.
- If you're using a Mac, click and drag to select the Snapchat screen.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I take a Snapchat photo?

Community Answer

There is a white circle on the screen. You press it and it takes the picture.

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Tips

If all else fails, you can always use a separate device to take a picture or record your current device's screen. The image quality may leave a little to be desired, but this method may prove to be the most simple and reliable.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

On iOS, you can turn on airplane mode before you open the Snap and then screenshot it. The app won't be able to determine if you took a screenshot when there's no internet connection.
Screen recording apps will also work. The person won't get notified if you're recording the entire phone, which is what the screen recording apps do.

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Warnings

Be considerate and mindful. Some pictures are meant for certain people only, and distributing pictures (especially risky ones) to unintended people without the original poster's permission may land you in trouble.

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Anonymously saving Snapchats can be a risky practice, and may even be illegal in certain situations.

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There is always a risk of your account getting locked when using these methods.

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