Snapchat: Tips & Tricks for Getting Access to a Lost or Stolen Account

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Get back into your Snapchat account after losing your login, deactivating, or getting hacked
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Have you lost access to your Snapchat account? Perhaps you've lost your login information, you changed your mind on deactivating your account, or your account has been stolen. No matter the reason, we've gathered the steps to help you get back into your Snapchat account in no time. Keep reading to learn more about recovering your Snapchat account.

Things You Should Know

  • If you want to reactivate a deactivated account, you simply just need to log back in to your account within 30 days of deactivation.
  • If you've lost your password you can reset it from the app via SMS or email.
  • If your account has been compromised, you can try to gain access back by resetting your password, but you should contact Snapchat Support for help.
Section 1 of 6:

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  1. If you deactivate your account but change your mind, you have 30 days to log back into your account to reactivate it. When your account is deactivated, you cannot log in with your email.
    • You can't change your password when your account is deactivated.
    • It may take 24 hours after deactivation for you to be able to reactivate the account. [1]
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Section 2 of 6:

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  1. If you lost your password, you can reset it if you have access to the original email or phone number associated with your account. [2]
  2. If you select email a password reset link will be sent to the email associated with your account. If you select SMS a verification code will be sent to the phone number associated with your account.
  4. If you selected email you will have to click the link Snapchat emailed you to reset your password. If you selected SMS, after you enter the verification code you will be prompted to enter a new password.
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Section 3 of 6:

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  1. Snapchat does not offer support for forgotten usernames, so the easiest way to get back into your account if you forgot your username is to use your account email.
    • Ask a friend for help. If you have a friend added on Snapchat as a friend, they can look at their friends list to see what your username is.
Section 4 of 6:

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  1. You can also go to your email and search for mail from "Team Snapchat" to see if that email was used to sign up for a Snapchat account.
  4. If the email is not associated with a Snapchat account you will get an error that says "Email address is invalid."
    • A valid email will move you to the next step of the password recovery process, which you can then cancel out of and log in to your Snapchat account with the newly recovered email.
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Section 5 of 6:

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  1. If you've been locked out of your account because a hacker accessed your Snapchat and changed the password, you can try to reset your password to get back in.
    • If the hacker changed your account's phone number and email, you will not be able to use the password recovery method to get back in.
  2. If you can't get into your account and your information has been changed, Snapchat Support can help you gain access again. [3]
    • Snapchat Support will need to verify the account is yours, so they may ask for additional identifying details. You should never share your password with anyone, however, even Snapchat Support.
  3. You can do the following to strengthen your account security once you have recovered it:
    • Use a strong password that is unique, long, and hard to guess. You should use a different password for all of your accounts, and a password manager can help you remember them.
    • Ensure the linked email and phone number belong to you. If these have been changed, change them to your phone number and an email address.
    • Use 2FA. Two-factor authentication adds another layer of security to your account by requiring you to verify your identity when logging in to your Snapchat account.
    • Forget linked devices you don't recognize. You can do this by going to two-factor authentication in your Snapchat settings and tapping Forget Devices . Press the X button next to each device you want to forget. [4]
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Section 6 of 6:

Using a Recovery Code

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  1. If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) activated on your Snapchat account and you lose your phone, change your phone number, or lose access to your authenticator app, you can log back in with a recovery code.
    • Snapchat will not offer support for lost recovery codes. [5]
    • Recovery codes can be created in the Two-Factor Authentication menu in Snapchat's settings. [6]
  3. If you use a recovery code to log in, 2FA will be disabled on your Snapchat account. You will have to go back into your settings to turn 2FA back on.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012367354132-How-do-I-reactivate-my-Snapchat-account
      2. ↑ https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012348977684-I-forgot-my-password-How-do-I-reset-it
      3. ↑ https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012305621908-My-account-is-compromised
      4. ↑ https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012350395412-How-do-I-forget-a-linked-device-on-Snapchat
      5. ↑ https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012350903188-How-do-I-use-a-Recovery-Code-for-Snapchat
      6. ↑ https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012350903188-How-do-I-use-a-Recovery-Code-for-Snapchat

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