How to Turn Off Snapchat AI: A Practical Guide

Snapchat AI brings a mix of conversational features and smart prompts into your messaging experience. For some users, however, those AI-powered elements can feel distracting or raise privacy concerns. If you’re looking to regain a more quiet, straightforward Snapchat experience, turning off Snapchat AI is a reasonable step. This article explains what Snapchat AI is, why you might want to disable it, and how to turn it off across different devices. It also covers what to expect after turning off Snapchat AI and how to adjust related privacy settings for a smoother, more predictable app behavior.

Understanding Snapchat AI

Snapchat AI refers to the artificial intelligence features embedded within the app. The most visible component is the “My AI” chatbot, which can chat with you, offer suggestions, and sometimes appear in your chat list. Beyond My AI, Snapchat AI may power smart features that offer quick replies, content ideas, or interactive experiences. While these AI capabilities can be helpful—offering ideas for snaps, captions, or conversations—there are situations where it makes sense to minimize or completely turn off Snapchat AI. Whether you’re concerned about data usage, want a more private space for conversations, or simply prefer a more traditional chat experience, you can disable Snapchat AI with a few steps.

Reasons to turn off Snapchat AI

Privacy and data concerns: Some users worry about how AI features process and store messages. Turning off Snapchat AI reduces the amount of data fed into AI systems within the app.
Distraction and prompts: AI prompts can interrupt conversations or lead to off-topic suggestions. Disabling Snapchat AI helps maintain focus on your chats.
Consistency across devices: If you use Snapchat on multiple devices, you may notice AI features behaving differently. Turning off Snapchat AI can create a more uniform experience.
Battery and performance: While modern devices handle AI tasks efficiently, turning off AI features can marginally improve battery life and app responsiveness for some users.

How to turn off Snapchat AI: step-by-step guide

Steps can vary slightly depending on the app version and your device, but the general process remains similar. Below are two common routes you can follow to disable Snapchat AI. If you don’t see an exact label, look for a toggle or option related to “My AI,” “AI features,” or “AI prompts” in the AI’s settings or in the broader Privacy settings.

Directly disable My AI from the AI chat panel
– Open Snapchat and go to your profile by tapping your avatar in the top-left corner.
– Tap on My AI in the chat list to open the AI interface.
– Tap the three-dot menu next to the My AI chat or the settings icon in the AI window.
– Look for a toggle labeled Show My AI, Turn off My AI, or Disable AI. Switch it off.
– Confirm if prompted and return to your normal chat list. The AI should no longer appear in your conversations.
Disable via Snapchat’s general settings
– Open Snapchat and go to your profile.
– Tap the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner.
– Scroll to Privacy or Privacy Settings and locate options related to AI or My AI.
– Toggle off My AI or any option that mentions AI features, then exit Settings.
– Return to the chat view and verify that Snapchat AI prompts are gone.
Remove My AI from your chat list if a direct off option isn’t present
– In the chat list, find the My AI thread.
– Open the chat settings for that thread, then choose Remove or Delete chat if available.
– This action hides My AI from your main chat experiences and reduces AI-driven prompts during your usage.
Consider a broader privacy adjustment if needed
– If your goal includes reducing AI data processing, review permissions and data controls in Snapchat.
– In Settings, explore Data & Personalization or Ads & Data sections to limit how your interactions are used to train or tune AI features.

Note: App interfaces change with updates. If you don’t see a clearly labeled toggle, use the closest equivalent option and look for language such as AI features, My AI, or AI prompts. The principle is to find a control that stops the AI from actively participating in chats and prompts.

Alternative privacy controls and reminders

Turning off Snapchat AI is one layer of privacy control. You might also want to adjust related settings to further tailor your experience:

Limit data used for AI: Some versions offer settings to reduce data sent to AI services. Review Data & Personalization or Privacy sections and shrink data sharing where possible.
Clear alternatives: If you’re worried about AI learning from your messages, regularly delete conversations with AI where feasible, and avoid providing sensitive information in chats with AI features.
Manage prompts and suggestions: Look for settings that control when the app suggests captions, filters, or content ideas, and keep those turned off if you prefer minimal AI involvement.
Update regularly: AI features evolve, and the best way to ensure you have the latest controls is to keep Snapchat updated to the latest version.

What to expect after turning off Snapchat AI

Disabling Snapchat AI generally results in a more traditional chat experience. You may notice:

Fewer automated responses or suggestions inside conversations, making chats feel more like a standard messaging app.
My AI and similar prompts no longer appear in your chat list, reducing on-screen clutter.
A potential decrease in AI-powered ideas for snaps, captions, or special effects that were previously offered by the AI features.
Continued access to other Snapchat features that do not rely on AI, including photo and video sharing, filters, lenses, and normal chat.

Re-enabling Snapchat AI later

If you later decide you want to reintroduce AI features, you can reverse the steps above. In most cases, you can:

Open the Snapchat app and go to Settings.
Find the AI-related option, such as My AI or AI features, and toggle it back on.
Return to the chat list to verify that My AI reappears and prompts are available again.

Troubleshooting common issues

If Snapchat AI isn’t turning off as expected, try these quick checks:

Restart the app: A simple restart can apply new settings and clear temporary glitches.
Check for an app update: Ensure you’re on the latest version of Snapchat, as older builds may not reflect the latest AI controls.
Sign out and sign back in: A fresh session can help apply privacy changes across the account.
Review account-wide settings: Some privacy controls may be tied to your Snapchat account rather than the device, so check both device-level and account-level settings.
Contact support: If you still see AI prompts after following the steps, reach out to Snapchat Support for guidance tailored to your device and app version.

Frequently asked questions

Can I temporarily disable Snapchat AI without removing it completely?

Yes. In most configurations, you can turn off My AI while leaving other AI features available. Look for a toggle labeled My AI or a similar option in the AI’s settings. This lets you pause AI interactions without uninstalling or deleting the feature entirely.

Will turning off Snapchat AI delete my past AI conversations?

Disabling AI does not automatically delete your existing AI conversations. If you want to remove old chats with My AI, you’ll typically need to delete those chat threads manually. For a clean slate, clear any AI-related conversations after turning off Snapchat AI.

Does turning off Snapchat AI affect image or video filters?

Turning off Snapchat AI usually affects AI chat companions and prompts rather than standalone filters or lenses. If you rely on AI-assisted ideas for filters or effects, you may choose to keep those features active while disabling conversational AI.

Is Snapchat AI mandatory for using the app?

No. Snapchat AI is not mandatory. Most users can choose to disable AI features and still use all core messaging, photo sharing, and video functionality. If you encounter unexpected AI prompts, revisiting the app’s privacy settings often resolves the issue.

Conclusion

Turning off Snapchat AI is a practical option for users who value a more straightforward, privacy-conscious experience. By locating the AI controls in the profile, chat, or privacy settings, you can minimize or eliminate AI prompts, conversations, and data processing associated with AI features. Whether you’re experimenting with privacy settings, seeking a distraction-free chat, or simply wanting consistency across devices, the steps above provide clear paths to stop Snapchat AI from actively engaging in your conversations. If you ever decide to re-enable it, the toggles are typically easy to find in the same sections. As with any app feature, staying informed about the latest updates will help you maintain the level of AI interaction you’re most comfortable with while enjoying the core Snapchat experience.