If you’re reading this, you probably know the frustration of seeing the flame emoji vanish next to a friend’s name on Snapchat—that streak you’ve built to 100, 200 + days is gone. The good news? You can restore it in many cases. Below, I’ll walk you through 3 detailed, free methods for how to restore Snapchat streak for free, including the pros and limitations of each, plus step-by-step instructions. I’ll also touch on how many free restores per month there are, so you know your options.
🟨 Featured Snippet (Quick Answer)
To restore a Snapchat streak for free, open the chat with your friend and tap “Restore Streak” if the option appears. If not, go to Snapchat Support > I Lost My Snapstreak, fill out the request form, and explain what happened. Snapchat may restore the streak at no cost if both users sent Snaps before the timer expired. You can also use data-recovery tools like Gbyte Recovery to retrieve lost app data that proves your activity.
Method 1: Use Snapchat’s In-App Restore Option (The Fastest Way)
When your streak ends recently, Snapchat sometimes gives you a direct “Restore” button inside the app. This is the fastest & most straightforward way.
Why This Method Works
Snapchat built this feature specifically for situations where streaks end recently. According to Snapchat's official support documentation, if you open the chat with your streak partner shortly after losing the streak, you might see a "Restore Streak" option at the top of the conversation. This is Snapchat's way of acknowledging that mistakes happen—whether it's a forgotten snap or a technical hiccup on their end.
Step-by-step instructions
Open the Snapchat app and go to the Chat with the friend whose streak ended.
If the streak ended recently (within a short window), the top of the chat may show a “Restore Streak” banner or button.
Tap “Restore”. Follow any prompts (Snapchat may ask for confirmation).
After submission, wait for the notification that the streak has been restored.
Resume sending daily snaps to keep the streak going.
Pros
✅ It’s free (no payment required) since it’s built into Snapchat.
✅ Fastest method—no waiting for external support.
✅ Official route (safe, supported by Snapchat).
Limitations
❌ Only works if the streak ended very recently. If the end is too far in the past, no “Restore” button will show.
❌ Even when it appears, you have to act quickly—delay may mean the option disappears.
❌ After using it, you still need to keep the streak active; restoring doesn’t give you immunity from losing it again.
Short summary: If you just lost the streak and the “Restore” banner is visible, this is your best bet.
Method 2: Free submit a Request Through Snapchat Support (The Official Backup)
What happens when the in-app restore button doesn't appear? That's where Snapchat's support form comes in. This is the official backup method, and while it takes a bit longer, it works surprisingly well—especially if you have a legitimate reason for losing the streak.
Why this works
Snapchat’s support page says: if you don’t see the “Restore” button, fill out their form for “I lost my Streak”. They will review your request. (Snapchat Support) Also, other guides (like from Tenorshare) describe this as a valid method. (Tenorshare)
Step-by-step instructions
On your phone or browser, go to Snapchat’s support site → Category: Using Snapchat → Sub-topic: Streaks → Article “I lost my Streak. How do I restore it?”
Scroll to the section and click on the link to fill the “I lost my Snapstreak” form.
You’ll need to enter:
Your Snapchat username
Your registered email address
Friend’s Snapchat username (the chat partner)
How many days the streak was (if known)
Description of what happened (e.g., “We both sent snaps, no internet glitch, but 24 h passed”).
Submit the form and wait. Snapchat says they’ll review your request.
If approved, Snapchat will restore the streak, usually within a few hours. Then restart sending snaps daily to maintain it.
Pros
✅ Free and officially supported.
✅ Good option if the in-app “Restore” button didn’t appear.
✅ You can detail what happened (internet outage, device switch, etc.), which helps your case.
Limitations
❌ No guarantee – if the streak ended too long ago, Snapchat may not restore it.
❌ Review time may vary (could take hours).
❌ It still only works if you genuinely qualify — e.g., you actually sent within 24 h or something outside your control happened. If you simply forgot, they may decline.
Short summary: Use this when the in-app restore option is gone, but the streak end is still fairly recent and you have a legitimate reason.
Method 3: Recover Snapchat Streak Using Recovery Tool (For Complex Cases)
Suppose the streak ended because of lost app data (e.g., uninstalling app, switching phones, corrupted chats) rather than simply missing snaps. In these cases, having proof that you actually did send snaps—or tried to—can make all the difference.
This is where a data recovery tool like Gbyte Recovery becomes valuable, not as a magical streak restorer, but as a way to gather evidence for your Snapchat Support request.
Why this helps
Let's be clear: no third-party tool can directly restore your Snapchat streak by hacking or manipulating Snapchat's servers. Anyone claiming otherwise is either scamming you or violating Snapchat's terms of service (which could get your account banned).
However, what data recovery tools CAN do is retrieve lost information from your device—deleted app data, chat logs, media files, and timestamps that prove you were active on Snapchat during the crucial timeframe. When you're dealing with technical issues rather than simple forgetfulness, this evidence can transform a weak support request into a compelling case.
Gbyte Recovery is a professional iOS data recovery tool that specializes in retrieving lost app data, even when you don't have an iCloud backup. It's handy for Snapchat because it can recover:
Deleted chat messages showing you sent snaps during the streak period
Media files that prove you were using Snapchat
Account data that shows connection issues or crashes
Step-by-step using Gbyte Recovery
Download and install Gbyte Recovery on your computer (Windows or macOS), or run it on your iPhone directly.
Select the "Snapchat" data type in Gbyte Recovery.
Run a deep and FREE scan of your device—this will look for missing chat, videos, etc.
Review the preview of recovered items. If you find logs showing you sent snaps or messages within the timeframe, export these to your computer.
Use the recovered data as supporting evidence: you can send this to Snapchat Support along with your “I lost my Streak” form, showing you did send in time.
After restoration (if approved), resume normal Snap behavior to keep the streak alive.
Pros
✅ Useful when the issue is more than just forgetting: e.g., app crash, device swap, data corruption.
✅ Gives you additional evidence to support your restoration request to Snapchat.
✅ Gbyte Recovery is specialized for iOS and supports “no backup required” recovery in some cases.
Limitations
❌ Technically not strictly free for full recovery. While some tools allow scanning for free, full restoration often requires a license.
❌ This method does not guarantee Snapchat will automatically restore the streak—it gives you evidence to submit.
❌ Requires a computer, some time, and a bit more technical effort.
❌ If your device has overwritten the data (lots of new content written after the loss), recovery chances drop.
Short summary: Use this as a fallback when the streak loss is tied to more complex issues—lost data, device change, etc.—and you want the strongest chance to rebuild your case with Snapchat’s support.
Bonus: How Many Free Restores in Snapchat Per Month?
A common question: how many free restore in Snapchat per month? Here's what we found:
According to an article by Snapchat itself about Snapchat+ (their subscription tier): users subscribed to Snapchat+ are granted one free in-app Streak Restore per month.
If you use that one free restore, any additional restores in that same month will require payment (via in-app purchase).
If you are not subscribed to Snapchat+, that free-monthly-restore benefit does not apply—so you may only have the above free methods (in-app button or support form).
Key takeaway: If you’re on the free tier of Snapchat (non-Snapchat+), you don’t automatically get a monthly free restore via the in-app “Streak Restore” option. That perk is part of the paid tier. However, the free methods above (in-app button when eligible + support form) remain valid for all users.
Tips to Prevent Losing Your Streak Again
Restoring is only part of the story—keeping the streak alive matters. Here are some practical tips:
Set a daily reminder or calendar alert at roughly the same time each day.
Keep your Snap partner informed: if you’ll be travelling or offline, send a snap ahead of time (or agree on a “placeholder” snap).
If you have poor internet or app issues, check your delivery status: the hourglass emoji (⌛) means the streak is about to expire.
You don’t need a perfect photo—send a quick snap (even a blank or simple one) instead of skipping entirely.
Consider enabling notifications for Snapchat to alert you if you missed sending.
Final Thoughts
Losing a streak on Snapchat is painful—especially when it’s a long one. But the good news is that when you know how to restore Snapchat streak for free, you have real options:
Try the in-app “Restore” button first (quickest).
If that fails, use Snapchat’s support form (free, official).
If the problem is deeper (device/backup issues), use a data-recovery approach like Gbyte Recovery to build your case.
And yes — know how many free restores you’re eligible for (one per month only via Snapchat+).
Act quickly. The sooner you attempt the restore after the streak ends, the higher the chance of success. Once your streak is back (or you’ve started a new one), make it a habit to keep it going with those consistent snaps.
