What device-level privacy settings should be used alongside Snapchat’s My Eyes Only for maximum protection?

1. What My Eyes Only actually protects — and what it doesn’t

My Eyes Only isolates selected Snaps and Stories in a passcode‑locked folder stored within Snapchat Memories and, according to Snapchat, the content is encrypted so that “without the password, no one can view” those items — a claim repeated in Snapchat documentation and support forums ^{[2] [4] [5]}; yet vendor guidance and independent writeups emphasize that losing the My Eyes Only PIN can make those items unrecoverable and that account compromise remains an avenue of risk ^{[6] [7]}.

2. Mandatory account controls: two‑step verification and strong account credentials

The first device‑level defense is to harden the Snapchat account itself: enable two‑step verification and use a unique, strong account password so that attackers cannot simply log into the app on another device and attempt to access Memories or reset vault settings (Snapchat’s recommended settings and security guides explain and encourage two‑step verification for sign‑ins) ^[3]; security guidance across the reporting makes clear that account compromise undermines even encrypted vaults because account access can enable recovery or bypass workflows ^[7].

3. Vault hygiene: choose and protect the My Eyes Only passcode

Set a My Eyes Only passcode that is not reused elsewhere and change it immediately if there’s reason to suspect exposure, because the vault’s security hinges on that PIN — Snapchat’s setup flow uses a passcode to gate access and warns that forgetting it risks permanent loss of the hidden Snaps ^{[1] [6]}. Snapchat documentation and help pages explicitly instruct users to back up Memories before logging out, switching devices, or uninstalling the app to avoid data loss — a practical caveat that also affects the vault ^[2].

4. Snapchat‑level privacy settings to pair with device controls

Adjust who can view or contact the account and review location and story visibility settings inside Snapchat to reduce the chance that social engineering or friend‑list abuse exposes sensitive content; guides and privacy walkthroughs note that controlling “View My Story,” contact permissions, and location sharing is part of tightening overall privacy around Memories and My Eyes Only ^{[3] [7]}. Snapchat’s privacy policy also treats content saved in My Eyes Only as private communications within their data model, which reinforces configuring in‑app privacy alongside device protections ^[8].

5. Operational steps and backup cautions

Follow Snapchat’s explicit advice to keep Memories backed up before logging out or uninstalling — backups are necessary to avoid losing content but are also an operational risk: backed‑up content may exist outside the local device under account control, so understand where backups reside and how they are protected by the account’s authentication ^{[2] [4]}. Parental and guardian reporting underscores that the vault is frequently used to hide items from others with device access, which reinforces the need for strict passcode discipline and account locks rather than casual device sharing ^[9].

6. Limits, residual risks, and honest tradeoffs

Snapchat states it cannot view My Eyes Only content without the PIN, but users should accept two limits the coverage highlights: if the account is fully compromised or if the device environment is already controlled by an attacker there remain scenarios where privacy can fail, and forgetting the PIN can irretrievably erase saved items ^{[5] [7] [6]}. Reporting across support and help pages documents company claims of encryption and technical protection, yet also flags practical failure modes (backups, passcode loss, account takeover) that must be mitigated through the device‑level and account controls outlined above ^{[4] [2]}.