You know that sinking feeling, when you finally export your Snapchat memories, only to find they’ve lost their date, time, and location data. Suddenly, your vacation photos, graduation stories, and those late-night laughter clips lose their meaning.
They’re just… files.
No timestamps. No context. No memories.
And now that Snapchat has announced a 5 GB limit on Memories storage, many users are exporting their snaps to free up space, only to realize that their exported files don’t carry the same emotional depth.
But don’t worry. This guide will show you exactly how to restore Snapchat metadata, including the date and location details; so your memories remain whole.
Let’s bring those moments back to life.
Snapchat’s export system was never really designed for long-term archiving. Its goal was quick sharing, not preservation. When you download your “Memories,” Snapchat compresses and exports them, but often strips out EXIF data like:
That means when you move those photos to Google Photos, your camera roll, or an external drive, they appear as if they were all taken today, with no trace of when or where they were originally captured.
For users who treat Snapchat as their digital journal, that’s devastating.
Because these aren’t just snaps. They’re chapters of your life.
Snapchat’s new 5 GB Memories limit has changed how users manage their snaps.
If your Memories exceed that cap, you have two choices:
Most people go with option two. But the trade-off? Every exported file loses its original metadata. Years of carefully saved snaps suddenly appear as unorganized chaos on your device.
It’s frustrating, especially if you’ve captured over 10 GB of Snapchat data across several years.
You want your memories as they were. That’s exactly what ExportSnap helps you do.
ExportSnaps isn’t just another export utility, it’s your memory restorer.
When you export your Snapchat data, you also get a file called memories_history.json. This hidden file contains your original metadata — timestamps, GPS coordinates, everything.
ExportSnap merges this metadata with your exported media, bringing your memories back to life.
Here’s how it works:
It’s like giving your memories their heartbeat back.
Here’s why thousands of Snapchat users are turning ExportSnaps to restore their metadata safely and quickly:
If you’ve got years of memories or over 10 GB of exports, the Pro upgrade is a no-brainer.
If you’ve hit Snapchat’s new 5 GB limit and want to back up your memories without losing date and location data, follow these simple steps. ExportSnap makes it effortless and fully private.
Go to Snapchat Web and log in using your username, email, or phone number.
Once you’re logged in, click your profile icon at the top left.
Then, open the Settings menu and scroll down to find “My Data.”
Inside My Data, scroll until you see “Export your Memories.”
You’ll find a section titled “Just looking for an easy way to get your memories?”
Click the blue button “Request Only Memories.”
This will trigger Snapchat to prepare your complete memories archive — including your photos, videos, and a JSON metadata file.
After submitting the request, Snapchat will process your data and email you a download link once it’s ready.
Depending on your data size, this can take a few minutes to a few hours.
When your archive is ready, head back to the My Data page and scroll to “Your Exports.”
Click Download to get your ZIP file.
Inside that ZIP, you’ll find:
Launch ExportSnap. You’ll be greeted with a clean, minimal interface that asks you to upload your metadata file.
Click “Choose File” and select the memories_history.json file from your exported folder.
At this stage, you can see two assurances at the bottom:
Once your JSON file is uploaded, ExportSnap will analyze your folder and show a summary:
You can also adjust your timezone (for correct timestamps) and select where to save the restored files.
Click “Start Export.”
You’ll see a live progress screen that shows:
Everything happens locally, and the app handles thousands of files efficiently — even restoring 25,000+ snaps in one batch.
Once done, you’ll see the “Export Complete” screen confirming successful restoration, with the exact number of files processed.
Your photos and videos are now fully restored with their original date, time, and GPS metadata, ready to be imported into Google Photos, Apple Photos, or any gallery app.
Snapchat’s 5 GB cap might limit your storage, but it doesn’t have to limit your memories.
With ExportSnap, you can restore Snapchat metadata, relive every date, every place, every emotion, exactly as you captured them.
You don’t just save files — you save your story.
Download ExportSnaps today and restore your snaps with their original dates, times, and locations ; safely, privately, and in seconds.
Because every snap tells a story and yours deserves to be told exactly as it happened.
To restore Snapchat metadata (date, time, and location) after exporting, use ExportSnaps. Upload your exported memories_history.json file and media folder, and the app will automatically merge the data back into your photos and videos — restoring them exactly as they appeared in Snapchat.
When you export photos or videos from Snapchat, the app saves them as regular JPG or MP4 files without EXIF metadata. This means the date and location information is stripped out, making it necessary to use tools like ExportSnaps to restore Snapchat metadata correctly.
Technically, yes — but it’s very time-consuming. You’d have to manually match entries from your memories_history.json file to each photo and edit EXIF data with third-party editors. ExportSnaps automates this process safely and restores Snapchat metadata in seconds with full accuracy.
No. Tools like ExportSnaps restore Snapchat metadata without changing or compressing your original files. The app simply adds back the missing EXIF tags (date, time, GPS) — your photos and videos stay in their original quality.
Yes. ExportSnaps runs entirely on your Mac, offline — meaning no cloud uploads or data sharing. Your snaps and metadata stay 100% private on your device while the app restores Snapchat metadata locally.
Absolutely. Once you restore Snapchat metadata using ExportSnap, your photos and videos can be imported into Google Photos, Apple Photos, or any gallery app. They’ll appear perfectly sorted by the original date, time, and location.