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How to Reopen Snaps on Snapchat (4 Easy Steps)

Snaps can be opened twice on Snapchat—opening the snap for the first time, and replaying it.

When you send a snap to someone, they will receive it on the “Chats” tab.

Once they found your snap, they can tap to view it for the first time.

After viewing it for the first time, there’ll be an option that says “Hold to replay”.

The option allows the person to replay the snap once more by holding it.

After the snap has been viewed twice, it can no longer be replayed.

But what if there’s a way where you can reopen snaps/pictures on Snapchat more than twice?

Or a way where you can reopen them for unlimited times?

In this guide, you’ll learn how to reopen snaps on Snapchat (be it a picture or a video snap) for an unlimited number of times in 4 easy steps.

  1. How to reopen snaps on Snapchat
  2. Why can’t I replay snaps?
  3. Can you get unlimited replays on Snapchat?
  4. Can you replay a Snapchat after you close the app?

How to reopen snaps on Snapchat

To reopen snaps on Snapchat, turn airplane mode on, view the snap twice, reinstall Snapchat, and reopen the snap.

Turning on airplane mode is a trick that allows you to reopen snaps multiple times.

However, you have to view the snap twice while airplane mode is turned on, then reinstall Snapchat for it to work.

If you don’t reinstall Snapchat, you won’t be able to reopen the picture/video snap for multiple times.

This trick is quite lengthy, but it’s the only way to reopen snaps more than twice.

Hence, following this guide from the start to the end is worth it if you’re looking to do so.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how you can reopen snaps on Snapchat.

Step #1: Turn on airplane mode

View snapchats more than once

Open Snapchat > turn on airplane mode.

Firstly, open Snapchat and go to your chats.

The “Chats” tab is the second icon from the left on the bottom navigation bar.

Once you’re on your chat list, you’ll be able to see your most recent snaps and chats.

Unopened snaps are displayed as “New Snap” in red, while received snaps are displayed as “Received”.

Now that you’re on your chat list, you need to turn airplane mode on.

Here’s how you can turn airplane mode on for an iPhone:

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen.
  2. Tap on the airplane icon to turn airplane mode on.

Here’s how you can turn airplane mode on an Android device:

  1. Swipe down from the top of your screen (twice).
  2. Tap on the airplane icon to turn airplane mode on.

Turning on airplane mode is required for this trick to work.

This is because turning on airplane mode will ensure that nothing you do on the app will be updated on Snapchat’s servers.

If you’re looking to reopen the snap multiple times, you have to turn on airplane mode.

Otherwise, the snap will be updated as already opened/replayed on Snapchat’s database, and you won’t be able to reopen it.

You’ve successfully turned on airplane mode on your device.

In the next step, you’re required to open and replay the snap (that you want to reopen more than twice).

Step #2: Open and replay the snap

Replay snaps more than twice

Navigate to the snap that you want to reopen > open the snap > hold to replay.

Now that you’ve enabled airplane mode (from the previous step), you need to open and replay the snap.

Firstly, navigate to the unopened snap that you want to reopen more than twice.

Do note that you won’t be able to reopen snaps that you’ve already opened/replayed before.

This is because snaps that you’ve already opened before are updated on Snapchat’s database as opened/replayed.

Once you’ve located the snap, tap on it to view it for the first time.

After you’ve viewed the snap for the first time, tap and hold the snap to replay it.

Since you’re on airplane mode, the snap will not be updated on Snapchat’s database as opened/replayed.

You’ve successfully opened and replayed the snap while you’re on airplane mode.

In the next step, you’ll have to delete and reinstall Snapchat from your device.

Step #3: Delete and reinstall Snapchat

Delete Snapchat

Delete Snapchat > turn on airplane mode > reinstall it on the App Store/Google Play Store.

Now that you’ve opened and replayed the snap, you need to delete and reinstall Snapchat from your device.

To begin with, delete Snapchat from your device by holding down the app and deleting it.

Next, turn off airplane mode on your device to enable internet access.

On an iPhone, you can turn off airplane mode by swiping up from the bottom of your screen and tapping on the airplane icon.

On an Android device, you can turn off airplane mode by swiping down from the top of your screen twice and tapping on the airplane icon.

After you’ve turned off airplane mode, make sure that you have internet access either by connecting to Wi-Fi or using local data.

Then, proceed to the App Store/Google Play Store, search for Snapchat and reinstall it on your device.

You’ve successfully reinstalled Snapchat on your device.

In the last step, you’ll be able to reopen the snap multiple times.

Step #4: Open Snapchat, refresh your chats, and reopen the snap

Reopen snaps on Snapchat

Open Snapchat > log in > chats > refresh your chats > tap on the chat > turn on airplane mode > open the snap > hold to replay.

After you’ve reinstalled Snapchat, open the app on your device.

Then, log in to your existing Snapchat account.

Once you’re logged in, tap on the “Chats” icon on the bottom navigation bar.

Next, refresh your chat list by swiping down from the bottom of your screen and releasing it.

After you’ve refreshed your chat list, navigate back to the snap that you’ve opened and replayed previously, then tap on the chat once.

You’ll see that the snap can be opened again.

Once you see the “New Snap” status, turn on airplane mode once more and open the snap.

After opening the snap, you’ll be able to replay it once as well.

In order to view the snap again, you need to repeat steps #1 to #4 again.

Keep in mind that you need to enable airplane mode before viewing and replaying a snap.

Otherwise, the snap will be updated as opened/replayed in Snapchat’s database.

Congrats, you’ve learned how to reopen picture/video snaps on Snapchat!

Why can’t I replay snaps?

You can’t replay snaps on Snapchat either because you’ve already replayed it once or you exited the app.

If you already replayed the snap once, you won’t be able to replay it again.

This is because snaps can only be opened twice—opening it for the first time, and replaying it.

Secondly, you might have exited the app after opening the snap once.

If you exited the app after only opening the snap once, the option to replay it will be gone.

You can only replay the snap if you haven’t exited Snapchat while opening it for the first time.

Can you get unlimited replays on Snapchat?

You can get unlimited replays on Snapchat by doing the “airplane mode” trick.

To get unlimited replays on Snapchat, open the app, enable airplane mode, then open and replay the snap.

Next, disable airplane mode, delete and reinstall Snapchat.

Lastly, open Snapchat, refresh your chat list, tap on the chat, turn on airplane mode, open and replay the snap.

You can repeat this process to get unlimited replays on Snapchat.

Can you replay a Snapchat after you close the app?

No, you cannot replay a Snapchat after you close the app.

When you open a snap for the first time and close the app, the option for your to replay it will be gone.

You can only replay a snap if you remain on the app after opening it for the first time.

However, if you haven’t opened a snap for the first time, the option for you to open it will still remain.

Conclusion

At times, you may receive a snap that’s too good to be left unsaved.

Unfortunately, snaps can only be viewed twice.

An option is to screenshot the snap, but it’ll notify the other party, and they might not want you doing so.

Perhaps the most straightforward way to save a snap without notifying the other person is to take a picture of it using another device.

But if you’re looking to reopen the snap more than twice, for multiple times, or for unlimited times, then you can follow the guide above.

Further Reading

How to Switch Accounts on Snapchat: 5 Steps (With Pictures)

What Does It Mean When It Says Pending on Snapchat?

How to Start a Streak on Snapchat

Lim How Wei is the founder of Followchain. Feel free to follow him on Instagram.

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About the author

Lim How Wei

Lim How Wei is the founder of followchain.org, with 8+ years of experience in Social Media Marketing and 4+ years of experience as an active investor in stocks and cryptocurrencies. He has researched, tested, and written thousands of articles ranging from social media platforms to messaging apps.

Lim has been quoted and referenced by major publications and media companies like WikiHow, Fast Company, HuffPost, Vice, New York Post, The Conversation, and many others. One of his articles about the gig economy was quoted by Joe Rogan who hosts The Joe Rogan Experience (arguably the most popular podcast in the world), in the This Past Weekend podcast by Theo Von.

In his free time, Lim plays multiple games like Genshin Impact, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Hearthstone, RuneScape, and many others. He creates guides, walkthroughs, solutions, and more on games that he plays to help other players with their progression.