Why Snapchat Won’t Load Photos Or Snaps In Chat (How To Fix It)

If you have been using Snapchat and someone sent you a photo or snap but you can't view it, because Snapchat isn't loading the photo. This could be a onetime or frequent error.
Timothy Mark
Timothy Mark - Writer & Editor
20 Min Read

If Snapchat won’t load photos, snaps, or stories, you need to fix it. You can try restarting your device, changing your internet connection, clearing the cache and data, or uninstalling and downloading the app again. Most of it all, this could be a Snapchat server-related issue.

When someone sends you a photo, and you want to view it, Snapchat won’t load the pictures or snaps in chat.

It means that the app is having some problems. This error can also be caused by Snapchat servers or your device.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix Snapchat photos not showing in chat, and the reason why Snapchat won’t load the pictures or snaps in chat. You’ll also learn how to fix Snapchat by not loading stories on iPhone and Android.

ALSO READ: How To Reset Snapchat Password Without Email Or Phone Number (Solved)

What To Do When Snapchat Won’t Open Snaps, Photos, Or Stories?

This buggy experience may also see your Snapchat stop loading stories or snaps. There might be some bugs on the app causing the issue, or your device is the one giving you the problem. It can also be your internet connection.

If you have been using Snapchat and someone sent you a photo or snap but you can’t view it, because Snapchat isn’t loading the photo. This could be a one-time or frequent error.

Even though this issue isn’t caused by Snapchat, because someone somewhere may be using the app perfectly, it can be your device and network settings.

If your Snapchat isn’t opening photos, snaps, or stories, the quickest way to fix it is to turn off Data Saver, turn off Battery Saver if it’s on, and then switch to a better internet connection.

Then delete the Snapchat app, restart your device, and download the app again from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Sign in to your device and tell your friends to resend the photos, and you’ll be able to view the pictures or snaps in chat or load stories on the app.

The best way to fix anything is to just change the device, and you’ll see the problem will fix itself.

You can get one of the best Android devices or the best iPhone.

But why is the problem happening to you, or is it affected by everyone? We’ve written about why Snapchat photos, snaps, and stories are not opening?

ALSO READ: How To Remove Someone From Best Friends List On Snapchat

Why My Snapchat Not Loading Photos, Snaps, Or Stories?

Snapchat isn’t opening snaps or pictures in chat. What happened? Sharing photos on Snapchat with friends is easy.

If you want to keep the streak going to increase your snap score or have a best friend, you need to be able to view their Snaps or photos in the Snapchat app.

If you get notified that a snap has been received, but it won’t load, which means that you are unable to view it. This could be caused by your internet connection.

What are the reasons photos or snaps aren’t opening on the app, and stories aren’t even loading?

1. Bad Internet Connection

If Snapchat photos are not opening in chat, or you can’t load snaps or stories, this means that you have a terrible internet connection. And thus, you’ll not be able to load the picture or snaps.

2. Battery & Data Saver

Sometimes, for some people, turning on both Data Saver And Battery Saver may reduce how internet data is being used on Snapchat.

For some people, turning off this setting will allow you to open photos and snaps in chat.

3. Snapchat is outdated

If you can’t seem to open stories, snaps, or photos on Snapchat, this could mean that you’re using an outdated Snapchat app. And updating it is your way out.

4. Having Too Many Cache

Snapchat is great, and if you have been using the app for so long that you can’t remember, you may encounter this issue.

Having too many caches may not allow you to open the photos or snaps that you intended to view.

5. Slow Device

If you have a slow device or low-end Android smartphone, you may experience this issue on Snapchat.

You’ll have to restart the device, or possibly change your phone. Your device may be the one having the problem.

6. The Snapchat App Is Down

The Snapchat servers may be down. To make sure you aren’t the only one experiencing this issue, check Down Detector to see if Snapchat servers are down.

Snapchat is an amazing app for taking videos with lenses, and fixing the problem is just a must if you want to view the snaps or photos that your friends may have sent.

ALSO READ: How To Find Out What Filter And Lens You Used On Snapchat

How To Fix Snapchat Not Loading, Snaps Stories, Or Pictures?

There are many reasons why Snapchat is not loading images and stories, and we’ve written the top 9 ways to fix Snapchat not loading pictures or snaps.

Fix 1: Check Your Internet Connection

The very first thing you should try when you can’t seem to open Snapchat photos in the chat is to check your internet connection if it’s strong.

And if it’s not, you need to switch to another connection.

To solve the problem, switch between your mobile internet connection to Wi-Fi, or the reverse. And then the images should load on Snapchat.

To make sure that your connection is working properly, make sure to check the network speed.

Go to fast.com to see if your connection is stable. Once you have done that, restart the app and open Snapchat to view the pictures.

Things you should do when you change your internet connection.

  • Restart Your Phone
  • Uninstall and Reinstall Snapchat

If your pictures aren’t loading on Snapchat with this solution, you can go to the next.

Fix 2: Enable Snapchat Permissions

Just to make sure, you’ll have to check if you still have all the permission requirements in Snapchat.

Check your storage Permission which allows you to access your local storage and save snaps

To make sure you are on the right track to fix the problem make sure you’ve enabled all the Snapchat permission.

To allow Snapchat permissions on your iOS and Android device.

  • Open Snapchat Application.
  • Open the Snapchat Application.
  • Tap on the Bitmoji icon (Profile icon) at the top left corner.
  • Now, tap Settings (Gear Icon) at the top right corner.
  • Scroll down and tap on Permission under Additional Actions.
  • It will display if missing permissions are here. Then enable the permissions.

Once you allow the permission on Snapchat, check if the error is fixed, if it’s not, you can use the next solution.

Fix 3: Reboot Your Device

Another basic thing you can do when Snapchat is not loading pictures or snaps in the chat is to force close the app and restart your phone.

Once you do that, open the Snapchat app. This can quickly clear out the issue, and it’s one of the fixes that can fix major problems on any app.

You can quickly reboot your Android with the power button, and for iPhone, you can soft or force restart the device.

For Android: Long press the power button, and you’ll see different options.

For some Android devices, you’ll see Restart, and for some, you’ll see Reboot. Tap on Restart or Reboot.

For IOS: You can restart your device, we have written a detailed guide to soft or force restart your iPhone.

Each iPhone has different ways of the process, read the guide to know how and fix the problem.

Once you have rebooted your phone, what you’ll want to do now is to reopen the Snapchat app.

If the issue still hasn’t been fixed after you rebooted your device, try this next solution.

ALSO READ: What Does “Ignored From Added Me” Mean On Snapchat? (Explained)

Fix 4: Clear All Snapchat Cache And Data

If you have been using Snapchat for too long now, you must have gathered enough cache to use the App even without turning on your internet connection.

If you have downloaded many photos on the app, and suddenly you are experiencing this issue it is a cache error that doesn’t let you load pictures on the app.

Because it stores your old data, you’ll have to clear it out to fix the issue. To fix this problem, you’ll have to clear the cache on the app.

  • Open Snapchat Application.
  • Open the Snapchat Application.
  • Tap on the Bitmoji icon (Profile icon) at the top left corner.
  • Now, tap Settings (Gear Icon) at the top right corner.
  • Scroll down to Account Actions.
  • Tap on Clear Cache.

You can also clear the cache from your Android Settings. Go to Settings Search “Snapchat.” Tap on the app, and tap on storage and Cache.

And then Tap on Clear cache and your Snapchat cache will be cleared. You can also Clear Storage.

You’ll have to log back in to your account and see if you can view the snaps or photos again. If you still can’t use this other solution.

Fix 5: Logout And Re-login On Snapchat

If the Snapchat problem isn’t going away and you have done everything to this solution, you can sign out of your account and log back.

This will fix Snapchat stories not loading, and even photos and Snaps in chat. Once you sign out of your device, wait for a minute or 5, and sign in to your account. To sign out from Snapchat:

  • Open Snapchat Application.
  • Open the Snapchat Application.
  • Tap on the Bitmoji icon (Profile icon) at the top left corner.
  • Now, tap Settings (Gear Icon) at the top right corner.
  • Scroll down and tap on Log Out.

Login back after 5 minutes, if this solution didn’t fix the problem move on to the next.

ALSO READ: How To Hide The Filter (Lens) You Used On Snapchat

Fix 6: Disabled Battery/Data Saver mode

This happens all the time, if you have the Battery or Data Saver turned on your device this may determine how data is passed through apps, thus reducing the data on the app.

To fix this issue, turn off the Battery or Data Saver on your Android or iPhone.

Turn Data Saver On Android

  1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
  2. Tap Network and Internet.
  3. Data Saver.
  4. Turn the Data Saver off.
  5. In your status bar, when Data Saver is on, you’ll see the Data Saver icon. You’ll also see a notification at the top of your phone’s Settings app.

Turn Data Saver Off On iPhone

  1. Open Settings on your iOS Device.
  2. Go to Cellular
  3. Cellular Data Options.
  4. Turn Off Low Data Mode.
  5. Once you are in the Cellular Data Options, you will see Low Data Mode.

If this doesn’t seem to allow pictures and snaps to open, go to the next solution.

Fix 7: Clear Snapchat Conversation

When someone sends you a photo or snap to view, and you can’t load it, check if the problem is only happening to the users or everyone.

If the issue is from one particular person, you can clear out the conversation to start a new chat.

When you clear a conversation, everything will be deleted, snaps, messages, etc.

To clear your Snapchat conversation with a friend.

  • Open Snapchat Application.
  • Open the Snapchat Application.
  • Tap on the Bitmoji icon (Profile icon) at the top left corner.
  • Now, tap Settings (Gear Icon) at the top right corner.
  • Scroll down to Account Actions, and
  • Select Clear Conversations.

Then select the person you want to clear the conversation for.

And when done everything on the chats will be deleted, and you will need to start a new chat and ask the person to resend the photo.

If this solution isn’t working to fix your snaps from opening on Snapchat, go to the next.

Fix 8: Remove Friend And Re-Add

To use another solution for this error, you can remove the person on Snapchat and re-add them later. This will fix the problem.

To remove the friend on Snapchat, go to your My Friends list from your Snapchat Profile. Then tap and hold their name, and then tap Remove Friend, and tap Remove again to confirm.

Once you have removed them from the list, you can add them again and ask them to resend the photo or snap.

This should fix the problem if it doesn’t check the last solution.

Fix 9: Uninstall And Reinstall the Snapchat App

The next thing you can do for the photo to load in chat on Snapchat is to uninstall the app on your device. And then Re-Install an updated version of the app.

To delete the Snapchat app, long-press on the app icon, and then you will see an option to uninstall at the top on Android. And on iPhone, tap on the app icon, and tap on the small minus icon (—).

Then go to the Play Store or the Apple App Store to reinstall the app, log in to your account, and view the photo or snap.

Conclusion

When using Snapchat, some users tend to face some problems with the app.

Snapchat will not allow you to view the pictures in chat or stories because of some problems with your internet connection or device.

People send snaps every day and post their stories on Snapchat, but if they send you a photo or snaps, you can’t view it.

This problem can be caused by your internet connection, which is probably the major issue. Your device has a bug or Snapchat is down.

If you have the problem, switch to a better internet connection, and then restart your phone, update the app, and see if Snapchat will load images in chat.

You’ll see that if you use another device to log in to your account, you’ll be able to easily load the photos or snaps in chat and stories.

And with the guides we’ve written, you can fix Snapchat photos not loading.

ALSO READ: Do Snapchat Calls Show Up On Phone Bill? (Answered)

Frequently Asked Question

Why won’t picture load on Snapchat chat?

Snapchat is not loading on chat because it has a slow internet connection. Your device has a bug, and something happens with the Snapchat server. But this is most likely an error caused by your device.

How do you fix Snapchat not loading snaps or stories?

To fix Snapchat not loading snaps or stories, you need to restart your device, connect to a good internet network, uninstall the app, and reinstall it. Then open and the Snaps and Stories should be working fine.

How to see photos saved in chat on Snapchat?

Go to Chats on Snapchat, and then tap on any conversation you think someone has sent you a photo, and you have saved the photo. Open the chat, and swipe down to see all the saved photos.

Do pictures saved in chat on Snapchat disappear?

If someone sent you a photo on Snapchat, and you have saved it. The picture you saved in chat won’t disappear. And it will be in the saved photo section.

Why is my Snapchat not refreshing?

If your Snapchat is not refreshing, it’s because you have a bad internet connection, your device is slow or there’s something wrong with Snapchat servers.

Does Snapchat Drain Your Battery?

Your device uses your battery, and no Snapchat no not drain your battery, but the more time you spend on the app.

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By Timothy Mark Writer & Editor
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As a seasoned content writer with 4+ years of experience in consumer technology, Timothy has been a dedicated author and editor at Techvocast.com since its inception. Specializing in addressing user concerns, his articles offer effective solutions for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac-related issues. Timothy's expertise also extends to crafting content about social media and various applications. Through his daily articles, he consistently aids users in overcoming their technology challenges.
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