How to Export Your WhatsApp Chat — Complete Guide (2026)
Whether you want to back up precious conversations, save memories, keep records for legal purposes, or analyze your chats — exporting your WhatsApp messages is quick and easy. Here's exactly how to do it on both Android and iPhone.
Export WhatsApp Chat on Android
- 1Open WhatsApp and go to the chat you want to export.
- 2Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right corner.
- 3Tap "More" → "Export chat".
- 4Choose "Without Media" (.txt) or "Include Media" (.zip).
- 5Save the file to your device, or share it via email or cloud storage.
Export WhatsApp Chat on iPhone
- 1Open WhatsApp and go to the chat you want to export.
- 2Tap the contact or group name at the top of the chat.
- 3Scroll down and tap "Export Chat".
- 4Choose "Without Media" or "Include Media".
- 5Save or share the exported file using the iOS share sheet.
What You Get After Exporting
WhatsApp gives you the exported chat in one of two formats, depending on your choice:
.txt File
A plain text file containing all messages with timestamps, sender names, and message content. This is the most common format and works great for reading, searching, and analyzing your chats.
.zip File
A compressed archive containing the text file plus all media — images, videos, voice notes, and documents shared in the conversation.
What to Do With Your Exported Chat
Now that you have your exported chat file, you can view it beautifully with ChatPeek — a free, privacy-first WhatsApp chat viewer that runs entirely in your browser.
- 📖 Read your chats in a clean, WhatsApp-like interface
- 🔍 Search messages instantly
- 🖼️ View shared images, videos, and voice notes
- 📊 Get analytics and statistics about your conversations
- 📄 Export to PDF
- 🔒 100% private — your data never leaves your device
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export group chats?
Yes, you can export both individual and group chats using the same process. Open the group chat and follow the same steps to export it.
Is there a message limit?
WhatsApp may limit exports to the most recent 40,000 messages when exporting without media, or 10,000 messages when including media. For longer chats, consider exporting without media to capture more messages.
What about deleted messages?
Only messages that currently exist in your chat are included in the export. Previously deleted messages will not appear in the exported file.
Is the export file secure?
Yes, the exported file is saved directly to your device and is not uploaded anywhere. When you use ChatPeek to view it, everything is processed locally in your browser — your data never leaves your device.