How to Backup ‘My Eyes Only’ Snaps on iPhone?

Snapchat’s ‘My Eyes Only’ feature offers users a secure space within the app to save sensitive or personal snaps. However, users often face the dilemma of keeping these snaps safe outside of Snapchat, especially when considering device changes or data loss. This blog post provides a detailed guide on how to back up ‘My Eyes Only’ snaps on your iPhone, ensuring that your private memories are preserved securely.

Understanding ‘My Eyes Only’ in Snapchat

Before delving into the backup process, let’s understand what ‘My Eyes Only’ is. It’s a feature in Snapchat that allows you to save snaps in a passcode-protected space. These snaps are not visible in the regular Memories section and offer an added layer of privacy.

The Challenge of Backing Up ‘My Eyes Only’

Snapchat is designed to offer ephemeral messaging experience, and the ‘My Eyes Only’ feature is specifically tailored to keep certain snaps discreet and secure. Due to this, Snapchat does not provide a direct method to back up these snaps. Therefore, backing them up requires a workaround.

Step-by-Step Guide to Backup ‘My Eyes Only’ Snaps on iPhone

Step 1: Access ‘My Eyes Only’

• Open Snapchat: Launch the Snapchat app on your iPhone.
• Navigate to Memories: Swipe up from the camera screen to access Memories.
• Enter ‘My Eyes Only’: Swipe left to the ‘My Eyes Only’ tab and enter your passcode.

Step 2: Transfer Snaps to Camera Roll

• Select Snaps: Tap and hold on a snap to select it. You can select multiple snaps if needed.
• Move to Camera Roll: Once selected, tap on the export button (a square with an arrow) and choose ‘Save to Camera Roll’. This will move your selected snaps out of ‘My Eyes Only’ and save them to your iPhone’s Photos app.

Step 3: Backup Using iPhone’s Photos App

Once the snaps are in your Camera Roll, you can back them up using your preferred method:

Using iCloud:

• Enable iCloud Photos: Go to ‘Settings’ > [your name] > ‘iCloud’ > ‘Photos’ and turn on ‘iCloud Photos’. This will automatically upload and store your entire library in iCloud.

Using a Computer:

• Connect iPhone to Computer: Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer.
• Transfer Photos: Use iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later) to transfer the photos from your Camera Roll to your computer.

Step 4: Optional Additional Backup

For added security, consider backing up your photos to an external hard drive or a cloud service like Google Photos or Dropbox.

Best Practices for Securing Your Backups

• Use Strong Passwords: Protect your cloud accounts and external drives with strong, unique passwords.
• Consider Encryption: If backing up to a computer or external drive, consider using encryption software for added security.
• Regular Backups: Make backing up a regular habit to ensure that your latest snaps are always secured.

Privacy and Ethical Considerations

When backing up personal or sensitive snaps, it’s crucial to maintain privacy and ethical standards:

• Consent: Ensure you have consent from all individuals featured in the snaps before backing them up.
• Secure Handling: Be cautious about where and how you store these backups to protect the privacy of the contents.

Conclusion

Backing up ‘My Eyes Only’ snaps from Snapchat on your iPhone involves a few extra steps but is crucial for ensuring the longevity and security of your private memories. By transferring these snaps to your Camera Roll and utilizing iCloud or physical backups, you can safeguard these moments against loss or data corruption.

FAQs

1. Will backing up ‘My Eyes Only’ snaps compromise their security?
   • Transferring snaps out of ‘My Eyes Only’ means they’re no longer protected by Snapchat’s encryption. Ensure your backup method is secure.
2. Can I back up directly from ‘My Eyes Only’ to a cloud service?
   • No, Snapchat doesn’t allow direct backup from ‘My Eyes Only’ to cloud services. You must first transfer them to your Camera Roll.
3. Will the snaps remain in ‘My Eyes Only’ after transferring them to the Camera Roll?
   • No, once you export the snaps to the Camera Roll, they are removed from ‘My Eyes Only’.
4. Is there a limit to how many snaps I can back up?
   • The limit depends on the storage capacity of your iCloud or physical backup device.
5. How can I ensure the highest privacy for my backed-up snaps?
   • Use secure cloud services with strong encryption and password protection, or store them in an encrypted format on physical devices.

By following these steps and maintaining a focus on security and privacy, iPhone users can effectively back up their cherished memories from Snapchat’s ‘My Eyes Only’, ensuring that these moments are preserved and protected.