Sometimes. Snapchat currently allows some users with locked accounts to request Memories or other account data through the Accounts Portal, but data may not be available for every type of account lock.
What you can actually get back depends on why your account was locked, whether the lock is temporary or permanent, and whether Snapchat’s systems classify your account as eligible for a data request at all. Here is what to check, in order.
A temporary lock, often shown as an SS04 error when you try to log in, usually resolves on its own. You can try logging back in through the app or on the web and selecting “Unlock.” If that does not work right away, wait before trying again rather than repeatedly submitting requests.
A permanent lock is different. This happens when Snapchat determines your account violated its Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. You cannot unlock a permanent lock yourself, and in some cases Snapchat may have also removed specific content or banned the device you were using, in addition to locking the account.
A device ban is a separate category. Seeing an SS06 or SS18 error means the physical device has been banned for abuse or repeated violations. An SS07 error means the device has been banned because too many accounts were associated with it. A device ban stops you from creating new accounts on that device, but it is a different restriction from an account lock.
Before assuming your memories are gone, try Snapchat’s own data request process. According to Snapchat’s support documentation, the steps are:
This process is built into Snapchat’s own support flow for locked accounts, not a workaround. It is worth trying even if you assume the account is a total loss.
Snapchat’s own support documentation includes a direct caveat on this process: data may not be available for some locked account types. Snapchat does not publish a full breakdown of exactly which lock types qualify and which do not, and this guide will not guess at one. The honest answer is that eligibility varies, and the only way to know for certain is to complete the request steps above and see whether an export becomes available to you.
Separately from requesting your data, some locks can be appealed. If your account lock is eligible, opening the Snapchat app and attempting to log in will show a pop-up notification with an “Appeal Decision” option. Tapping it starts the only legitimate appeals process, including in cases where a device has also been banned.
You can only submit one appeal per account lock. If it is denied, you cannot submit another. If no “Appeal Decision” pop-up appears when you try to log in, that means Snapchat has classified the lock as not eligible for appeal.
Do not trust guides, forum posts, or paid “unban” services that claim other recovery methods exist. The in-app appeal is the process Snapchat itself points to, and there is no verified alternative route.
If your data request goes through, you will get a ZIP file containing your media plus a memories_history.json file with the associated metadata. On its own, this export still has gaps: location data lives only in the JSON, overlays like text and stickers ship as separate files from the base photo, and some older long videos may arrive as multiple split clips instead of one file.
FixMyExport processes that export locally on your device. It writes the available GPS coordinates into your photos and videos, merges overlay files with their base media automatically, and can optionally join matching split video clips into one file. Nothing is uploaded anywhere during this process.
Since eligibility for a post-lock data request is not guaranteed, the more reliable approach is not to wait for a lock to happen at all. Snapchat’s own terms note that content saved in Memories can become unavailable for a number of reasons, including an operational issue or a decision to terminate an account, and the terms recommend keeping a separate copy of anything you save there.
Account locks are also more common than most people expect. In the first half of 2024 alone, Snap’s own transparency report shows its Trust and Safety teams took more than 3.4 million proactive enforcement actions worldwide, a mix of content removals, warnings, and account locks.
A simple habit avoids most of this risk: request an export every few months, process it with FixMyExport so the dates, locations, and overlays are intact, and store the result somewhere outside Snapchat, such as your phone’s photo library, an external drive, or your own cloud storage account. If a lock happens later, you are not depending on whether that specific lock qualifies for a data request.
Sometimes. Snapchat lets some locked accounts request Memories and other data through My Data at accounts.snapchat.com, but its own support documentation notes that data may not be available for every locked account type.
A temporary lock, often shown as an SS04 error, can usually be cleared by logging back in and selecting Unlock, or by waiting before trying again. A permanent lock means Snapchat found a Community Guidelines or Terms of Service violation, and you cannot remove it yourself.
Log into accounts.snapchat.com on a browser, go to My Data, select Memories and JSON files, choose a date range or request all data, confirm your notification email, and submit. You will get an email link, or can check See exports once it finishes.
Snapchat’s support documentation includes this caveat without listing exactly which lock types qualify. Eligibility depends on the specific type and reason for the lock, and the only way to find out is to submit the My Data request and see what becomes available.
If your lock is eligible for appeal, opening the Snapchat app and attempting to log in shows a pop-up with an Appeal Decision option. You can only submit one appeal per lock. If no pop-up appears, Snapchat has classified that lock as not eligible for appeal.
SS06 and SS18 mean your device has been banned for abuse or repeated violations. SS07 means the device was banned because too many accounts were linked to it. A device ban is separate from an account lock and stops you from creating new accounts on that device.
Process the export with a local tool like FixMyExport to restore GPS data, merge overlay files with their base photos, and optionally join split video clips. Then store the result somewhere outside Snapchat so future lockouts cannot affect it.
