To send an existing video as a Snap on Snapchat, swipe up from the Camera screen, find it under Home or Camera Roll, press and hold its thumbnail, then use the sending controls to choose recipients and tap the blue arrow. These starting steps apply to Snapchat’s mobile app on iOS and Android.
The short version
- Existing video: Open Memories and find your clip under Home or Camera Roll.
- Saved Snap: Press and hold a saved video Snap in Memories, then tap the send icon.
- New recording: Hold the Camera button, then tap Send To to choose recipients.
- Recording trouble: Check camera and microphone permissions when capture is blocked.
| Option | What you can do | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Roll | Send an existing video | Your clip is already on your phone |
| Saved Snap in Memories | Resend a video Snap | You previously saved the Snap |
| Camera recording | Record a new video Snap | You want to capture something now |
| Long Snap | Record continuous clips | Long Snap is available in your app |
| Timeline Editor | Import and edit additional clips | The editor is available in your app |
| Quick Cut | Build a video from selected clips | You use iOS |
| Director Mode or Hands Free | Record hands-free across multiple clips | You want hands-free capture |
| Video Timer | Record after a countdown | The timer appears in your toolbar |
| Multi Snap | Record separate video Snaps | Multi Snap appears in your tools |
| Friend reply | Record a video reply | You want to reply to a friend |
| Snap Reply | Quote a Chat message in a video Snap | The conversation offers this option |
| Snapchat for Web | Record video on a computer | You use a supported desktop browser |
| Lists or Shortcuts | Reuse recipient selections | You send to the same friends |
| Snap Modes | Apply viewing restrictions | Your Snapchat+ account has the feature |
| Story publishing | Publish a video Snap to a Story | You want Story sharing |
| Web publishing portal | Upload to a Story or Spotlight | You want desktop publishing |
| In-app permissions | Review Snapchat’s access | Capture or import is blocked |
| Android permissions | Manage recording and media access | You have Android access problems |
| iPhone permissions | Enable camera and microphone access | You have iPhone recording problems |
| Official download page | Get the mobile app | You need Snapchat on a supported device |
Send a video from Camera Roll
Open Snapchat on your iPhone or Android phone and swipe up from the Camera screen to open Memories. Find your video under Home or Camera Roll, then press and hold its thumbnail. Use the sending controls to choose your recipients and tap the blue arrow to send.
If you need Snapchat first, get the mobile app through Snapchat’s official download page. Follow the link to your platform’s store and check the listing for compatibility with your device.
Resend a video Snap from Memories
Swipe up from the Camera screen to open Memories, then press and hold the saved video Snap. Tap the send icon, choose your recipients, then tap the blue arrow.
Record a new video Snap
On the Camera screen, press and hold the Camera button to record your video. Tap Send To, choose the friends or Groups you want to receive it, then tap the blue arrow at the bottom.
Combine existing clips with a new recording
When your app has Timeline Editor, keep holding the Camera button to record a Long Snap, then tap the Timeline Editor icon at the lower left of its preview. Tap + to import additional clips from Memories or Camera Roll.
Select a clip to access Split, Duplicate, Speed, Volume or Crop & Rotate. Using Replace substitutes the selected clip, while Delete removes it from the edit. Select a clip and choose Replace or Delete if you want either change.
Finish editing, then tap Send To. Choose your recipients and tap the blue arrow to send the video Snap.
Record continuously or without holding the button
With Long Snap available, keep holding the Camera button to record multiple clips continuously. On the preview, open Timeline Editor to trim or rearrange the clips if needed. Tap Send To, choose recipients and tap the blue arrow.
For hands-free, multi-clip recording, tap the film-camera icon in the Camera Modes toolbar to open Director Mode. If that entry is absent, tap Hands Free directly in the toolbar. Create your video, tap Send To, choose recipients and tap the blue arrow.
When Video Timer appears in your Camera toolbar, tap the Timer icon twice, or once when recording with a Sound. Set the clip length, choose a 3-second or 10-second countdown, then tap Start Countdown. After recording, tap Send To, choose recipients and tap the blue arrow.
When Multi Snap appears in your app, tap the downward arrow on the right of the Camera screen to expand the tools, then tap the Multi Snap icon. Hold the Camera button repeatedly to record your video Snaps, then tap Edit & Send. Tap an individual Snap to edit it.
Removing a Snap takes it out of the set you are preparing to send. Tap X on a Snap if you want to remove it. When you finish, use the sending controls to choose recipients and tap the blue arrow.
Reply to a friend with a video
Double-tap a friend to open the Camera for a reply. Hold the Camera button to record your video, then send the Snap to that friend.
To include a specific message in your video reply, open a Chat and press and hold the message. In a conversation offering Snap Reply, tap Snap Reply to use the quoted message as a sticker. Hold the Camera button to record a video and send the resulting Snap.
Choose between a private Snap and a Story
For a private video Snap, choose friends or Groups on the Send To screen and tap the blue arrow. To publish the video to your Story on mobile or Snapchat for Web, open Send To, select My Story, then tap the blue arrow. That choice publishes to a Story rather than sending a private Snap.
To upload a video from a computer for Story or Spotlight publishing, sign in to Snapchat’s web publishing portal. Drop the video into the upload area or click Choose video. Under Send to, select My Story, or select Spotlight Snaps for Spotlight. Read and agree to the Creator Terms, then click Post to Snapchat.
Record a video on your computer
Open Snapchat for Web in a current version of Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Safari on your desktop and sign in. If Snapchat for Web doesn’t work, Snapchat’s troubleshooting tips say to use the latest version of Snapchat on your phone, logged in to the same account. Click the Camera, then hold the lens icon at the bottom to record a video.
Fix blocked recording or video access
Start by reviewing Snapchat’s in-app permissions. On iOS, tap your Profile icon and the gear button, find the App & Privacy section, then tap My Privacy & Data. Under App & Privacy, tap Permissions.
On Android, tap your Profile icon and the gear button, find the App & Privacy section, then tap My Privacy & Data. Under Privacy Choices, tap Permissions. These screens let you review access when capture or import is blocked.
For Android system permissions, open Settings > Apps > Snapchat > Permissions, using See all apps if necessary. Open Camera and Microphone in turn and choose Allow only while using the app. Review Photos and videos for access to existing clips. Manufacturer labels and media-access choices vary, and Google says some instructions require Android 11 or later on Pixel.
Also check Android’s Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy > Privacy controls. Turn on Camera access and Microphone access if either is disabled.
On an iPhone using iOS 27 menus, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and turn on Snapchat. Return to Privacy & Security > Microphone and turn on Snapchat there too. These permissions enable recording; they do not change the delivery type of an existing attachment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you send video Snaps to the same people repeatedly?
After preparing the Snap, tap Send To, tap the search bar, then tap Create Lists and choose an emoji; tap My Lists to manage saved lists. Snapchat’s Shortcut guide also documents Create Shortcut in the Send To search bar: choose friends and an emoji, then tap Create Shortcut. Choose the saved recipients and tap the blue arrow to send.
Can you restrict replay or set an expiry for a video Snap?
If your Snapchat+ account has Snap Modes, tap the Snap Modes icon on the preview and choose One Time Only to prevent replay and saving in Chat. Alternatively, choose View It Or Lose It and select an expiry interval before sending. These modes apply to individual friends and Groups, not Story or Spotlight posts. Recipient device or app incompatibility can cause delivery as an ordinary Snap.
How does Quick Cut work with existing videos on iOS?
Start Quick Cut from Memories or Camera Roll, select clips and preview the generated video. Adjust the Lens carousel or Sounds selection as desired, then share the result. You can also open a Quick Cut shared by another Snapchatter and insert your own media.
Is there a shortcut for adding a newly captured Snap to your Story?
On mobile, you can use the Story shortcut icon immediately after capture to add the Snap to your Story. This gives you another entry point besides opening Send To.