Snapchat is a popular messaging app that can be used on both iOS and Android. It lets you add friends, send messages, and post stories. Although Snapchat doesn't permit saving chats or images, sometimes you may want to take a screenshot to preserve memories.

However, Snapchat informs users if someone takes a screenshot of their content. If you're wondering how to screenshot a snap without them knowing, this post will show you five ways to take screenshots of Snapchat secretly.

Why does Snapchat notify users when you screenshot?

Snapchat notifies users when someone takes a screenshot of their messages or images to protect their privacy and control over their content. By providing this notification, Snapchat allows users to know when their content has been saved or shared by someone else and to take action if they wish.

It's worth noting that Snapchat's notification feature only applies to messages and images sent through the app. It does not apply to screenshots of other content, such as Snapchat stories or public profiles.

While the notification feature may be seen as a deterrent for some users, it's important to remember that Snapchat is a social media platform. As such, users should be aware that others may share or save their content. It's always a good idea to think carefully about the content you share on any social media platform and to use the app's privacy settings to control who can see your content.

How to screenshot a Snapchat without them knowing

Even though Snapchat will notify users when you take a screenshot, there are still many ways to screenshot a Snapchat without them knowing. We have sorted five methods that are still working. Please feel free to check below.

Method 1. Use another phone to take a photo of the snap (iOS & Android)

Using another phone to take a photo of a Snapchat message or image displayed on another phone is a possible way to save or share the content. However, it is not an officially supported feature of the Snapchat app. Keep in mind that the quality of the photo may be better than a screenshot taken directly from the Snapchat app.

Here is how to take a photo of the snap using another phone.

Step 1. Prepare two phones. Make sure that one phone has Snapchat installed, and that the other phone can take clear photos.

Step 2. Open the Snapchat message or image you want to capture on the first phone.

Step 3. Use the camera app on the second phone to take a photo of the Snapchat content.

Method 2. Use the screen mirroring feature (iOS & Android)

Screen mirroring is another trick to screenshot a snap without notification. It allows you to display the content of one device on another device, such as a phone or tablet, on a larger screen, such as a TV or computer. Then, you can screenshot Snapchat on another device.

To screenshot Snapchat using the screen mirroring feature, you will need to prepare a phone that has Snapchat installed and supports screen mirroring and a second device with a screenshot capture function. Luckily, many iOS and Android devices have built-in screen mirroring and screenshot capture capabilities.

To screenshot Snapchat without notification using screen mirroring, follow these steps:

Step 1. Enable and set up screen mirroring on your iOS or Android phone. So, your phone is cast on the second device. Make sure your second device can take screenshots.

Step 2. Open the Snapchat message or image on your iPhone or Android phone.

Step 3. You can see Snapchat on your second device now. Take a screenshot on the second device. Nobody will be notified.

Method 3. Record Snapchat using Mac (iOS)

There is another hack to screenshot a snap on iOS without them knowing - use QuickTime Player to record the screen of your iPhone and then take a screenshot. This method is not easy nor straightforward as it requires you to connect your iPhone to the Mac. Follow the steps below.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a cable. Open Snapchat on your iPhone.

Step 2. Launch the QuickTime Player app on your Mac, click “File”, and then select the “New Movie Recording” option.

quicktime player new movie recording

Step 3. In the Moving Recording interface, hover on the “Record” button and click on the arrow to select iPhone as the movie recording output. This will help mirror your iPhone onto the Mac.

quicktime player select iPhone as movie recording output

Step 4. Hit the record button and screen record the Snapchat on your iPhone from your Mac. Press “Command + Shift + 4” to select the capture area and then take a screenshot of the snap or image.

Method 4. Use Google Assistant (Android)

If you have an Android phone, you can use Google Assistant to screenshot a Snapchat without notifying others. It is an easy and quick way as you don’t need to download any third-party apps.

You are suggested to use a voice command to activate Google Assistant and let it take a screenshot. Please note that after taking the screenshot, you must share it using an app. Otherwise, the screenshot won’t be saved.

If you are okay with this, let’s check how to use Google Assistant to take screenshots on Snapchat without them knowing.

Step 1. Open Snapchat and view the message or image you want to capture.

Step 2. Wake up Google Assistant by saying, “OK Google”.

Step 3. Say “take screenshot” or “capture screenshot” or type “take a screenshot” to trigger the screen capture action.

google assistant

Step 4. Choose the app (we recommend using Google Drive) you want to share the screenshot on and access it later.

Method 5. Use Private Screenshots (Android)

Private Screenshots is an Android application that allows you to take screenshots of your phone privately or securely. It helps screenshot a snap without them knowing. This app does not work on protected apps such as the browser’s incognito mode, Netflix, etc., but it works perfectly well on Snapchat.

private screenshots app

You can try it if you don’t mind downloading a third-party application. Follow the steps below.

Step 1. Install Private Screenshots and open it on your Android phone. Enable the floating icon on the top right and give it the necessary permissions.

Step 2. Open the snap message on your Android phone. Tap on the icon to take a screenshot without notifying others.

It is also worth noting that Snapchat's terms of service prohibit third-party apps from accessing or interacting with the service, and using these types of apps to take a screenshot of a Snapchat message or conversation could result in your account being banned or suspended. So, the decision is yours.

2 Methods that don’t work anymore

You can use any of the five methods above to take screenshots of a snap without notifications. After testing, we found that two methods were used to be helpful but don't work anymore. To save you time, we list them here also.

1. Screen record your phone using a built-in screen recorder (iOS & Android)

Both iPhone and Android have a built-in screen recorder. Thus, you may think you can screen record the snapshot and then take a screenshot from the recorded video. That is a nice idea, but it doesn’t work, as it will also send notifications if you do so.

2. Turn on Airplane Mode & Clear app’s cache (iOS & Android)

To screenshot a snap without them knowing, some guides might teach you to turn on Airplane Mode and clear Snapchat’s cache. It used to be helpful but it is not the case now!

In the past versions, you could turn on Airplane mode to disconnect your phone from the internet, view the snap, take a screenshot, and clear the app’s cache. So, the users won’t get any notifications about the screenshot because there were no records of your activity when the app was reconnected to the internet. It might be a loophole. But Snapchat has fixed it. So, this method is not available anymore.

Conclusion

I hope the methods are helpful for you to take screenshots of snaps. Please note that we share this post only for knowledge-sharing purposes. We encourage you to let the users know when you capture a screenshot as taking screenshots of snaps might be considered a breach of privacy.

FAQs about the Snapchat screenshot

1. Is it legal to screenshot a Snapchat?

It is generally legal to take a screenshot of a Snapchat message or conversation as long as it is for personal use and is not being shared with others. However, it is important to be aware that Snapchat has built-in features that detect when a screenshot is taken and sends a notification to the sender. If you take a screenshot of a Snapchat message or conversation, the sender will be notified that a screenshot has been taken.

In some cases, taking a screenshot of a Snapchat message or conversation may be considered a violation of the sender's privacy. If you are unsure whether it is appropriate to take a screenshot, ask the sender for permission before doing so.

2. Can you tell if someone screenshots your Snapchat?

Yes, a Snapchat user can tell if someone has taken a screenshot of their message or conversation. Snapchat has built-in features that detect when a screenshot is taken and sends a notification to the sender. This notification will appear in a small icon in the chat window, and the sender will also receive a notification in their "Snap Map" feature.

3. Can Snapchat snaps be saved?

Yes, it is possible to save Snapchat snaps, but the method for doing so will depend on the type of snap you are trying to save.

If you want to save a photo or video snap that you received from someone else, you can try the following options:

Use a screen recording app: You can use a screen recording app to record your screen while viewing the snap. This will allow you to save a video of the snap, which you can watch later.
Use a third-party app: Some third-party apps can save Snapchat photos and videos without the sender being notified. However, it is important to be cautious when using these apps, as they may not be reliable and could compromise your privacy or security.

If you want to save a photo or video snap that you sent to someone else, you can try the following options:

Save the snap to your Memories: Snapchat has a feature called Memories that allows you to save snaps to your account. To save a snap to your Memories, tap the snap to view it, then tap the save icon in the bottom left corner.
Use a screen recording app: You can use a screen recording app to record your screen while viewing the snap. This will allow you to save a video of the snap, which you can watch later.

It is worth noting that Snapchat's terms of service prohibit third-party apps from accessing or interacting with the service, and using these apps could result in your account being banned or suspended.

How to Screenshot a Snap Without Them Knowing

Miley Shen

Miley Shen