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How to save Snapchat videos on iPhone and Mac: The methods I use in 2025

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10 min read

Snapchat is a fun app used by millions of people who love social sharing and filters for selfies and videos. What makes it different is that everything you send disappears after 24 hours. While Snapchat is an awesome way to share moments with others, it's a bit annoying that you can’t go back and view a snap once it’s gone. 

I'll show you how to save Snapchat videos to your phone, send them to your Mac, share them with other devices, and even save videos from chats.

But first, here’s a quick overview of all the ways you can save Snapchat videos:

Ways to save Snapchat videos

How to do it

Save from Snapchat Camera

Record a video > Tap Save icon > Select Memories & Camera Roll.

Save from Chat

Tap and hold the video > Select Save to Camera Roll (if available).

Save from Memories

Open Memories > Tap video > Tap ••• > Export Snap > Save to Camera Roll/Gallery.

Save from Story

Tap your profile > Go to Stories > Tap Save icon next to My Story.

Enable Auto-Save

Go to Snapchat Settings > Memories > Set auto-save to Camera Roll and Memories.

Record another user’s video (with consent)

Enable screen recording > Play the Snap > Stop recording when done.

Save videos to Mac

Save video to your phone and then use AnTrans for iOS (for iPhones) or AnyDroid (for Androids) to transfer videos to Mac.

How to save Snapchat videos on iPhone: Step-by-step guide

There are several ways to save Snapchat videos on your iPhone, and I’ll walk you through each one.

How to save Snapchat videos to your camera roll

People love using Snapchat as their main camera because it has fun filters. What's more, it also lets you add text to the screen, and comes packed with other editing features that many camera apps don’t have. 

When you record a video on Snapchat, you don’t have to immediately share it. Instead, you can just download it to your camera roll first.

Here’s how:

  1. Open Snapchat.
  2. Tap and hold the circular shutter button to start recording a video. Note: You can swipe left while holding the button down to go "hands-free" and not be forced to hold it down while you film. 
  3. There’s also a small button next to the shutter button for filters you can select before recording.
  4. After you finish recording, you can edit the video using the tools at the top right or leave it as-is.
  5. Tap the Save icon at the bottom left of your screen.
  6. Choose Memories & Camera Roll as the save option if it’s your first time using the app.
  7. Tap Save.

Snapchat snap record iPhone

How to save Snapchat videos from your story to Camera Roll

Here’s how to save a video you shared to a story:

  1. Open Snapchat on your iPhone.
  2. Tap your profile icon on the top left of the screen > My Stories section.
  3. Tap the down-arrow Save icon next to My Story.

Snapchat my story

Your video will be saved to your Camera Roll on your iPhone. If you have more than one video in your Snapchat story, the app will ask which one you’d like to save to your iPhone.

How to save Snapchat videos from other users

Snapchat may notify others if you take a screenshot or record your screen. So if you’re trying to record a video from another user’s Snapchat story or in chat, make sure they’re okay with it. And when you’ve got the all-clear to save someone else’s video, all you have to do is record your screen. 

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Turn on screen recording on your iPhone. Note: This is a default option in Control Center. If you can't find it, go to Control Center to add it.
  2. Start a screen recording.
  3. Open the Snapchat app on your iPhone.
  4. Choose the video you want to record and let it play.
  5. Swipe down from the top right of your screen to open Control Center. 
  6. Then, press the screen recording icon to end the recording session.

How to save Snapchat videos on Mac

There's a desktop app for Mac, but it doesn't let you download videos. You'll need to use some tools that come native with iOS and Mac, as well as a few handy third-party apps. 

Also, check out how to download TikTok videos in 4 different ways on Mac.

Save a Snapchat video from iPhone to Mac

Once you’ve saved a Snapchat video on your iPhone, all you need to do is send it to your Mac. You can use the native AirDrop feature that lets you quickly send files between your Apple devices. 

If you want a faster option, then try using AnyTrans for iOS. It's a better way to sync files between mobile and desktop, as it uses a plugged connection to transfer and manage files. 

Here’s how to use it to send Snapchat videos from your iPhone to your Mac:

  1. Install and open AnyTrans for iOS on your Mac.
  2. Plug your iPhone into your Mac with a Lightning cable. Wait for the connection.
  3. On the right side of the screen, click Videos.
  4. Select the videos you want to save to your Mac.
  5. Click To Mac. 

Save a Snapchat video from iPhone to Mac

Your videos will be sent to a folder in your Documents section named AnyTrans.

Read also:

Save a Snapchat video from Android to Mac

If you saved a Snapchat video on your Android device and want to send it to your Mac, don’t worry, it's not mission impossible! 

When you have the video you want to send from your Android device to a Mac, use a tool like AnyDroid, which is the Android version of AnyTrans for iOS.

Here’s how to save Snapchat videos from Android to Mac:

  1. Install and open AnyDroid on your Mac.
  2. Connect your Android phone to your Mac using a USB cable. 
  3. Find your Android device on the left side of the screen under Device Manager.
  4. Click Videos.
  5. Choose the videos you want to save to your Mac > To Mac. 

Anydroid app

Best practices for managing storage while saving Snapchat videos

I get it. If you want to store your Snapchat memories, there’s nothing wrong with that! 

Before you do, it’s a great idea to check that you have enough storage on your iPhone. Doing so will make sure it runs smoothly and you won't have any trouble at all downloading and saving your videos and images. 

Here's how to delete duplicate photos manually from your iPhone:

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone. 
  2. Scroll down to Albums. 
  3. Scroll down and tap Utilities. 
  4. Choose the Duplicates album.
  5. Tap Merge. 

Duplicate photos merge iPhone

Declutter your phone regularly, and I guarantee you'll have a smoother Snapchat experience as it’ll run faster when you use the app. 

Troubleshooting common issues when saving Snapchat videos

Below, I’m going to share some of the most common problems users have with Snapchat and how to solve them. Let’s go! 

Save button not working

The most common issue with the Save button not working is a weak internet connection. Try to get to a strong Wi-Fi network or make sure your mobile data signal is strong. 

Sometimes, the app just needs to be refreshed. Close the Snapchat app completely and then reopen it. In most cases, this is enough to resolve temporary issues, such as photos not being saved.

If all else fails, try clearing the Snapchat cache, as this can free up storage space and resolve issues with the save function.

Video not appearing in Camera Roll

What do you do if a Snapchat video doesn't appear in your iPhone's Camera Roll? First, check that Snapchat is set to save to your Camera Roll in the app's settings. 

It might also be a storage issue, so make sure your device has enough free space. 

The next thing to check is Snapchat permissions and see whether the app has access to your photos.

Low storage issue

If you’ve got low storage, you’ll need to free up some space. To do this, clear the Snapchat cache, and then consider deleting saved media, such as lenses and filters. 

Why? Snapchat stores a lot of temporary data, like filters and lenses, that take up significant storage space. Clearing the cache removes all of that, but don’t worry — it won’t delete your Snaps.

If you’re experiencing issues with the app, your best bet is to try restarting or even uninstalling and reinstalling it

Snapchat app glitches

If you have glitches in the Snapchat app, then log out and log in again to restart it. Try restarting your device, too. 

Again, try clearing the Snap cache. If, after all that, the issues still persist, contact Snapchat Support for help and assistance. 

Ethical considerations when saving Snapchat videos

Just because you can save Snapchat videos, it doesn’t mean you should. There are some ethical things to consider before you start saving someone else's videos. 

The biggest concerns are over privacy and consent. Saving and sharing others' content without their permission is a huge no-no and should never be done. Always be mindful of the potential impact you may have on others by saving without their consent. 

If you want to save a video or image, make sure you get clear permission and consent from everyone involved. Also, consider whether the content is appropriate to save or share in the first place.

In any case, Snapchat notifies users when they're being screen recorded. A double-arrow icon appears in chats or stories, so the person will know they've been recorded. In other words, it’s not something you can, or should, try to do secretly.

Devices that let you save Snapchat videos

Snapchat is designed for mobile use, so saving videos works best on smartphones.

So, in a nutshell, Snapchat lets you save videos only from your mobile device, whether that's an iPhone or an Android.  You can download both your videos and the sender's videos, but just a heads-up — they’ll get a notification when you do.

Final thoughts on how to save Snapchat videos

Saving Snapchat videos on your iPhone or Mac isn’t difficult when you know exactly what to do and which apps to use.

Before anything else, make sure you have enough storage on your phone. You can easily check and free up space with the handy app CleanMy®Phone. Once you’re good on storage, use AnyTrans for iOS, a fast, reliable way to transfer files between Apple devices. If you're working with an Android device, AnyDroid is your go-to for moving files to your Mac.

The best part? You don’t need to download these apps individually. They’re all included on Setapp, a powerful platform with 250+ iOS and Mac apps to supercharge your Apple experience. Try them all free for 7 days, and if you love them, it’s just $9.99/month for unlimited access.

FAQ

How do you download Snapchat videos on a Mac?

You can’t download Snapchat videos directly onto a Mac. What you can do is save the video on your phone first, just make sure it’s in your Camera Roll. Once it’s there, you can transfer it to your Mac.

How do you save a Snapchat video to your computer?

To save a Snapchat video to your computer, you have to save it directly from within the mobile app first. Then, use something like AirDrop, or apps like AnyTrans for iOS or AnyDroid if you're using Android. 

How to save video from Snapchat on iPhone?

To save a video from Snapchat on iPhone, you can either save it directly from the Snapchat chat or you can do so from your Memories. If you're in a chat, simply hold down on the video and choose Save to Camera Roll. If you saved it to Memories, you can find it there. You then have the option to export it to your camera roll by tapping the three dots and selecting Save Video. 

How do I save videos from Snapchat to the Gallery?

The best way to save videos from Snapchat to your Gallery (or Camera Roll if you're using an iPhone) is to save them to Memories first. From there, you can export them by tapping the Snap, selecting the three dots, and choosing Export Snap, then Save to Camera Roll or Save to Gallery. You can also enable auto-saving in your Snapchat settings, which will automatically save your Snaps to Memories and optionally to your Camera Roll/Gallery.



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