How to Use the Snapchat Time Limit Feature on Your Photos

Control when your sent Snaps will expire with this setting

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: July 2, 2024 Tested

If you want to change how long someone can look at your Snaps on Snapchat, it’s only a quick adjustment to set the timer for a different length. Using the timer settings is so easy, and we’ll walk you through every step of the way. Keep reading to find out the simplest way to set the timer for your Snaps.

Quick Guide: Setting the Photo Timer in Snapchat

Take or upload a photo.
Tap the clock icon on the right side of the screen.
Select how long you want the photo to appear.
Tap anywhere on the photo.
Tap Send to and choose where to share your photo.

1

Open Snapchat.

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Look for the yellow app that contains a ghost logo on your device.
- Enter your username and password if you're not automatically logged in.

2

Snap a photo.

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Select the camera icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap the larger, open circle at the bottom center of the screen to take the picture.
- The length of videos is controlled by how long you hold down the button. Snapchat videos can be up to 10 seconds long, or you can hold it down to send longer clips in 10-second chunks.

3

Tap the Timer icon.

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Look for the clock-shaped icon along the right side of the screen near the bottom. If you do not see the Timer option, tap the small arrow on the right side of the screen to show the additional icons.
- In older versions of Snapchat, the Timer icon is in the lower-left corner of the screen.

4

Select a duration.

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Scroll through the timer selections, choosing a time between 1 and 10 seconds. You may also choose an infinite time setting so it only disappears when the person taps the image again.
- The duration you choose is the length of time your photo will appear on screen to the recipient of your Snap or viewers of your Story.

5

Tap anywhere on your photo.

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Your chosen duration will appear in the center of the timer icon.
- Tap the editing tools in the upper right corner to add text, pictures, and other features to your image before you send it.

6

Tap the "Send to" button.

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Click the button in the lower-right corner of the screen. Now, whether you send it to a friend or add it to your Story, it will be visible for the number of seconds you indicated on the timer.
- A Snap, the picture or short video you just took, can be sent to individuals, and will disappear after it's opened, or added to your Story.
- Your Story is a collection of the Snaps that you've taken and added to your Story over the last 24 hours.
- Snaps added to your Story disappear after 24 hours.

Community Q&A

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Question

There is no timer button in the lower-left corner after taking a Snap.

Community Answer

The timer does not appear when you take a video Snap. Instead, the time limit will be the same as the video's length. The timer only appears when you take a photo Snap.

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Question

Why are all Snapchats sent to me suddenly only lasting for 3 seconds?

Community Answer

This could be a glitch. Try to refresh the app by closing it.

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Question

I'm receiving Snaps that have timers longer than 10 seconds, how can I do that?

Community Answer

The Snaps you are receiving are actually not longer than 10 seconds. Snapchat plays all unviewed Snaps from a user back-to-back and combines each Snap's timer. Individual Snaps cannot be longer than 10 seconds.

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Warnings

Even if you change the timer settings, other people can screenshot what you put on Snapchat. You’ll get a notification anytime someone screenshots you. ^{[1]
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How to Use the Snapchat Time Limit Feature on Your Photos

Quick Guide: Setting the Photo Timer in Snapchat

Steps

Open Snapchat.

Snap a photo.

Tap the Timer icon.

Select a duration.

Tap anywhere on your photo.

Tap the "Send to" button.

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