Last updated: March 2026
How to Save Your BeReal Memories
Quick answer: To save all your BeReal memories, request a GDPR data export from BeReal (free, arrives within 48 hours), upload the ZIP to RealRetrieve ($7.99 one-time), and download all your photos as standard JPG files you can keep forever — in your camera roll, Google Photos, or any backup service.
BeReal was built around spontaneous, authentic moments. But those moments live on BeReal's servers, not yours. If the app goes away, if you delete your account, or if you simply want your photos in your camera roll where they belong — you need to act now to preserve them.
The good news: BeReal is required to give you all your photos under privacy law. This guide walks you through the complete process of getting them out and backing them up safely.
Why You Should Save Your BeReal Photos Now
Every app you trust with your photos is a single point of failure. Platforms shut down, change policies, get acquired, or simply discontinue features without warning. Your BeReal photos — years of authentic moments with friends — exist solely on BeReal's infrastructure until you back them up.
Unlike Instagram or Google Photos, BeReal doesn't sync to your camera roll by default. Every BeReal you've posted is a moment that exists only in the app unless you've manually saved it one at a time.
The time to back up your photos is before something happens — not after.
What You'll Get
When you complete this process, you'll have:
- All your BeReal photos as standard JPG files
- Original dates and timestamps preserved in each photo's metadata
- Both camera angles (front and back) combined in BeReal's picture-in-picture format
- Location data embedded where you had location sharing enabled
- Photos organized and named by date
These are files you own, stored where you choose, with no dependency on BeReal's platform.
How to Save Your BeReal Memories — Step by Step
Request Your Data from BeReal
Open the BeReal app. Navigate to: Profile → Settings → Help → Contact us → Ask a Question → Troubleshooting → Other → Still need help? → Select Topic. Choose "I'd like to request a copy of my data".
Paste this message and send it:
Under GDPR Article 15 and Article 20, I am requesting a complete copy of all personal data you hold about me, including all my BeReal photos and associated metadata. Please provide this in machine-readable format within the 30-day period required by law. Thank you.
This triggers BeReal's data export process. See the step-by-step tutorial for screenshots of each menu.
Wait for BeReal to Send Your Data
BeReal usually processes data requests in 2–48 hours. You'll receive a notification and a download link in the My Tickets section of the BeReal app. The download link is time-limited, so download the ZIP file as soon as you receive it.
The ZIP file may be large if you have hundreds of BeReals. Make sure you have enough storage space before downloading.
Convert Your Photos with RealRetrieve
BeReal sends you two files — upload only the BeReal Profile Activity&Data.zip (ignore the .json.gz). Go to
realretrieve.com, sign in with your email,
and upload that ZIP file.
RealRetrieve reads your post metadata (timestamps, locations) from the JSON files in the export, combines your front and back camera photos into BeReal's picture-in-picture format, and produces a gallery of standard JPG files with correct dates. Processing takes about 20 minutes per 1,000 photos.
Preview and Download Your Photos
Browse your complete gallery before paying. Once you're satisfied, pay the one-time $7.99 fee — there's no subscription — and download all your photos as a single ZIP.
Back Up to Multiple Locations
Don't just save to one place. A good backup strategy covers at least two locations:
- Device camera roll — iPhone via Shortcuts, Android via file manager to DCIM
- Cloud storage — iCloud Photos, Google Photos, Dropbox, or OneDrive
- External storage — USB drive or external hard drive for long-term archiving
See our guide on saving BeReal photos to iPhone camera roll for the import process with correct timestamps.
iPhone tip: Use our pre-built Apple Shortcut to import photos into Apple Photos in one tap — timestamps preserved automatically.
How Many BeReal Photos Will You Have?
If you've been using BeReal since it launched in early 2022, you could have several hundred photos. At roughly one post per day during active use, two years of BeRealing would produce around 700 posts — 1,400 individual image files (front + back camera for each) that become 700 combined photos after conversion.
RealRetrieve processes all of these automatically. There's no per-photo limit — you pay once for your entire archive, no matter how many BeReals you have.
What Happens to Your Photos If You Delete BeReal?
If you delete your BeReal account, your photos are deleted from BeReal's servers. Once gone, they cannot be recovered. If you're considering deleting BeReal, export your photos first using this process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to upload my BeReal data to RealRetrieve?
Yes. Your data is stored securely on Google Cloud Platform with standard encryption. Your files are only accessible to you. See our Data Handlers page for details on all third-party services used, and our FAQ for privacy questions.
Do I need to do this again if I post more BeReals?
Yes. The export captures your photos at the time of the request. If you continue posting, you can request a new export later to capture any new BeReals.
Can I cancel my BeReal account after saving my photos?
Yes — once you have your photos saved locally and backed up, you're free to delete your BeReal account without losing anything. Just make sure your download and backup is complete first.
Save Your BeReal Memories Now →See also: Complete export guide · What's in your BeReal data export · Save to iPhone camera roll · All guides
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