Snapchat download formats explained
| Type | File | Extension | Size in our tests | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stories | the MP4 video or JPG photo of each Story snap | .mp4 / .jpg | the file Snapchat serves for the public Story: in our tests a 1242×2208 photo and a 480×270 video | Story downloader |
| Spotlight | the MP4 file of the Spotlight snap | .mp4 | the MP4 Snapchat serves for Spotlight, 540×960 in our tests | Spotlight downloader |
| Videos | an MP4 file (H.264 video with AAC sound) | .mp4 | the size Snapchat serves (540×960 for Spotlight in our tests); nothing is upscaled | Video downloader |
| Highlights | the MP4 or JPG of each saved Highlight snap | .mp4 / .jpg | the file Snapchat serves for the Highlight, 479×852 for a video in our tests | Highlights viewer |
| Profile Photos | the profile picture as a JPG in its stored size | .jpg | the stored size of the picture, up to 1080×1080 in our tests (it varies by account; the profile page itself shows a 90-pixel copy) | Profile picture viewer |
| Bitmoji | the Bitmoji image as PNG or WebP | .png / .webp | the full Bitmoji render, 1050×1400 in our tests | Profile picture viewer |
Stories
A public Story is a set of snaps that a public profile has posted recently. SnapViewer lists each snap with its date and gives one download per snap: photos as JPG, videos as MP4. In our test on 2026-10-30 one large public profile had 112 Story snaps (76 videos and 36 photos); a photo was 1242×2208 pixels (178 KB) and a 10-second video was a 480×270 MP4 of 320 KB.
Spotlight
Spotlight is Snapchat's public feed of short videos. A profile page lists its recent Spotlight snaps with the view count, length and upload date, and each one saves as an MP4. In our test a 43-second Spotlight snap was a 540×960 MP4 of 3.8 MB with an AAC sound track.
Videos
Every video on a public profile, whether in the Story, a Highlight or Spotlight, is an MP4 file on Snapchat's servers. The tool hands you that file under a readable name; it does not convert or upscale it. In our tests the sizes were 480×270 (Story video), 479×852 (Highlight video) and 540×960 (Spotlight).
Highlights
Highlights are Stories a public profile chose to keep on its page, grouped under a title. SnapViewer lists each Highlight with its snaps (up to 40 per Highlight on one page). In our test a 10-second Highlight video was a 479×852 MP4 of 721 KB.
Profile Photos
Snapchat's profile page loads a small copy of the profile picture (90×90 pixels in our test). SnapViewer asks Snapchat's image server for the stored version instead: 1080×1080 pixels (128 KB JPG) for one account in our tests, 362×362 and 375×375 for two others, because the stored size depends on what the owner uploaded. Only public profiles show a profile picture to everyone.
Bitmoji
Some accounts show a Bitmoji instead of a photo. When Snapchat includes it on the public page, SnapViewer offers the full render: 1050×1400 pixels in our test, as a 22 KB WebP and a 270 KB PNG with a transparent background. Many public creator profiles show a photo and no Bitmoji; then there is nothing to save.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Snapchat videos in 4K or 1080p?
No. Snapchat serves compact files (540×960 for Spotlight in our tests). We never upscale or relabel a file.
Can I convert a Snapchat video to MP3?
Not on SnapViewer. The tool saves the original MP4; it does not convert files.
Is the profile picture full size?
Yes. The tool asks Snapchat for the stored size of the profile picture (up to 1080×1080 in our tests) instead of the small thumbnail.
Guides
Story viewer — Type a username to watch a public profile's Stories, Spotlight and Highlights.