Snapchat export missing Memories: how many, and which ones

The signs

• The number of files in the memories/ folder doesn't match the number of Memories in the app.
• Whole months are empty, even though you remember saving snaps back then.
• A tool says it can't find memories_history.json.

Counting files gives you a number that's too high. A long video comes as several 10-second clips, and a Memory with text or a sticker has a second -overlay.png file.

The known causes

• A ZIP you didn't download. A big export comes in several ZIPs, sometimes more than fifteen. In the export we looked at, the first ZIPs held almost nothing but chat media, and the Memories only came after. Miss one ZIP and whole months are gone.
• A date filter left on. When you request the export, Snapchat offers a date range. If you don't turn it off, you only get the Memories from that range.
• Memories not selected. Export your Memories has to be on when you send the request. If it isn't, the export has your other data but none of your photos and videos.
• Files Snapchat doesn't send. Even with every ZIP, some lines in the JSON have no file. In a real export of several thousand Memories, we counted about 1 in 30.

Count them yourself

memories_history.json lists every Memory Snapchat saved for you, one line per Memory, under “Saved Media”.

1. Open memories_history.json in a text editor and search for "Date". The number of matches is the number of Memories listed.
2. In each ZIP, count the files in memories/ with -main in their name. The search box in Windows File Explorer or Finder does it for you.
3. Compare the two numbers.

The gap gives you a rough idea. It doesn't tell you which days are missing. For that, each line of the JSON has to be matched to a file.

The free “X of Y” recap

Drop your ZIPs into GetMemoriesOut. Before you pay anything, the recap shows how many listed Memories were found, out of how many, year by year, with the date of each missing one. You can tell whether you're missing a ZIP or Snapchat never sent the file.

It all happens in your browser. Your photos and videos never leave your computer, and neither do their names or dates.

Request the export again

If ZIPs are missing, go back to Snapchat's download page and grab the missing ones, if they're still there. If not, send a new request with the export guide, with Memories on and the date filter off.

If every ZIP is there and some lines still have no file, the file is missing on Snapchat's end. You can contact Snapchat Support with the list of dates from your recap.