How do I export a WhatsApp chat?
Last reviewed 1 November 2026
Open the chat and choose Export chat. On iPhone, tap the contact or group name first. On Android, tap the three dots, then More. Pick with or without media, then choose where the file goes.
WhatsApp's web and desktop apps can export too, by date range but without media.
How do I export on iPhone?
- Open the individual or group chat.
- Tap the contact or group name, then Export chat.
- If the chat has media, choose With all media, With selected media… or Without media.
- Pick where it goes: Message, Save to Files or Notes.
WhatsApp says an iPhone export arrives as a ZIP file.
How do I export on Android?
- Open the chat.
- Tap the three dots, then More, then Export chat.
- Tap Without media or Include media.
- Pick a method, for example Quick Share, Gmail or Chat.
With Include media, only the most recent media is attached.
How do I export from web or desktop?
Open the chat, click the menu, then Export chat. Choose All messages or Custom date range, then Export. There's no media, and the file is a ZIP.
Should I include media?
| Without media | With media | |
|---|---|---|
| You get | The messages | Messages plus some photos, video and audio |
| File size | Small | Can be large |
| Good for | A dated record or PDF | Keeping a key photo or voice note |
For a record, start without media. Keep any photo or voice note that matters separately, from the chat itself.
What's in the file?
WhatsApp will happily export a chat. It just won't make it a PDF.
The file is plain text, usually with the date, time and sender on each message. View once messages aren't exported. You can't import the file back into WhatsApp, because it's a text file and not a backup.
Not sure the file is complete? Run it through the free export checker; it reads the file on your device.
What next?
For a dated PDF, follow export a WhatsApp chat to PDF with dates. Stuck? See export not working, the export limit and where the file is saved.
If the chat might matter later, save the file unchanged and keep the phone. Screenshots can help too: screenshot or export.
Make a pack from your export.
Questions people ask
Can I export a group chat?
Yes, with the same steps as an individual chat.
Can I put the export back into WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp says it isn't a backup file.
General information only, not legal advice. VaultXT can't promise any court or body will accept a document.