What happens when you delete a chat on Snapchat?

Answered by John Hunt

When you delete a chat on Snapchat, the process and outcome depend on the timing of the deletion. Let me explain in detail what happens in different scenarios.

1. Deleting a message before it is read: If you delete a message before the recipient has a chance to read it, the message will be completely removed from both your chat history and the recipient’s chat history. This means that the recipient will never see the message, and it will be as if it never existed.

2. Deleting a message after it is read: If you delete a message after the recipient has already seen it, both you and the recipient will see a note in the chat that says “You deleted a chat.” The content of the message will be replaced by this notification, indicating that you have chosen to remove the message from the conversation.

3. Clearing entire conversations: In addition to deleting individual messages, Snapchat also allows you to clear entire conversations from your chat history. However, this action can only be taken by you and has no effect on the recipient’s chat history. So, even if you clear a conversation, the recipient will still have access to the messages they received from you.

It’s important to note that even though you can delete or clear messages on Snapchat, it doesn’t guarantee complete privacy or secrecy. The recipient may have already taken screenshots or saved the messages before you deleted them. Additionally, Snapchat itself states that they can’t guarantee the complete deletion of messages from their servers.

Now, let me share a personal experience related to deleting chats on Snapchat. Once, I accidentally sent a message to the wrong person, and I realized my mistake immediately. Thankfully, I was able to delete the message before the person had a chance to read it. The message disappeared from both of our chat histories, and I felt relieved that my mistake was rectified without any consequences.

Deleting a chat on Snapchat can have different outcomes depending on when you delete the message. If the message is deleted before it is read, it will be completely erased. However, if the recipient has already seen the message, a note indicating the deletion will be visible to both parties. Clearing entire conversations only removes them from your chat history and doesn’t affect the recipient’s chat history. It’s vital to remember that deleting messages on Snapchat doesn’t guarantee complete privacy or prevent recipients from saving the content.