This article explains how to share photos and videos on Snapchat on iOS and Android devices.

What to Know

  • From the camera tab, tap Memories icon (the overlapping photos) under the Camera button, then tap Camera Roll.To edit photo or video, tap three dots > select Edit Photo (iOS) or Edit Snap (Android).Save the photo or video to your Snapchat Memories, send it to a friend, or post it as a Snapchat story.

How to Access Snapchat Memories

Snapchat Memories allows you to both save snaps you take through the Snapchat app and upload existing photos/videos from your device. Here’s how to easily access the Memories feature in Snapchat:

  • Open the Snapchat app and navigate to the camera tab (if you’re not on it already) by swiping left or right through the tabs.
  • Tap the small double image icon displayed directly beneath the Camera button.

A new tab labeled Memories will slide up from the bottom of the screen showing a grid of snaps if you saved any. If you didn’t save any yet, this tab will be blank. 

Open the Snapchat app and navigate to the camera tab (if you’re not on it already) by swiping left or right through the tabs.

Tap the small double image icon displayed directly beneath the Camera button.

How to Start Uploading Your Photos and Videos

To upload something from your device, you have to use the Memories feature. You can make edits to images in the SnapChat app. If you’re sending a video, you can trim it within Snapchat, disable sound, add text, and draw over it before you send it.

  • In Memories you should see three tab: Snaps, Camera Roll and My Eyes Only. (If you haven’t set it up, you won’t see My Eyes Only.) Tap Camera Roll to switch to the correct tab.
  • Items in Camera Roll are the images and videos that are on your phone. To back up items to Snapchat, set up My Eyes Only. Select the snaps you want to make private, tap the lock icon at the bottom of the screen, and follow the onscreen prompts.
  • You might have to allow Snapchat to access your device’s photos first. If you haven’t done this yet, a popup should appear asking for your permission. Tap OK to proceed.
  • Select a photo or video to send as a message to friends or post as a story.
  • Tap the menu in the upper right corner represented by three dots.
  • Choose Edit Photo (iOS) or Edit Snap (Android).
  • Make optional edits to your photo or video using the tools that appear for text, emoji, drawings, filters or cut-and-paste edits.
  • You won’t be able to apply filters with Bitmoji or animations since the photo or video was taken outside of the Snapchat app. You should, however, be able to at least use one of the many tinted filters.
  • When you’re finished making edits, tap Done and then optionally save the image using the prompts that appear.
  • You don’t have to save the edited image to send it. If you want to send without saving, tap the send button to send your uploaded snap to friends as a message or to post it as a story.

Snapchat’s Formatting of Uploaded Photos and Videos

You might notice that some of the photos and videos you decide to upload to Snapchat look different than the ones you take directly through the app. For example, some may appear cropped with black edges all around them while others might be zoomed in with the outer edges cut off. Snapchat will do its best to make your photo or video look good enough to send, but because it wasn’t taken directly through the app, it won’t necessarily look perfect.

In Memories you should see three tab: Snaps, Camera Roll and My Eyes Only. (If you haven’t set it up, you won’t see My Eyes Only.) Tap Camera Roll to switch to the correct tab.

Items in Camera Roll are the images and videos that are on your phone. To back up items to Snapchat, set up My Eyes Only. Select the snaps you want to make private, tap the lock icon at the bottom of the screen, and follow the onscreen prompts.

You might have to allow Snapchat to access your device’s photos first. If you haven’t done this yet, a popup should appear asking for your permission. Tap OK to proceed.

Select a photo or video to send as a message to friends or post as a story.

Tap the menu in the upper right corner represented by three dots.

Choose Edit Photo (iOS) or Edit Snap (Android).

Make optional edits to your photo or video using the tools that appear for text, emoji, drawings, filters or cut-and-paste edits.

You won’t be able to apply filters with Bitmoji or animations since the photo or video was taken outside of the Snapchat app. You should, however, be able to at least use one of the many tinted filters.

When you’re finished making edits, tap Done and then optionally save the image using the prompts that appear.

You don’t have to save the edited image to send it. If you want to send without saving, tap the send button to send your uploaded snap to friends as a message or to post it as a story.

Third-Party Workaround Apps Blocked

Before the Memories feature was introduced, there used to be several apps available from third-party developers that claimed to help Snapchat users upload photos or videos to Snapchat. Snapchat has since banned third-party apps, stating that it’s a violation of Snapchat’s Terms of Use.

  • How do I reverse a video on Snapchat?
  • To reverse a video on Snapchat, record a new video snap, and then swipe left on the preview video > tap three reverse arrows («<).
  • How do I slow down a video on Snapchat?
  • To slow down a video on Snapchat, shoot a video or select one from your camera roll and tap Edit. Then swipe and tap the snail icon to apply the slow effect.
  • How do I save a video on Snapchat?
  • To save Snapchat videos, record your video as usual and tap the down arrow. You’ll see a Saved message when your video is successfully saved.

To reverse a video on Snapchat, record a new video snap, and then swipe left on the preview video > tap three reverse arrows («<).

To slow down a video on Snapchat, shoot a video or select one from your camera roll and tap Edit. Then swipe and tap the snail icon to apply the slow effect.

To save Snapchat videos, record your video as usual and tap the down arrow. You’ll see a Saved message when your video is successfully saved.

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