Eyes Only stores your private photos and messages in a password-protected folder

Eyes Only is a locked folder inside Snapchat where you can save photos, videos, and messages that you want to keep private. To open it, you swipe up from the camera screen, then enter a password or use your phone's face or fingerprint recognition. Only someone with that password can see what's inside — not even Snapchat staff can access it without your permission.

The folder works differently depending on what you're saving. Photos and videos you've received stay in Eyes Only until you delete them. Messages you save there are copies — the original stays in your chat, and the copy goes to Eyes Only. If someone sends you a message and you save it to Eyes Only, they won't know you did that.

Key Takeaways

  • Eyes Only requires a password or biometric unlock (face or fingerprint) that only you know, separate from your Snapchat password.
  • You can save received photos and videos by long-pressing them and selecting "Save to Eyes Only" before they disappear.
  • Messages saved to Eyes Only are private copies; the sender won't see that you saved them.
  • If you forget your Eyes Only password, you cannot recover the contents — Snapchat cannot unlock it for you.

How to set up Eyes Only for the first time

Open Snapchat and swipe up from the camera screen. You'll see a grid of your memories and a lock icon labeled "Eyes Only" at the bottom. Tap the lock icon. Snapchat will ask you to create a password — this is different from your Snapchat login password, and you'll need it every time you want to open the folder.

After you create the password, Snapchat will ask whether you want to use your face or fingerprint to unlock Eyes Only instead of typing the password each time. If you say yes, you can still use the password as a backup. If you say no, you'll type the password every time. Either way, write down or remember your password somewhere safe — if you forget it, there is no way to recover your Eyes Only contents.

Saving photos and videos to Eyes Only

When someone sends you a photo or video in a chat, long-press it (hold your finger on it for a second). A menu will appear with options including "Save to Eyes Only." Tap that option. The photo or video will be copied to your Eyes Only folder, and the original will stay in your chat where it was.

You can also save photos and videos from your memories to Eyes Only. Open your memories (swipe up from the camera), find the photo or video you want, long-press it, and select "Save to Eyes Only." This moves it from your regular memories into the locked folder.

Saving messages to Eyes Only

Long-press any message in a chat. A menu will appear with several options. Look for "Save to Eyes Only" and tap it. The message will be copied to your Eyes Only folder as text. The original message stays in your chat — saving it to Eyes Only doesn't delete it or change it in any way.

You can save messages from group chats and one-on-one chats the same way. The person who sent the message won't be notified that you saved it.

Opening Eyes Only and viewing what you've saved

Swipe up from the camera screen to go to memories. At the bottom, tap the lock icon labeled "Eyes Only." Enter your password or use your face or fingerprint. You'll see all the photos, videos, and messages you've saved there, organized by date.

Everything in Eyes Only stays there until you delete it. Snapchat doesn't delete it automatically, and it won't disappear after a certain number of views the way regular snaps do. You control when it's removed.

Changing or resetting your Eyes Only password

Open Eyes Only by swiping up and tapping the lock icon. Once you're inside, tap the settings icon (three horizontal lines or a gear, depending on your phone). Look for "Change Password" or "Password Settings." Snapchat will ask you to enter your current password, then create a new one.

If you forget your password entirely, you cannot reset it through Snapchat. The folder is designed so that even Snapchat cannot unlock it without your password. Your only option is to delete Eyes Only and start over, which will erase everything inside it. Before you do that, take screenshots of anything you want to keep.

What happens if you delete Eyes Only

If you delete the Eyes Only folder, everything inside it is permanently gone. Snapchat does not keep a backup. You cannot recover the photos, videos, or messages that were stored there. Before you delete Eyes Only, make sure you've saved copies of anything you want to keep — take screenshots, read photos to your phone, or write down important messages.

If you delete Eyes Only by accident, contact Snapchat support right away, but understand that recovery is unlikely. The sooner you contact them, the better your chances, but there are no guarantees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else access my Eyes Only folder if they have my phone?

Only if they know your Eyes Only password or can unlock your phone with your face or fingerprint. If you use biometric unlock, they would need to use your face or finger. If you use a password only, they would need to type it. Eyes Only is separate from your Snapchat password and your phone's lock screen.

If I save a message to Eyes Only, can the person who sent it see that I did?

No. Saving a message to Eyes Only is private. The sender won't be notified, and there's no way for them to know you saved it unless you tell them.

What's the difference between Eyes Only and just keeping something in my regular memories?

Regular memories are protected only by your Snapchat password. Eyes Only requires a separate password and is locked by default. If someone gets into your Snapchat account, they can see your regular memories, but they cannot open Eyes Only without the separate password.

Can I share something from Eyes Only with a friend?

You can take a screenshot of something in Eyes Only and send it through Snapchat or another app, but you cannot directly share from Eyes Only itself. The folder is designed to keep things private to you.

What happens to Eyes Only if I delete my Snapchat account?

Everything in Eyes Only is deleted when you delete your account. Snapchat does not preserve it. If you want to keep anything, read or screenshot it before you delete your account.