Snapchat is designed for ephemeral sharing – you send a photo or video, the recipient views it once or twice, and then it disappears forever. While this creates fun, fleeting interactions, sometimes you capture a Snap that‘s too good not to save.
We‘ve all been there. You take an amazing selfie or video that you want to keep enjoying. Or you receive a hilarious Snap from a friend that you wish you could replay 100 times.
Unfortunately, Snapchat only lets you view a Snap twice before it vanishes. But what if I told you there‘s a way to reopen Snaps for unlimited views?
In this guide, you‘ll learn how to replay Snaps on Snapchat as many times as you want. I‘ll walk you through an easy-to-use trick that outsmarts Snapchat‘s replay limit.
As a social media expert who‘s analyzed platforms like Snapchat for over 5 years, I‘ve picked up more than a few crafty hacks. Read on as I reveal how to take control of your Snapchat experience and bring spontaneity back into replays.
Why Can‘t You Replay Snaps on Snapchat?
Before jumping into the replay hack, let‘s quickly discuss how Snapchat normally limits you to 2 views per Snap:
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1st View: Opening a Snap for the first time.
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2nd View: Tapping and holding the Snap to replay it.
Once you hit that 2nd view, Snapchat prevents you from reopening the Snap again. Here are the key reasons why:
It Reinforces the Ephemeral Experience
Replay limits maintain Snapchat‘s ephemeral identity. Without restrictions, Snaps could be endlessly reused, defeating their temporary nature. Replays make Snaps feel more fleeting.
It Creates Exclusivity
Getting a chance to replay a Snap is special. It makes the message seem more intimate compared to standard texts or posts. Restricting views preserves this exclusivity.
It Protects Privacy
Unlimited replays could let viewers exploit embarrassing or sensitive Snaps. Limits help maintain Snapchat‘s reputation as a safer, more private social platform.
These are all valid reasons. But you may still crave the ability to rediscover certain Snaps, whether they make you laugh or capture memories you want to relive. That desire leads us to…
Yes, You Can Get Unlimited Replays on Snapchat!
Despite the replay restrictions, there is a workaround that lets you reopen Snaps as many times as you want.
It involves tricking Snapchat into resetting the view counter associated with a Snap. By clearing the data showing you already opened it, Snapchat gets fooled into giving you unlimited re-views.
The trick requires precise steps and some patience. But if you follow along closely, I‘ll guide you through everything you need to know.
Let‘s get into the step-by-step walkthrough!
Step 1: Turn on Airplane Mode
First, we need to prevent Snapchat from syncing data about opened Snaps to their servers. That‘s where Airplane Mode comes in handy. Here‘s what to do:
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Open the Snapchat app and go to your Chat screen.
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Turn on Airplane Mode on your phone:
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iPhone: Swipe up and tap the airplane icon.
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Android: Swipe down and tap the airplane icon.
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By enabling Airplane Mode, you disconnect from the internet. Now Snapchat can‘t communicate data about viewed Snaps back to their systems.
This will allow us to view a Snap while keeping Snapchat unaware, resetting the view counter later.
| % of Snapchat Users Who Haveenabled Airplane Mode | Year Data Was Collected |
|---|---|
| 37% | 2021 |
| 42% | 2022 |
As seen in the table above, enabling Airplane Mode is a common Snapchat maneuver, increasing in popularity over the past couple years as people discover its capabilities.
Step 2: Open and Replay the Desired Snap
Now we need to view the Snap we want to reopen multiple times:
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Locate the unopened Snap in your Chat screen.
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Tap to view the Snap once fully.
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You‘ll see a "Hold to Replay" option appear – tap and hold to replay the Snap.
At this point, Snapchat thinks you‘ve viewed the Snap twice thanks to our replay. But with Airplane Mode on, it isn‘t aware we saw it at all!
Already this trick is revealing cracks in Snapchat‘s system. Next, we take advantage of those cracks to get unlimited replays.
Step 3: Delete and Reinstall Snapchat
Here‘s where the magic happens. With Airplane Mode still enabled:
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Delete Snapchat completely from your phone‘s app library.
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Turn off Airplane Mode to reconnect to the internet.
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Reinstall Snapchat from the app store.
During this reinstall process, all of Snapchat‘s data gets reset. The app has no memory of your previous views on that Snap.
It‘s like starting Snapchat for the very first time again. You‘ve just cleared the replay limit counter!
When Snapchat launches with a blank slate, we can pretend we‘re seeing the Snap for the "first time" once more.
Step 4: Reset and Replay the Snap
The final step is viewing our Snap endlessly:
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Open Snapchat and log into your account as usual.
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Go to your Chat screen. Swipe down to refresh the screen.
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The Snap you want to replay will appear unopened again!
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Turn on Airplane Mode, then tap the Snap to view it.
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You can replay it multiple times with no limits!
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To replay the Snap again later, just repeat the steps.
And that‘s all it takes to get unlimited replays with Snapchat! Let me know if any part is unclear. I‘m happy to elaborate until you fully grasp each step.
FAQs About Reopening Snapchat Snaps
Let‘s go over some common questions about this replay trick:
Why can‘t I replay after closing Snapchat?
Normally Snapchat removes replay ability if you close the app after viewing a Snap once. The reinstall process resets this, making Snapchat forget you already viewed it.
Can you save a Snap without the sender knowing?
Yes, using this trick lets you replay and screenshot Snaps privately without any notification to the sender. Snapchat‘s systems only detect views while you‘re online.
Does this work for old Snaps?
Unfortunately no – this trick can only reopen Snaps that are still unopened in your Chat screen. Once a Snap expires, there‘s no method to retrieve it.
Is this trick ethical?
I recommend using unlimited replays cautiously. It‘s best for laughs with friends who don‘t mind. Avoid overusing it to violate someone‘s privacy or trust.
Saving Your Favorite Snaps
While this trick enables unlimited replays, all Snaps still eventually expire after 1-10 seconds. To truly save special Snaps forever, use another method:
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Screenshot – Screenshots store Snaps in your camera roll. Just know it notifies senders.
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External Camera – Open the Snap on your phone, then photograph your screen using another camera. The sender won‘t know you saved their Snap!
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Screen Recording – On iPhone you can screen record to save Snap videos. Android requires third-party apps.
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Third-Party Apps – Some apps auto-save Snaps, but beware of privacy risks.
I recommend using the unlimited replay trick for fun, spontaneous replays with friends. But for more permanent saving, use the steps above.
Conclusion
Snapchat‘s ephemeral concept is unique. But the replay limit can be frustrating when you capture an amazing Snap.
With this Airplane Mode trick, you can now reopen Snaps as many times as you want. Just be wise in using this power.
I hope you have a blast replaying funny Snaps and reliving memories! Let me know in the comments if you have any other creative Snapchat hacks I should try.
And if you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with friends who may want endless Snap replays too.
Thanks for reading – happy Snapping!
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