Snapchat Blocked Third-Party Apps, So Now What?

There are still things you can do so don't despair

Third-party apps are popular to us with all sorts of major social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and others. Snapchat, on the other hand, has never been a fan of the apps created by third-party developers.

A third-party app is any app that isn't owned by the official app developer. Fans of popular, official apps usually see a need that isn't being fulfilled, so they decide to develop an app that works with the official app's API to offer new features that other users might enjoy as well. For example, popular third-party apps that Snapchat users regularly used included ones that could upload preexisting photos, take secret screenshots or add music to videos.

A finger is posed next to the Snapchat app logo on an iPad
Carl Court / Getty Images

In early April of 2015, a Backchannel interview with Snapchat tech executives was published, revealing that the company had been working for months on its efforts to completely shut out all third-party apps from being able to access its platform. According to the support section of its website, using third-party apps with Snapchat is a violation of its Terms of Use.

Today, Snapchat offers API access only to trusted partners. These are mostly big brands that are looking to advertise to the Snapchat community.

Why Block All Third-Party Apps?

Snapchat's main issue with third-party apps is security. In the fall of 2014, the messaging platform fell victim to a security attack through one of the third-party apps that were built to save Snapchat photos and videos.

The third-party app was hacked, leaking almost 100,000 private Snapchat photos that had been saved through the app. Even though Snapchat itself wasn't hacked, the leak was a big embarrassment for the popular messaging platform and called for the need to step up security measures.

Snapchat believes that it has done enough to completely block out all third-party apps now in its latest version of the app. If you've used a third-party app with Snapchat in the past, the company recommends that you change your password and upgrade to the latest version in order to ensure your safety and privacy.

Can You Still Take Screenshots With Snapchat?

Since all third-party apps are now blocked, you probably won't be able to use any Snapchat screenshot apps that claim to actually work. You can still, however, take a regular screenshot (by pressing your power button/volume button and home button simultaneously) through the official Snapchat app. Just keep in mind that a notification will be sent to the user every time you take a screenshot of something they sent to you.

Can You Still Upload Previously Taken Photos or Videos to Snapchat?

There used to be quite a few third-party apps that allowed users to select photos or videos from a folder on their devices to upload through Snapchat. Since then, however, Snapchat has introduced Memories — a brand new, in-app feature that not only allows users to upload photos and videos, but also save photos and videos they take within the app itself before sharing them.

Can You Still Add Music to Snapchat Videos?

Any app that claims it could add music to a video and then let you share it through Snapchat probably won't work. Luckily, Snapchat lets you record music from your device as you film your video in Snapchat.

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