Snapchat is mainly designed for creating and sharing photos and videos directly from the app. However, you can also upload photos and videos that are already saved on your phone. Snapchat provides access to your device’s Camera Roll through Memories, allowing you to select existing media and share it with friends or post it to your Story.
How to Upload a Photo From Your Camera Roll to Snapchat
To upload a photo or video saved on your phone, open Snapchat and go to the Camera screen.
Swipe up on the Camera screen to open Memories. Then select the Camera Roll tab and find the photo or video you want to use. Snapchat currently provides Camera Roll access through Memories rather than requiring you to take a new photo with the Snapchat camera.
Press and hold the photo or video you want to share. Snapchat will open the available sharing options. From there, you can choose how you want to send or use the selected media.
This method works for photos and videos that are already stored on your device. The exact appearance of the Memories and Camera Roll screens can vary slightly between Snapchat versions.
How to Send a Camera Roll Photo in Snapchat Chat
You can also send a photo from your phone directly to a Snapchat conversation.
Open Snapchat and go to Chat. Open the conversation with the person or group you want to contact. Tap the photos icon in the Chat interface and select a photo from your Camera Roll. Then send the selected photo. Snapchat’s current support documentation specifically confirms that photos from the device’s Camera Roll can be sent in Chat.
This is useful when you want to send a photo that was taken earlier rather than taking a new Snap.
How to Add a Camera Roll Photo to My Story
You can also use a photo from your Camera Roll for My Story.
On Snapchat, select the photo from your Camera Roll through Memories and use the sharing options to send it to My Story. Snapchat also provides a direct Camera Roll sharing option on iOS: you can select a photo in the device’s Photos app, tap the Share button, and choose Snapchat’s My Story option.
A Story is different from a private Chat. A photo sent to a Chat is shared with the selected recipient or group, while a photo added to My Story becomes part of your Story and can be viewed by the people allowed by your Story privacy settings.
What to Do If Snapchat Cannot See Your Photos
If your Camera Roll does not appear in Snapchat, the app may not have permission to access your photos.
On iPhone, Snapchat provides its own Permissions section under Profile → Settings → My Privacy & Data → Permissions. The Photos permission allows Snapchat to save Snaps and Stories to the device’s Camera Roll and send photos and videos in Chat.
On Android, you can review Snapchat’s permissions through Profile → Settings → My Privacy & Data → Permissions. The available options depend on the Android version and device.
After changing the permission, return to Snapchat and open Memories again. Your Camera Roll should become available if the required photo or media permission has been granted.
Does Snapchat Upload the Original Photo to Memories?
Selecting a photo from your Camera Roll does not mean that Snapchat automatically backs up your entire phone gallery to Memories.
Snapchat states that Camera Roll media can be accessed when you grant the necessary permission, while Camera Roll media itself is not backed up by Snapchat.
Snapchat also notes that images and videos uploaded from a device’s Camera Roll can involve associated metadata, depending on the permissions and features being used.
