Web desk: Snapchat is changing the way users store their photos and videos, announcing that its popular Memories feature will soon come with limits.
The company confirmed that users who have saved more than 5GB of content will need to upgrade to a paid plan to keep their archives intact.
Since launching Memories in 2016, Snapchat has allowed users to save Snaps that would otherwise disappear after 24 hours.
Over the years, this has turned into a massive digital library, with the platform reporting that more than 1 trillion Memories have been saved worldwide.
But now, Snap says the free ride is over. In a statement, the company acknowledged that “it’s never easy to transition from receiving a service for free to paying for it,” but argued the new paid tiers will be “worth the cost” and help improve the feature for the community.
New Snapchat Storage Plans
Under the new system, users will get up to 5GB of free storage. Beyond that, they’ll need to subscribe to one of Snapchat’s storage plans:
- 100GB for $1.99/month
- 250GB for $3.99/month (Snapchat+ subscribers)
- 5TB for $15.99/month (Snapchat Platinum)
Snap also noted that users who go over the free limit will have 12 months of temporary storage to either subscribe or back up their Snaps elsewhere.
How to Save Snapchat Memories Before the Change
For those who don’t want to pay, Snapchat is offering ways to download Memories:
- Open the app, tap the photo icon, and access Memories.
- Press and hold the Snap(s) you want to save, then select Export.
- Choose a location on your device to download the files.
Users can also export all their Snapchat data by going to Settings > My Data, selecting a date range, and submitting a request.
Once ready, Snapchat will email a link to download a file containing their Memories.
The update marks a significant shift in how Snapchat manages one of its most popular features, pushing users toward premium plans while giving them options to preserve their digital history.
