How to Reverse a Video on Snapchat: Step-by-Step Guide

Snapchat’s reverse filter plays your video backwards, including the audio, and you can find it by swiping left through the filter carousel after recording. We tested this on both iPhone and Android handsets running current Snapchat versions, and the swipe-then-tap workflow is identical on either platform once you locate the triple-arrow icon.

#Finding the Reverse Filter on Snapchat

The reverse filter (three arrows pointing left, like <<<) lives in the filter carousel you access after recording. In our testing on iPhone and Android, the icon appears partway through the carousel, and its exact position can shift after Snapchat updates.

Here’s how to get there:

1. Open the Snapchat app on your phone.
2. Press and hold the circular capture button to record a video. Keep it under 10 seconds since the reverse filter won’t appear for longer clips.
3. Release the button to stop recording.
4. On the preview screen, swipe left through the available filters.
5. Keep swiping until you see three arrows (<<<) overlaid on your video. That’s the reverse icon.
6. Tap it and your video will immediately start playing backwards, audio included.

If you swipe past it, swipe right to go back. The filter applies instantly with no extra taps required.

Pro tip: Keep your camera steady while recording. Shaky footage looks even shakier in reverse.

#Why Isn’t the Reverse Filter Appearing?

This is the most common problem. According to Snapchat’s support documentation, the reverse filter is only available for videos recorded within the app, so you can’t apply it to clips imported from your camera roll. The Snapchat entry on Wikipedia states that Snap videos were originally capped at 10 seconds, and that same 10-second ceiling is still what the reverse filter targets inside the editor.

Four things to check if the filter isn’t appearing:

• Video length is over 10 seconds. Record a shorter clip.
• Outdated app version. An outdated Snapchat is the most frequent cause we run into. Go to the App Store or Google Play and update the app first.
• Regional restriction. Snapchat’s support page notes that some filters have limited availability by country.
• App glitch. Force-close Snapchat and reopen it, then try again.

If you’re having trouble with other filters too, see our guide on Snapchat filters not working for a full fix list.

#How Can You Enhance a Reversed Snapchat Video?

Applying the reverse filter is just the first step. Snapchat lets you stack other effects on top:

• Additional filters: Swipe left again after applying the reverse filter to add color or exposure effects.
• Text: Tap the T icon to add text. Words will seem to appear from nowhere as the video plays in reverse.
• Stickers: Use the sticker panel to add emojis or Bitmojis to your reversed clip.
• Voice filters: Found in the audio panel; these alter your reversed audio even further.
• Slow motion + reverse: Record in your phone’s slow-mo camera mode first, then apply the reverse filter inside Snapchat. This combination creates a surreal, dramatic effect that performs well on Snapchat Stories.

#How to Save and Share Your Reversed Snap

Once you’re satisfied with the result:

1. Tap the downward arrow (save icon) to download to your Camera Roll.
2. Tap Send To and choose individual friends or groups.
3. Select My Story to post it publicly to your Snapchat Story.
4. To share on Instagram or TikTok, save the video to your camera roll first, then upload from there.

Snapchat notifies you when a recipient screenshots your snap. For more control over your audience, our guide on creating a private Snapchat story walks through restricting viewers.

#Reversing Longer Videos with Multiple Clips

The 10-second cap is a hard limit the app enforces before the filter carousel appears, so the native reverse filter can’t stretch beyond that window. The most native-feeling workaround is to record several back-to-back 10-second clips, apply the reverse filter to each one inside Snapchat, save them to your camera roll, and stitch them together using your phone’s built-in photos editor or any timeline-based video app.

#Reversing Longer Videos with a Third-Party Editor

A third-party editor is the cleaner option for clips that already exist outside Snapchat. According to TechRadar’s roundup of video editing apps, CapCut is a free editor with a clip-reverse function, so you can reverse a longer file there, save the result to your camera roll, and share it through Snapchat. You won’t be able to apply Snapchat’s native reverse filter to an already-imported clip.

If you want to send a photo instead of a video, our guide on how to send a picture as a snap walks through using camera roll imports.

#Bottom Line

Record under 10 seconds inside Snapchat, swipe left after recording to the triple-arrow icon, and tap it. That’s the entire process. If the filter isn’t showing, updating the app is the fix in most cases. Combine the reverse effect with slow-motion recording for the most dramatic results.

#Frequently Asked Questions