Is it encrypted? Secria

Is Snapchat encrypted?

Partly. Snap's engineers said in 2019 that Snaps, the photos and videos you send to one friend, are end-to-end encrypted, but Snap's current pages don't repeat that. Snap doesn't say text chats, groups or calls are sealed, and Memories are sealed only in My Eyes Only.

Checked on 25 October 2026 against 9 sources.

Made by Secria. We grade every app by the same rules. How we check

SnapchatSnap
Who can read itPersonal accounts
  • MessagesPartlySnap's engineers said in 2019, and NBC News reported in 2024, that photo and video Snaps sent to one friend are end-to-end encrypted; Snap's current pages don't say so, and text chats aren't covered, as of 25 October 2026.1, 2, 3
  • Group chatsSnap can read itSnap has not said group chats or Snaps sent to groups are end-to-end encrypted, as of 25 October 2026.1, 2
  • CallsSnap can read itSnap says it doesn't scan calls to personalise the app or show ads, but it doesn't say calls are end-to-end encrypted, as of 25 October 2026.1
  • BackupsSnap can read itChats and Snaps you save in a conversation are kept on Snap's servers, where Snap can hand them over in response to a search warrant.7, 9
  • Post-quantumNot yetNo post-quantum protection announced as of 25 October 2026.
  • MemoriesOnly you, once you turn it onMemories are backed up on Snap's servers, where Snap labels what's in them, unless you move them to My Eyes Only, which Snap can't open.1, 5, 9Turn it on
Who holds the keys
Snap says only you can unlock My Eyes Only, and its engineers said in 2019 that one-to-one Snaps use keys only your devices hold; Snap doesn't say you hold the keys for anything else.
What Snap can still see
Who you Snap and chat with and when, which Snap uses for features like Best Friends and Streaks and mostly deletes after 30 days, plus anything saved on its servers outside My Eyes Only.
Checked on 25 Oct 2026SourcesJSONCite

Lock private Memories in My Eyes Only

  1. Swipe up from the Camera screen to open Memories.
  2. Press and hold a Snap, then tap More › Hide Snap (My Eyes Only). On Android, tap Hide.
  3. Tap Quick Setup and choose a passcode, or tap Use Passphrase for a longer one.
  4. On iPhone, you can lock every new save: Settings › Memories › Save to My Eyes Only by Default.

Takes about a minute. If you forget the passcode, nobody can open those Snaps again, Snap included. Snap's help page says only photos and videos shorter than 10 seconds can be moved there.

Email is worth checking next: Gmail, Outlook and iCloud Mail can all read your mailbox. See which email services can.

Are Snapchat messages end-to-end encrypted?

Only partly, as far as Snap has said. Snap's engineers said in 2019 that Snaps, the photos and videos you send to one friend, had been end-to-end encrypted since January 2018, and that they wanted to do the same for text and group chats2. In that design Snap's servers hand out each person's keys, and the engineers said there was not yet a way to check them2. NBC News reported in January 2024 that one-to-one photo messages were encrypted3.

Snap's current help, privacy and law enforcement pages don't say that Snaps, text chats, group chats or calls are end-to-end encrypted, as of 25 October 2026. The only thing they describe as locked away from Snap is My Eyes Only1, 9.

Can Snapchat see my Snaps and chats?

Snap says it doesn't scan Snaps and chats to personalise the app or show ads, and only looks at them in limited safety cases, for example when someone reports a message1. Snap's chief executive told the US Senate in 2024 that Snap scans image and video uploads for known child abuse imagery, and doesn't plan encryption that would stop that4.

Snap's servers are designed to delete Snaps once everyone has opened them, and chats 24 hours after they're viewed, by default6. Anything you save in a chat stays on Snap's servers7. Snap keeps records of who you Snap and chat with and when, and deletes most of them after 30 days8.

Is Snapchat My Eyes Only encrypted?

Yes. Snap says Snaps in My Eyes Only are encrypted and locked with a passcode you choose, and that without it nobody can view them, Snap included1, 9. If you forget the passcode, Snap can't recover those Snaps5.

The rest of Memories is backed up on Snap's servers, where Snap adds labels based on what's in your pictures1.

How Snapchat compares

Sorted by how many parts are sealed by default, then by how many can be. Ties go A to Z.

SignalYesiMessageYesWhatsAppYesMessengerPartlyTelegramOptionalDiscordPartlyGoogle MessagesPartlyXOptionalSnapchatPartlyInstagramNoText messages (SMS)NoTikTokNo

Sources

  1. Privacy by Product, Snap. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  2. Catch Me if You Can: An Account Based End-to-end Encryption for 1/1 Snaps (Real World Crypto 2019), Snap engineers, IACR Real World Crypto. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  3. Tech CEOs expected to endorse legislation and preview policy decisions at Senate child safety hearing (30 January 2024), NBC News. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  4. Written Senate Congressional Testimony of Evan Spiegel (31 January 2024), Snap. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  5. How does My Eyes Only work?, Snapchat Support. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  6. When does Snapchat delete Snaps and Chats?, Snapchat Support. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  7. When I save a Snap in Chat, where is it stored?, Snapchat Support. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  8. About Snap and Chat Metadata, Snapchat Support. Read on 25 Oct 2026.
  9. Snapchat Law Enforcement Guide (updated 19 August 2026), Snap. Read on 25 Oct 2026.

Changes to this answer

  • First published.

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