Snapchat, the ephemeral messaging giant, thrives on spontaneity and in-the-moment sharing. However, sometimes you capture a moment so perfectly that you want to share it again, or you want to share a memory with someone new. This leads to the question: How can you send a saved Snap as a Snap? While Snapchat doesn’t offer a straightforward “resend” button for saved Snaps, there are several workarounds to achieve a similar effect. This guide will explore various methods, their nuances, and the best practices for sharing your cherished memories.
Understanding Snapchat’s Saving Mechanisms
Before diving into the methods, it’s crucial to understand where Snaps are saved and how Snapchat handles them. This knowledge will help you choose the most appropriate method for your situation.
Snapchat Memories: Your Personal Archive
Snapchat Memories is a built-in feature that allows you to save Snaps and Stories directly within the Snapchat app. These Snaps are stored on Snapchat’s servers and can be accessed from any device where you’re logged in. This offers a convenient way to back up your content and revisit past moments.
Camera Roll: Saving Snaps to Your Device
You can also save Snaps directly to your phone’s camera roll. This creates a local copy of the Snap, allowing you to access it even without an internet connection or if you decide to delete it from Snapchat Memories. However, Snaps saved to your camera roll are subject to your device’s storage limitations.
Snapchat Chat: Saving Snaps within Conversations
Snaps sent or received in chats can also be saved. When you or your friend saves a Snap within a chat, it remains visible in the conversation until you or your friend unsaves it. This provides a persistent record of important moments shared between you and another person.
Methods to Share Saved Snaps as Snaps
Now, let’s explore the different ways you can share a saved Snap as a new Snap. Each method has its pros and cons, so consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing one.
Method 1: Screenshots and Screen Recordings
The simplest, albeit potentially lower quality, method is to take a screenshot or screen recording of the saved Snap and then send the screenshot/recording as a new Snap.
Taking a Screenshot of a Saved Snap
- Navigate to the saved Snap in Snapchat Memories, your Camera Roll, or a Chat.
- Take a screenshot of the Snap using your phone’s built-in screenshot functionality. The method varies depending on your device (e.g., pressing the power and volume down buttons simultaneously on Android, or the side button and volume up button on iPhones).
- Open Snapchat and create a new Snap.
- Tap the photo icon to access your Camera Roll.
- Select the screenshot you just took.
- Add any desired captions, filters, or drawings.
- Send the Snap to your chosen recipients.
Taking a Screen Recording of a Saved Snap
- Navigate to the saved Snap, particularly useful if it’s a video.
- Start a screen recording using your phone’s built-in screen recording feature (available on most modern smartphones).
- Play the Snap.
- Stop the screen recording after the Snap has finished playing.
- Open Snapchat and create a new Snap.
- Tap the photo icon to access your Camera Roll.
- Select the screen recording you just made.
- Trim the recording as needed.
- Add any desired captions, filters, or drawings.
- Send the Snap to your chosen recipients.
Pros of Screenshots/Screen Recordings: Simple, universally applicable, works with both photos and videos.
Cons of Screenshots/Screen Recordings: May result in lower image/video quality, Snapchat may notify the original sender that you screenshotted/screen recorded the Snap (depending on the original Snap’s settings).
Method 2: Using the Camera Roll Feature
Snapchat allows you to directly upload photos and videos from your camera roll as Snaps. This is a slightly more direct approach than screenshots, preserving (or at least minimizing the loss of) the original image quality.
- Ensure the saved Snap is in your phone’s Camera Roll. If it’s only in Snapchat Memories, you’ll need to download it to your Camera Roll first.
- Open Snapchat and create a new Snap.
- Tap the photo icon to access your Camera Roll.
- Select the saved Snap from your Camera Roll.
- Add any desired captions, filters, or drawings. Consider adding a sticker or text that indicates it is an older snap or a throwback to prevent confusion.
- Send the Snap to your chosen recipients.
Pros of Using the Camera Roll Feature: Relatively straightforward, maintains better image/video quality compared to screenshots.
Cons of Using the Camera Roll Feature: Requires the Snap to be saved to your Camera Roll, may not be ideal for Snaps with interactive elements.
Method 3: The “Custom Sticker” Method (For Photos)
This method is a bit more creative and works best with still photos. It involves turning the saved Snap into a custom sticker that you can then add to a new Snap.
- Save the Snap you want to resend to your Camera Roll.
- Open Snapchat and start creating a new Snap (take a photo or video).
- Tap the sticker icon in the top menu.
- Tap the scissors icon to create a custom sticker.
- Select the saved Snap from your Camera Roll.
- Outline the portion of the Snap you want to turn into a sticker. You can be precise or just select the entire image.
- Tap “Done” to create the sticker.
- The sticker will now be available for you to place on your new Snap. You can resize it, rotate it, and move it around.
- Add any other desired elements to your Snap.
- Send the Snap to your chosen recipients.
Pros of the Custom Sticker Method: Creative, allows you to incorporate a saved Snap into a new context, good image quality.
Cons of the Custom Sticker Method: Primarily for photos, requires more steps, might not be suitable for all types of Snaps.
Method 4: Using Third-Party Apps (Use with Caution)
While there are third-party apps that claim to allow you to directly resend saved Snaps, it’s generally not recommended to use them. These apps often require you to grant them access to your Snapchat account, which can compromise your security and privacy. Snapchat’s terms of service also prohibit the use of unauthorized third-party apps, which could lead to your account being banned. If you must use one, thoroughly research the app, read reviews, and understand the risks involved before granting any permissions.
Pros of Using Third-Party Apps: Potentially offers a more direct resending functionality (but very risky).
Cons of Using Third-Party Apps: Significant security and privacy risks, potential for account ban, often unreliable.
Best Practices for Resending Saved Snaps
Regardless of the method you choose, here are some best practices to keep in mind when resending saved Snaps:
- Be transparent: Let your recipients know that the Snap is a throwback or a memory. This avoids confusion and manages expectations. A simple caption like “Throwback to last week!” or “Remember this?” can be effective.
- Respect privacy: Before resending a Snap that includes other people, consider whether they would be comfortable with you sharing it again. Get their permission if necessary.
- Consider the context: Think about the context in which the original Snap was taken and whether it’s still relevant or appropriate to share now.
- Edit and enhance: Take advantage of Snapchat’s editing tools to add new captions, filters, or drawings to the resend Snap. This can make it feel fresh and engaging.
- Choose the right method: Select the method that best suits the type of Snap you’re resending and your desired level of quality. For high-quality photos, using the Camera Roll feature is generally preferable to screenshots.
- Be mindful of notifications: Be aware that Snapchat may notify the original sender if you take a screenshot or screen recording of their Snap (depending on their settings).
- Maintain original aspect ratio: When cropping a Snap, try to maintain its original aspect ratio to prevent it from looking distorted.
- Trim videos: If you’re resending a video, trim it to remove any unnecessary footage at the beginning or end.
- Add relevant stickers: Use stickers to add context or humor to your resend Snap.
- Use filters appropriately: Choose filters that enhance the Snap without distorting it or making it look unnatural.
- Check your internet connection: A stable internet connection is essential for sending Snaps smoothly.
Conclusion
While Snapchat doesn’t offer a direct “resend” button for saved Snaps, there are several effective workarounds you can use. Whether you opt for a simple screenshot, a Camera Roll upload, or the creative custom sticker method, understanding the nuances of each approach will help you share your cherished memories in the best possible way. Remember to prioritize transparency, respect privacy, and consider the context when resending saved Snaps. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your reshares are well-received and enhance your Snapchat experience. The goal is to share memories, not create confusion or compromise security. Avoid third-party apps unless you are absolutely sure they are safe and understand the risks involved.
Can I send a Snap saved in my Memories as a regular Snap?
Yes, you can absolutely send a Snap saved in your Memories as a regular Snap to your friends. This allows you to repurpose content you’ve already created and share it in real-time, appearing as though it was just taken. The process is straightforward and involves navigating your Memories within the Snapchat app.
To send a saved Snap, simply open Snapchat, navigate to your Memories, select the Snap you want to send, tap the three dots, and choose the “Send Snap” option. From there, you can add filters, text, or drawings just as you would with a freshly taken Snap, and then select the friends you want to send it to.
Will the recipient know if a Snap was taken from Memories?
Snapchat typically doesn’t explicitly notify the recipient that a Snap was taken from Memories. The Snap will appear like any other Snap sent directly. However, depending on the age of the Snap and any surrounding context, the recipient might be able to infer that it’s not a recent photo or video.
Keep in mind that if you significantly alter the Snap by adding old date stamps or captions referencing a past event, it might be obvious it’s from Memories. The best way to avoid any confusion is to simply treat the Snap like a fresh one and tailor your message accordingly.
Are there limitations to what kind of Snaps I can send from Memories?
While you can send most Snaps from Memories, there are some limitations. Snaps that were originally part of a Story or contained special lenses or filters that are no longer available might not appear exactly the same when sent as a regular Snap. Some interactive elements, like polls or quizzes, may also not function.
Additionally, very old Snaps might have compatibility issues depending on changes to the Snapchat app over time. It’s always a good idea to review the Snap before sending to ensure it looks and functions as expected. If you encounter issues, you may need to recreate the Snap or use a different image or video.
How can I edit a Snap before sending it from Memories?
Before sending a Snap from Memories, you have the opportunity to edit it just like a newly captured Snap. Once you’ve selected the Snap you want to send, Snapchat opens it in editing mode. You can add filters, text, stickers, drawings, and even change the timer before sending it.
Take advantage of these editing tools to personalize the Snap for the specific recipient or update it with current information. This is especially useful if the original Snap was created a while ago and needs a refresh to make it relevant for the current conversation.
Can I send multiple saved Snaps at once as regular Snaps?
Unfortunately, Snapchat doesn’t offer a direct feature to send multiple saved Snaps as individual regular Snaps in one go. You need to select and send each Snap individually. There’s no “select all” option for sending from Memories as regular Snaps.
However, you could potentially create a Story with multiple Snaps from your Memories and then direct your friends to view your Story. While not exactly the same as sending individual Snaps, it achieves a similar goal of sharing multiple moments at once.
What happens to the original Snap in Memories after I send it?
Sending a Snap from Memories does not delete or alter the original Snap stored in your Memories. The original Snap remains untouched, so you can send it multiple times to different friends or use it for other purposes without affecting the source file.
Think of it as creating a copy of the Snap and sending that copy. The original remains safely stored in your Memories for future use or simply as a reminder of past experiences. This allows you to share your memories without worrying about permanently modifying or losing them.
Is there a way to schedule a Snap to be sent from Memories at a later time?
While Snapchat does not have a built-in scheduling feature for sending Snaps from Memories at a specific time in the future, there are third-party apps that claim to offer this functionality. However, using such apps can be risky as they may violate Snapchat’s terms of service and compromise your account’s security.
It is generally recommended to avoid using unauthorized third-party apps. If you want to send a Snap from Memories at a later time, consider setting a reminder for yourself to manually send the Snap at the desired time. This ensures you’re not putting your account at risk by using unverified apps.