Snapchat offers multiple ways to stay connected with friends via live snaps: photos and videos taken in the app being the most popular. But what if you want to share something from your camera roll instead of taking a new picture every time? You can! This guide shows how to send photos and videos as live snaps from the camera roll.
Good to know: trying to enhance your Snapchat friend list? Learn how to find someone on Snapchat.
Send Live Snaps from Camera Roll via Snapchat Camera
The simplest way to send live snaps from camera roll is via the Snapchat camera. This opens as you launch the app on your phone. Instead of taking a photo or video, tap the small icon that looks like a bundle of photos.
Switch to Camera Roll at the top.
Recent images includes photos and videos from your phone’s camera roll, as well as media received via apps, such as WhatsApp. Tap an image to select it or if you want to select more, press the checkmark icon in the upper-right corner, then make your selection.
You can also add a filter to your live snap from the camera roll. Tap on the Add a Lens option to start browsing options.
Tap on one of the effects, then again on the large shutter button at the bottom. You can add other enhancements on the top, such as text, stickers, and more.
Press the Send To button at the bottom.
Select the friend you wish to send the live snap to and press Send. You can also save the edited live snap to your camera roll.
This is what my recipient will see when I send the snap.
FYI: had enough of Snapchat? Learn how to delete your Snapchat account.
Send Live Snaps from Camera Roll Without Media Upload Message
Many users report that people who get these live snaps see the “Media upload” message for images/videos uploaded from the camera roll. The messages show how long ago the image was taken, making it known that the image or video was not a live snap. To eliminate the message, try one of these tricks.
Upload Your App
In the latest version of Snapchat, it seems the “Media upload” message no longer appears when you send snaps from your camera roll in chat (as shown above). But if you still see it, check whether there are any Snapchat updates available.
Visit the Google Play Store or App Store, search for the app, and see if you can update it to the latest build. It may depend on your device.
Remix the Snap
If you’re looking to share an older image/video from your camera roll as a story, there are a couple of solutions. If you upload it the usual way, you’ll see something like the below image.
Try this trick. Open Snapchat and go to your Camera Roll. Select the image/video you wish to send. Long-press on it, then select Remix Snap in the pop-up.
On the next screen, select the last option for face inserts in the Remix bar.
Minimize the face insert as much as possible, and drag it out of the viewable area. Tap on the shutter button to record a small video. (It won’t be visible in the final live snap, so don’t stress about shooting something interesting.)
Finally, press on the Stories option to add the new snap.
The person viewing the story will see it as if you’ve uploaded a live snap.
Use a Lens
This is another method to add live snaps to Stories from your camera roll. Open the Snapchat app, and use the Search function to search for a camera roll filter or lens.
Select a filter or lens, then switch the camera view so that you don’t appear overlaid on the photo. Select the image or video you want to share, then tap the Shutter button.
Send the photo or video to stories.
Viewers will see that your older image/video was uploaded seconds ago. Note, however, that the name of the lens will be shown in the lower-left corner.
Tip: Snapchat is not just for sending snaps. Check out these other ways to use Snapchat.
How to Save Live Snaps to Camera Roll
If you’ve received what looks like a live snap on Snapchat, you can save it to your camera roll. In the chat, press on the three dots in the upper-right corner.
Select the Save in Chat option.
Long-press again, and select Save to Camera Roll.
Now that you’ve become adept at sending live snaps from your camera roll, learn how to find out when someone was last active on Snapchat. Also check out all the different Snapchat emoji meanings that let you check friendship levels and more.
Image credit: DepositPhotos. All screenshots by Alexandra Arici.
