Skip to main content

This is how users can save your secret Snapchat videos

snapchat cached videos
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Snapchat messages aren’t as fleeting as we thought. While we all know photos can be saved via screen shots, videos hadn’t yet aroused much concern. But Buzzfeed discovered a loophole that will allow you to retrieve, save, and rewatch both Snapchat and Poke videos.

Just when you thought there was the perfect app for self-destructing messages, it’s too good to be true. When the recipient of the message takes a screen shot to save an image sent through Poke and Snapchat, the sender is alerted. This isn’t the case if the recipient decides to access the temporary file. So how does it work?

Even on your computer, files are stored locally as a temporary file and the same goes for files sent to and from your smartphone. These files though aren’t visible unless you download an iPhone, iPad, iPod file browser to your desktop, like iFunBox — which for the record doesn’t require you to jailbreak your phone either.

When you’ve received a video through Poke or Snapchat, don’t open the file. If the video is opened when using Poke and played, the temporary file disappears and there’s no way of retrieving it. Instead connect your iOS device to your computer and open up the iPhone file browser where you can view all of the files inside of your phone.

To access Snapchat videos, access the Snapchat folder. Within this is a folder is a subfolder labeled “tmp,” which stands for “temporary.” You’ll find the temporary files of the videos here.

facebook poke cached videos
Image used with permission by copyright holder

To view and save the temporary files from Poke, you’ll have to navigate to Poke/library/caches/fbstore/mediacard.

Buzzfeed notes that while Poke videos disappear after viewing it, Snapchat’s videos instead linger around. And the loophole doesn’t work for photos since they’re not cached.

Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel doesn’t appear to be fazed enough by this loophole to patch it and chalks it up to the nature of the app. He tells Buzzfeed, “The people who most enjoy using Snapchat are those who embrace the spirit and intent of the service. There will always be ways to reverse engineer technology products — but that spoils the fun!”

Facebook, on the other hand, is working on a fix.

Loophole or no loophole, there really is no panacea for protecting users from duplicating content sent to and from any of these “self-destructing” apps. If someone really wanted to record a video or photo without alerting the sender, most would opt to use another device and record the clips or take a photo of the image. If you’re under the impression that these apps have your privacy in mind, consider this a wake up call.

Editors' Recommendations

Francis Bea
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Francis got his first taste of the tech industry in a failed attempt at a startup during his time as a student at the…
ChatGPT is coming to Snapchat to be your new AI BFF
ChatGPT-powered My AI chatbot running in the Snapchat app.

Snapchat is best known as a popular social media app for sending photos/videos to friends and watching bad reality shows. But starting today, Snapchat also wants to be your go-to destination for ChatGPT. Yes, that's right — the same ChatGPT technology that caused Bing Chat to declare it wanted to be human.

Per an announcement on the Snapchat Newsroom website, ChatGPT is coming to the Snapchat app in the form of the "My AI" chatbot. My AI will appear in the Snapchat app just like any of your other friends. You'll find My AI on the Chat page, you can view its profile, look at its avatar, etc. At a glance, My AI looks like any of your other Snapchat friends.
My AI brings ChatGPT to Snapchat

Read more
How Apple can (and should) save the iPhone SE 4
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) and Apple iPhone SE (2020) together.

When it comes to Apple’s iPhone lineup, most people just think of the latest mainline series. Right now, this means the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. However, there’s still the iPhone SE, now in its third iteration, that still serves a purpose for a specific niche of iPhone user.

The original iPhone SE from 2016 recycled the iPhone 5S body, which was a great design at the time, and it had the perfect small and compact 4-inch size for one-handed use. The second and third-generation iPhone SE reused the older iPhone 8 body, which had a slightly larger 4.7-inch screen, and are still the only iPhones left using Touch ID. Plus, you could pick up an iPhone SE for less than $430, making it a great pick if you’re budget is tight.

Read more
With the iPhone 14 in trouble, here’s how Apple can save the iPhone 15
iPhone 14 laying face-down on a table. There's a potted plane to the right of it, slightly out of focus.

Apple’s iPhone, once lauded for its simplicity by only offering one model in different storage capacities, is more complicated than ever before. We've had at least four different versions to choose from ever since the iPhone 12 series, with the current iPhone 14 lineup offering the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

But one of those is not like the other, because it appears to be a technological flop. Yes, I’m talking about the iPhone 14 Plus. This is the model that Apple axed the mini size for, and it was an odd choice that I’ve been questioning ever since Apple made the official announcement. The failure of the iPhone 14 Plus is also of concern at Apple headquarters, as the company is reportedly looking at ways to re-strategize the iPhone 15 lineup in 2023.
What went wrong with the iPhone 14 Plus?

Read more