A Snapchat data export typically takes 24 to 48 hours to prepare, though some users receive theirs in just a few hours while others may wait up to 72 hours for very large accounts. Snapchat sends an email when your export is ready, and you then have 7 days to download and process it before the links expire.
The Two-Part Timeline
When people ask "how long does a Snapchat export take," they are usually referring to one of two distinct phases. Understanding both helps you plan the entire process from start to finish.
Part 1: Snapchat Prepares Your Export
After you submit your data request at accounts.snapchat.com, Snapchat's servers begin compiling your account data. This involves gathering your metadata, generating temporary download links for all your memories, and packaging everything into a downloadable ZIP file. This is the part that takes 24 to 48 hours on average.
Part 2: You Download and Process the Export
Once you receive the email, you download the ZIP file (which takes seconds to minutes since it is small) and then use an app like Memories Import to download your actual photos and videos through the links in the export. This second phase depends on your network speed and the number of memories, and typically takes between 5 minutes and an hour.
Expected Timelines by Account Size
The amount of data in your Snapchat account affects how long Snapchat takes to prepare your export. Here is what to expect based on account size.
Small Accounts (Under 500 Memories)
- Export preparation: 2 to 12 hours
- ZIP file download: Under 1 minute
- Processing with Memories Import: 2 to 10 minutes
- Total time: A few hours to half a day
Smaller accounts tend to be processed faster because there is less data to compile. Some users with only a few hundred memories report receiving their export email within a couple of hours of submitting the request.
Medium Accounts (500 to 2,000 Memories)
- Export preparation: 12 to 36 hours
- ZIP file download: Under 1 minute
- Processing with Memories Import: 10 to 30 minutes
- Total time: About 1 day
This is the most common account size range. Most users fall into this category and can expect their export within a day of requesting it.
Large Accounts (2,000 to 5,000 Memories)
- Export preparation: 24 to 48 hours
- ZIP file download: Under 2 minutes
- Processing with Memories Import: 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Total time: 1 to 2 days
Larger accounts push toward the full 48-hour window. The export itself is still a relatively small file, but Snapchat needs more time to generate download links for all the media.
Very Large Accounts (5,000+ Memories)
- Export preparation: 36 to 72 hours
- ZIP file download: Under 5 minutes
- Processing with Memories Import: 1 to 2 hours (can be paused and resumed)
- Total time: 2 to 3 days
Users with very large libraries accumulated over many years of Snapchat use should plan for the full 72-hour preparation window. Memories Import supports pausing and resuming, which is helpful for these larger imports since you do not need to keep your phone active for the entire duration.
Factors That Affect Export Speed
Several variables influence how quickly Snapchat processes your data request.
Number of Memories
This is the primary factor. More memories means more download links to generate and more metadata to compile. An account with 10,000 memories takes significantly longer to process than one with 100.
Server Load and Demand
Snapchat processes data export requests in a queue. During periods of high demand, such as when Snapchat announces storage policy changes or price increases, more users request exports simultaneously, which can create delays. There is no way to know the current queue length, but weekday requests during off-peak hours tend to process faster than weekend requests.
Account Age and Activity
Older accounts with years of chat history, snap exchanges, and story posts have more data to compile beyond just memories. Even if you only care about your photos, Snapchat exports everything, so extensive chat history and other activity adds to the processing time.
Account Complexity
Accounts with features like Snap Map location history, Spotlight submissions, community participation, and connected third-party apps have additional data sources that Snapchat needs to include. Each additional data category adds a small amount of processing time.
Time of Year
Export requests tend to spike around certain events: end-of-year social media cleanups, Snapchat pricing changes, data privacy awareness campaigns, and the beginning of new school or work terms when people migrate between platforms. If your export coincides with one of these spikes, expect delays at the longer end of the typical range.
What to Do While Waiting
Instead of just refreshing your email, use the waiting time productively to ensure you are ready to process your export the moment it arrives.
Download Memories Import
Get the app installed and ready to go before your export arrives. Download Memories Import for iOS or Memories Import for Android. Having the app ready means you can process your export immediately, which is important because the download links in your export expire after 7 days.
Free Up Phone Storage
Your Snapchat memories will need space on your camera roll before being synced to cloud services or transferred to a computer. Check your available storage and free up space if needed. A large Snapchat library with thousands of memories can use 10 to 30 GB or more of storage.
Set Up Your Destination
Decide where you want your memories to end up after importing to your camera roll:
- Enable iCloud Photos sync if you want them in iCloud
- Set up Google Photos backup if you prefer Google's ecosystem
- Prepare a folder on your computer if you plan to transfer via USB
- Check that your chosen destination has enough available storage
Check Your Email Settings
Snapchat sends the export notification to the email address associated with your account. Make sure:
- You have access to that email account
- You check your spam and junk folders (Snapchat emails sometimes get filtered)
- Email notifications are enabled on your phone so you do not miss it
What If Your Export Is Taking Too Long?
If you have been waiting significantly longer than expected, here are the steps to take.
After 48 Hours: Check Your Email
The most common issue is that the export email was delivered but ended up in your spam folder. Search your email for messages from Snapchat or containing "data" in the subject line. Also check the Promotions or Updates tab if you use Gmail.
After 72 Hours: Check accounts.snapchat.com
Log back into accounts.snapchat.com and navigate to "My Data." Sometimes the export is available for download directly through the website even if the email notification was not delivered. Look for a download link or a status indicator on the page.
After 72 Hours with No Export: Submit a New Request
If there is no sign of your export after 72 hours, submit a new data request. The previous request may have failed silently due to a server error. Starting fresh usually resolves the issue. Make sure you are logged into the correct Snapchat account and that your email address is up to date.
Persistent Issues: Contact Snapchat Support
If multiple export requests fail to produce results, contact Snapchat support through the app or at support.snapchat.com. Explain that you have submitted multiple data export requests and have not received the download link. Include details such as your username, the email address on your account, and when you submitted the requests.
The Complete Timeline at a Glance
Here is the entire process from start to finish for a typical user:
- Day 0: Submit data export request at accounts.snapchat.com
- Day 1-2: Receive email from Snapchat with download link
- Day 1-2 (same day): Download the ZIP file to your phone (seconds to minutes)
- Day 1-2 (same day): Open ZIP in Memories Import and start import (5-60 minutes)
- Day 1-2 (same day): Memories are in your camera roll with correct dates
- Day 2-3: Cloud sync completes if using iCloud or Google Photos (automatic, background)
For most users, the entire process from requesting the export to having all memories safely in their camera roll takes about 2 days, with most of that time being the wait for Snapchat to prepare the export. The actual hands-on work takes less than an hour.
Don't Wait Too Long After Receiving Your Export
Once you receive your export, the clock starts ticking. The download links embedded in your export ZIP file expire exactly 7 days after the export is generated, not 7 days after you download the ZIP. If you wait 5 days to download the ZIP and then try to process it, you only have 2 days of valid links remaining. The safest approach is to process your export on the same day you receive it.
If your links do expire, do not worry. You can always request a new export from Snapchat. The process takes another 24 to 48 hours, but you will get a fresh set of download links. See our guide on expired export links for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Snapchat take to prepare a data export?
Snapchat typically takes 24 to 48 hours to prepare your data export, though some users receive it in as little as a few hours. For very large accounts with thousands of memories, it can occasionally take up to 72 hours. Snapchat sends an email notification when your export is ready to download.
Why is my Snapchat data export taking so long?
Several factors can slow down your export: large account size with many memories, high demand periods when many users are requesting exports, server-side processing load, and the complexity of generating download links for all your media. If your export takes more than 72 hours, try submitting a new request.
Can I speed up my Snapchat data export?
Unfortunately, no. The export process is handled entirely by Snapchat's servers and there is no way to expedite it from the user side. However, you can prepare in advance by downloading the Memories Import app while you wait, so you can process the export immediately once it arrives.
What should I do if I never receive my Snapchat data export email?
First, check your spam and junk folders as the email sometimes lands there. Verify that the email address on your Snapchat account is correct and accessible. If you still have not received the email after 72 hours, log back into accounts.snapchat.com and check if the export is available for download directly. If not, submit a new request. As a last resort, contact Snapchat support.
Get ready while you wait for your export
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