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Teens love Snapchat. They spend most of their time on this app, creating Snapchat cameos, starting a streak with friends, recovering Snap streaks, capturing and posting stories around them, and creating content for Spotlight to earn money.
When it comes to privacy, teens trust Snapchat and often want to have private conversations there. While Snapchat is considered a very safe place for private convos, it may not be as safe as you think it is. If you’re thinking that your photos, videos, or even messages are safe there, people can still take screenshots and record them.
That’s why we encourage that Snapchat should be used with caution. In this guide, we’ve covered all the ways one can take screenshots on Snapchat without the other person getting a notification about it.
We’ve covered a similar guide for reading messages on Instagram without them knowing.
This way, a person can take a screenshot of your personal chat and you won’t even know about it.
Method #1: Take screenshots within the official Snapchat app
Here’s a quick guide to taking screenshots of chats, streaks, and Snap stories on Snapchat without them knowing in 2025:
1. Open Snapchat and head to the chat you want to screenshot.
Click the Snapchat icon to open the app and navigate to the chat you want to take a screenshot of.
2. Double-tap the text you want to screenshot, and the text will pop up.
Or you can long-press your desired text, then click on snap reply.
3. Now, capture the photo or click on the record button to make a snap. After this, your text will appear clearly in the snap.
Recording the snap after this step will put the text message in the background as seen in the Snapchat screenshot above.
4. Don’t discard the snap and press the home or recent button. Instead, keep Snapchat running in the background.
Use the recent button key of your phone and it’ll appear like the above-mentioned screenshot.
5. Now, take a screenshot of the snap without them knowing. This way, the sender will not get any notification.
You can take a screenshot secretly with this method, otherwise, there’s no way of taking a screenshot that doesn’t send a message.
Method #2: Taking screenshots using Google Assistant
Did you know that you can just open Google Assistant by saying “Hey Google” and asking it to take a screenshot? If not, give it a try.
I’ve used and checked this feature on many Android phones and can confirm that it still works in 2025.
- Just long press the home key or use swipe-up gesture (whatever you’ve set Google Assistant to respond to).
- Ask Google Assistant to “Take a screenshot” and it’ll follow your command.
- A screenshot will be taken and saved in the gallery.
- Navigate to the gallery to check Snapchat’s screenshot.
So now you know how someone can take a screenshot without you knowing. You can also do so if it’s something important but it’s ethical to ask the other person about it first. Maybe they’ve shared something they don’t want to disclose to others and sharing it will be a breach of privacy.
Using these two methods, the other person will NOT be notified about the screenshot. You can also explore taking screenshots of streaks, stories, and videos. However, that doesn’t include recording a Snapchat and only works with taking screenshots.
Previous methods:
There were previous methods that used to work, but now, Snapchat doesn’t let you take screenshots using it, secretly. If you turn on Airplane mode and take a screenshot, the moment you reconnect with the Internet, a notification will be sent regardless of the Airplane mode, so don’t try it. It doesn’t work anymore.
Note: Please remember that it is ethical to ask someone before you take screenshots of their chat. Taking screenshots or recording someone’s Snapchat without their permission is not ethical and is generally not recommended, especially if they’ve asked not to.
FAQs: Common questions about taking screenshots on Snapchat:
Can I really screenshot on Snapchat without the other person knowing?
No, Snapchat is designed to notify the sender when someone takes a screenshot of their snap. However, the method we listed above can bypass this notification.
Is it legal to secretly screenshot someone’s Snapchat?
Laws regarding screenshotting someone’s Snapchat without their consent may vary depending on your jurisdiction. It is advisable to respect the privacy of others and obtain their consent before capturing or sharing their Snapchat content.
What are the risks of secretly screenshotting on Snapchat?
Secretly screenshotting on Snapchat can lead to breaches of trust, damaged relationships, and potential legal consequences. It is important to consider the privacy and consent of others before taking screenshots.
Will the other person receive a notification if I secretly screenshot their Snapchat?
In most cases, yes. Snapchat typically sends a notification to the sender when someone takes a screenshot of their snap, unless a method, such as listed above, to bypass this notification is used.
Are there any apps or tools that can help me screenshot on Snapchat without detection?
There have been claims of third-party apps or methods that can bypass Snapchat’s screenshot notification. However, using such tools can violate Snapchat’s terms of service and may lead to account suspension or other penalties.
How can I avoid getting caught while secretly screenshotting on Snapchat?
It is not recommended to secretly screenshot on Snapchat, as it goes against the intended privacy and trust of the platform. Instead, respect the privacy of others and obtain their consent before capturing or sharing their Snapchat content.
Can the other person find out if I screenshot their Snapchat later on?
The screenshot notification is typically sent immediately after the screenshot is taken. Once the notification is sent, the other person is alerted to the fact that you have captured their Snapchat content.
Are there any ethical concerns when secretly screenshotting on Snapchat?
Yes, secretly screenshotting someone’s Snapchat without their knowledge and consent raises ethical concerns. It can be seen as a violation of privacy and trust, and may strain relationships.
What are some alternative ways to save Snapchat content without secretly screenshotting?
Snapchat offers various features to save content within the app, such as Memories, where you can save snaps and stories privately. You can also use your device’s screen recording feature to capture content for personal use, but be aware that this may still be detected by Snapchat.
Is there a difference between screenshotting a photo and screenshotting a chat conversation on Snapchat?
From a technical standpoint, there may not be a significant difference in how Snapchat detects screenshots, whether they are taken of photos or chat conversations. Both types of content can trigger the screenshot notification.
How can I protect my own privacy on Snapchat if someone is secretly screenshotting my snaps?
Snapchat provides privacy settings that allow you to control who can view and interact with your snaps. You can adjust these settings to limit the audience of your content and reduce the risk of unauthorized screenshotting.
What are the consequences if I get caught secretly screenshotting on Snapchat?
It can damage trust and relationships with the person whose Snapchat you screenshot depending on the content it has.
Does Snapchat have any measures in place to prevent or detect secret screenshots?
Snapchat has implemented measures to detect and notify users when their content is screenshot. However, there have been claims of methods that can bypass these notifications, although they may violate Snapchat’s terms of service.
Can I report someone who secretly screenshots my Snapchat content?
If you believe someone has violated your privacy by secretly screenshotting your Snapchat content, you can report them to Snapchat. Use the in-app reporting feature to provide details and evidence of the incident.
Is there a way to disable screenshotting altogether on Snapchat?
Currently, Snapchat does not provide an option to disable screenshotting of snaps. The platform relies on notifications to discourage unauthorized screenshotting.
Are there any privacy settings I can adjust to prevent others from secretly screenshotting my Snaps?
While you cannot completely prevent others from screenshotting your snaps without your knowledge, you can adjust your privacy settings to limit who can view and interact with your content. This can help minimize the risk of unauthorized screenshotting.
Is there a time limit for secretly screenshotting on Snapchat before the content disappears?
Snapchat’s content typically disappears once it has been viewed, unless the sender has explicitly enabled the “No Limit” option for their snaps. However, this does not affect the screenshot notification feature.
Are there any updates or changes to Snapchat’s features that may affect the ability to secretly screenshot?
Snapchat periodically updates its features and terms of service. It is important to stay informed about these updates to understand any changes that may affect the ability to secretly screenshot on the platform.
For more guides on SC, visit our Snapchat Guides section:
