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When you load existing Snapchat campaigns into Whathead, you can edit and republish them. However, Snapchat restricts which fields can be changed after a campaign is published.
For a comprehensive guide to editing existing campaigns across all platforms, see Editing Existing Campaigns. This page focuses on Snapchat-specific details.

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Snapchat-Specific Editing Constraints

Snapchat has unique limitations compared to other platforms:
Snapchat Creative Update Limitation:Unlike other platforms (Meta, TikTok), Snapchat does NOT allow updating creative assets on existing ads. If you change an image or video, Snapchat creates a new ad instead of updating the existing one.What this means:
  • The original ad is paused or archived
  • A new ad is created with the new creative
  • The new ad loses all performance history
  • The new ad starts the learning phase from scratch
Implementation Details: This behavior is enforced by Snapchat’s Ad Update API, which only allows updating name, status, on_swipe_tracking_urls, and third_party_tracking_urls. The creative_id field is NOT updatable.What you CAN update without creating a new ad:
  • Ad name
  • Ad copy text
  • Headline
  • Description
  • Call-to-action button
  • Destination URL
  • URL parameters
  • Ad status (active, paused)
What CREATES a new ad:
  • Changing the image or video
  • Changing the ad format
  • Replacing creative assets

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Quick Reference: Snapchat Editable Fields

For complete details on all editable and locked fields, see the main editing guide. Key Snapchat Restrictions:
  • Campaign objective: ❌ Locked after creation
  • Ad squad placements: ❌ Locked after creation
  • Ad squad optimization goal: ❌ Locked after creation
  • Ad squad bid strategy: ❌ Locked after creation
  • Ad creative assets: ⚠️ Creates new ad when changed
  • Targeting: ✅ Flexible - can modify demographics, locations, interests
  • Budgets: ✅ Fully editable at campaign and ad squad level

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Editing Workflow

The basic workflow for editing Snapchat campaigns is the same as other platforms. See the main editing guide for complete details. Snapchat-specific considerations:
  1. Plan creative changes carefully (they create new ads)
  2. Verify placements and optimization goals before initial publish (they’re locked after)
  3. Consider creating new ads alongside existing ones when testing creative changes

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Common Snapchat Editing Scenarios

Problem: Campaign objective is locked after publishing.Solution: You cannot change the objective on an existing campaign. Instead:
  1. Create a new campaign with the desired objective
  2. Copy your ad squads and ads to the new campaign
  3. Pause or archive the old campaign
Problem: Need to refresh ads with new images or videos.Solution: Snapchat creates a new ad when you change creative:
  1. Load the existing campaign into Whathead
  2. Open the ad you want to update
  3. Replace the image or video with new creative from your media library
  4. Publish the update
Important: A new ad will be created with a new ID. The original ad will be paused. Performance history does not carry over.Alternative: If you only need to change text, headline, or CTA, update those fields without changing the creative. This updates the existing ad.
Problem: Current optimization goal isn’t delivering desired results.Solution: Optimization goal is locked after creation. You must:
  1. Create a new ad squad with the correct optimization goal
  2. Copy your ads to the new ad squad
  3. Pause the old ad squad
Note: This will reset learning and lose historical performance data for the ad squad.
Problem: Current targeting is too narrow and limiting reach.Solution: You can expand targeting on existing ad squads:
  1. Load the existing campaign
  2. Open the ad squad and modify targeting (add more locations, interests, or age ranges)
  3. Publish the update
Note: Expanding targeting may reset the learning phase.
Problem: Need to spend more on a performing campaign.Solution: Budget increases are fully supported:
  1. Load the existing campaign
  2. Increase the budget at campaign or ad squad level
  3. Publish the update
Tip: Increase budgets gradually (20-30% at a time) to avoid disrupting performance.
Problem: Need to add or remove placements.Solution: Placements are locked after creation. You must:
  1. Create a new ad squad with the correct placements
  2. Copy your ads to the new ad squad
  3. Pause the old ad squad
For other common scenarios (changing objective, expanding targeting, increasing budget), see the main editing guide.

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Snapchat-Specific Workarounds

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Cannot Update Creative Without Creating New Ad

Limitation: Changing creative creates a new ad, losing performance history. Workarounds:
  • Only change creative if absolutely necessary
  • Consider creating a new ad alongside the existing one rather than replacing it
  • If you only need to change text, update text fields without changing creative

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Cannot Change Placements or Optimization Goal

Limitation: Ad squad placements and optimization goals are locked after creation. Workaround: Create a new ad squad with the correct settings and copy your ads to it. For general editing best practices and other workarounds, see the main editing guide.

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Next Steps

Publishing Workflow

Learn how publishing updates works

Bulk Actions

Edit multiple campaigns at once

Troubleshooting

Resolve common editing issues

Campaign Structure

Understand Snapchat’s hierarchy