How to Delete Snapchat Messages the Other Person Saved in 2023

Have you ever sent a Snapchat message only to instantly regret it? Maybe it was intended for someone else, too embarrassing, or you had second thoughts for some reason. Fortunately, Snapchat deletes messages automatically after they are viewed…or does it?

The reality is that your Snapchat contacts can actually save your messages without you knowing! So how do you delete Snapchats that someone else has already saved or screenshotted? Let‘s dig into the nitty gritty details.

Why You Might Want to Delete a Saved Snapchat Message

Before we get into the how, let‘s look at some examples of why you may need to remove a saved Snapchat message:

• Accidental sends – We‘ve all tapped the wrong name by mistake. Delete these to avoid confusion.
• Embarrassing content – Some jokes, reactions, or oversharing was meant just for the moment.
• Relationship breakdowns – Old messages with ex-partners can be problematic during new relationships or breakups.
• Privacy concerns – Messages meant to be private could be leaked or shared by others inappropriately.
• Second thoughts – Sometimes we have regrets about inappropriate, risky, or vulgar messages sent in the heat of the moment.
• Delicate situations – Messages around mental health, medical issues, or other life situations may no longer be appropriate to keep around.

According to Snapchat statistics, over 5 billion snaps are created every single day. With such high usage, many of these end up being regrettable messages that the sender wishes they could take back.

But is it actually possible to erase messages on someone else‘s saved Snapchats? Let‘s dig into how Snapchat message deletion really works…

How Your Contacts Can Save Snapchat Messages Without You Knowing

The key to understand is that while Snapchat deletes messages from their servers after they are viewed, the recipient has ways to save these messages without detection:

• Manual screenshots – Anyone can take screenshots on their phone before Snapchat messages disappear.
• Snapchat Memories – Users can save messages directly in their Snapchat Memories for later viewing.
• Third-party apps – Numerous apps allow covert saving of Snapchat messages and images. Some examples include:
  • SaveSnap
  • SnapCrack
  • Snapbox
  • SnapX (iOS only)
  • Casper (iOS only)

According to a 2021 poll, 78% of surveyed Snapchat users admitted to manually screenshotting snaps they wanted to save. Meanwhile, at least 10 million users have third-party apps installed for saving Snapchats based on download data.

So while Snapchat itself deletes messages, users have plenty of ways to work around this without detection. Now let‘s look at how to try removing messages that have already been saved elsewhere.

Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting Saved Snapchat Messages

Unfortunately there is no way within Snapchat itself to directly delete messages saved by someone else. However, you do have several options that may work:

Step 1: Unsave the Message on Your End

Open your Snapchat conversation and press and hold on the message you want to delete. A menu appears – tap "Unsave" so it is no longer saved on your end.

Note this does NOT delete the message if the recipient saved it. But it will allow you to delete the message in the next step.

Step 2: Delete the Message from Your Chat

After unsaving, press and hold the message again. This time select "Delete" to remove from your chat history.

Snapchat will warn that deleting does not guarantee it will disappear from other locations. Tap "Learn more" then "Okay" to confirm.

Step 3: Ask the Recipient to Delete

Since your deletion only affects your chat history, request that the recipient delete the message from their saved Snapchats.

There is no way to force them to delete if they choose not to. But if they agree, the message will be fully removed.

Step 4: Block the User if Needed

If asking nicely doesn‘t work, you can block the user entirely. This erases your chat history and prevents them from contacting you again.

To block someone, tap the three dots on their profile and select "Block." Confirm again that you want to block them.

Step 5: Report Abuse of Saved Messages

If the other person threatens to share or misuse your private saved messages, report them to Snapchat.

Go to their profile, tap the three dots, select "Report" and explain the problem. Snapchat may ban them.

Step 6: Deactivate Your Account

The last resort is to simply delete your Snapchat account. This will erase all of your Snapchat data.

Keep in mind Snapchat puts your account in a 30 day deactivated state before permanent deletion. You can still reactivate it during this time.

Deleting your account means the other person can no longer view any unopened snaps or stories from you. But it also means losing your own Snapchat account and memories. Only use this method as a last option in extreme cases.

Why You May Be Unable to Delete Saved Messages

Sometimes the delete option may not work as intended. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Check your internet connection is working properly. Deleting requires an internet connection.
• Make sure you have the latest version of Snapchat installed. Older versions may not support delete.
• Try force quitting the Snapchat app and restarting your phone to clear any glitches.
• In rare cases, Snapchat may restrict deleting very old messages. Not much you can do here.
• Saved messages are under the recipients‘ control. You need their cooperation to delete.

What Actually Happens When a Snapchat is Deleted?

Here is a peek behind the curtain at what technically happens when a Snapchat message is deleted:

• Snapchat removes the message from their servers so it can no longer be downloaded again.
• The message is erased from both the sender‘s and recipient‘s conversation history.
• Any devices that have not saved the message will lose access once deleted.
• An indicator shows in the chat that a message was deleted.
• Devices with connectivity issues may not get the deletion update. The message may persist on these devices.
• Manually saved, screenshotted, or backed up copies of the message will remain unaffected.

So in summary, Snapchat deletes server copies and live versions of messages. But anything already saved by users will not be affected.

Can Others See if You Delete Snapchat Messages?

Yes, anyone in a Snapchat conversation will be notified if a message is deleted. When you delete a message, the other users see an indicator that something was removed from the chat.

Snapchat introduced this change a few years ago to increase transparency around deleting messages. Some users may find it annoying, but Snapchat wants to prevent sketchy behavior like:

• Deleting evidence of illicit, dangerous, or abusive activity.
• Hiding affairs, harassment, bullying, or other concerning relationships.
• Removing messages without another user‘s consent after they were intended to be permanent.

The notification of deletion acts as an accountability mechanism. Of course, it still doesn‘t prevent saved copies from continuing to exist. But at least it leaves a paper trail that something is being hidden.

Overall it promotes more ethical usage of Snapchat‘s delete feature.

Can Snapchat Messages Really Be Recovered After Deletion?

No system is foolproof. Deleted Snapchat messages could potentially resurface in certain scenarios:

• Manual saves – As discussed earlier, a user can manually screenshot or backup a message before deletion.
• 3rd party apps – Apps can secretly record Snapchats without detection. These copies remain after deletion.
• Device glitches – Under poor connections, the deletion doesn‘t properly sync across devices.
• Snapchat backups – Snapchat keeps limited backups that may retain some deleted data temporarily.
• Forensic recovery – It may be possible to forensically restore deleted Snapchats in some cases, with varying success rates.

The bottom line is there are no guarantees! You should be very cautious about sending inappropriate messages in the first place. Always assume they could potentially come back to haunt you later on.

Ethical Usage of Snapchat‘s Delete Feature

While deleting Snapchats seems convenient, there are ethical lines you should not cross:

💔️ Do not delete evidence – Never delete messages that reveal illegal, dangerous, or abusive situations you were involved in. Face the consequences instead of hiding the truth.

💔️ Avoid secret affairs – It‘s wrong to delete messages solely to hide cheating, harassment, stalking, or other inappropriate relationships.

💔️ Respect privacy – Only delete very personal content that you alone created and have a right to remove. Do not delete anything meant to be kept private by someone else.

💔️ Ask consent – If possible, inform the other person before deleting shared messages and get their approval.

💔️ Consider consequences – Reflect carefully on the implications before deleting any message to avoid confusion, misunderstandings, or covering up the truth later on.

In summary, avoid using Snapchat‘s delete feature as a tool for deception, wrongdoing, or personal gain at someone else‘s expense. Always think twice before hitting delete!

Putting It All Together

Snapchat may seem like the perfect app for ephemeral messaging. But the reality is your messages could come back to haunt you long after being "deleted".

To recap, here is a quick overview of what we learned:

• Snapchat deletes messages from their servers after being viewed – but users can save Snapchats without detection.
• You can only delete messages from your own chat history – not from someone else‘s saved Snaps.
• Ask the recipient nicely to delete, block them if needed, report them for misuse, or delete your account entirely as last resort options.
• However, any manual screenshots, third party backups, or glitches could mean deleted Snapchats reappear later.
• Always use Snapchat‘s delete feature ethically and with extreme caution about permanent deletion.

The bottom line: Think carefully about anything you send over social media in the first place! With the right mindset and practices, you can avoid most situations where you need to desperately delete Snapchat messages.

I hope these tips give you a bit more peace of mind next time you use Snapchat. But when in doubt, remember that no delete button can ever guarantee a message is gone forever!