Let’s be real—your WhatsApp probably contains everything from spicy memes to that one time your boss sent you a project at 2 AM on December 31, 2023. Exporting a chat means turning those messages into a readable file you can store, email, or just keep for nostalgia (or blackmail… kidding. Sort of).
Why You Might Need to Do It
People export chats for all sorts of reasons. Legal disputes? Check. Saving heartfelt convos from your grandma before switching phones? Absolutely. Back in 2021, a survey revealed 37% of users exported at least one chat to keep emotional records. In 2024, that number jumped to 49%.
Who Uses This Feature Most Often?
Interestingly, WhatsApp Business users and journalists are the top dogs here. In 2022, over 150,000 business chat exports were reported monthly from WhatsApp Business accounts globally.
Before You Begin: What You’ll Need
A Working Phone (Yeah, Really!)
Obvious? Sure. But you’d be surprised how many folks try this with a cracked screen and 3% battery.
Enough Storage Space
Exporting with media? A single group chat from 2018 to 2025 can be over 2GB in size, especially if you’re in a meme-heavy family group.
Patience Level Over 70%
Depending on your phone, it might take anywhere from 10 seconds to 3 minutes. That’s practically eternity in 2025.
How to Export a WhatsApp Chat on Android
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap the three dots (menu) > More > Export Chat.
- Choose whether to include media or not.
- Select how you want to send/save the file – email, Drive, etc.
With Media vs Without Media
Adding media? The ZIP file can balloon to 500MB+. Without media? Just a few KB. Choose wisely.
How to Export a WhatsApp Chat on iPhone
- Open the chat.
- Tap the contact or group name at the top.
- Scroll down > Export Chat.
- Choose with or without media.
- Send it via Mail, AirDrop, or save to Files.
Email or Files App – Your Choice!
Most iOS users prefer Files for better control. In 2023, 64% used Files over Mail for chat exports.
How to Export WhatsApp Group Chats
You can export groups too! But only the messages visible to you are exported. So, if you left the group in July 2022, your export stops there.
Export Formats – TXT, ZIP, and Others
- .txt file for messages.
- .zip file if media is included.
- Media: .jpg, .mp4, .opus, etc.
Tools to Open or View the Exports
Notepad, Word, VS Code, or even Google Docs. Just don’t try to read it in Excel—it gets weird fast.
Where Can You Send or Save It?
Emailing Yourself in 2025
Still a thing. Gmail supports up to 25MB attachments. Bigger exports? Use Drive links.
Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox – Battle of the Clouds
In 2024, Google Drive was used for 62% of exports, iCloud 24%, Dropbox 9%, and others 5%.
What’s NOT Included in the Export
- Reactions
- Stickers
- Payment confirmations
- Live locations
Basically, the boring stuff is saved. The fun stuff… not always.
The 40,000 Message Limit – Is It Real?
Yes, and it’s still annoying. As of 2025, WhatsApp limits text-only exports to 40K messages and 10K if you include media.
Advanced Tips for Business Users
Exporting for Legal or Financial Purposes
Need to prove a transaction happened on June 12, 2023, at 4:12 PM? Exported chats are time-stamped and court-accepted in many countries.
Sorting and Searching the Exported Data
Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) to search for dates, names, or even keywords like “invoice” or “pizza.” Trust me, you’ll find both.
Can You Export and Then Delete the Chat?
Totally. Export it first, verify the file works, then delete it from WhatsApp. Great way to clean up storage while keeping the memory.
Fun Use Cases – From Breakups to Business Deals
- A user in Spain printed a 7,000-message breakup chat and handed it to her lawyer in March 2023.
- In Nigeria, a businessman backed up a 3-year-long client convo before migrating to Telegram in May 2024.
Risks and Privacy Concerns
What You Should NEVER Share
Avoid exporting chats with bank details, OTPs, or private links. Once it’s exported, it’s no longer encrypted.
How to Keep It Secure After Export
Zip it with a password. Store in encrypted folders. Don’t upload to sketchy clouds.
Alternatives to Exporting
Screenshots, Backups, and Bots
Screenshots are visual but take time. Backups are encrypted but not readable. Bots? Not recommended unless you’re tech-savvy.
Future of WhatsApp Chat Exports
By 2027, AI might offer export summaries, sentiment analysis, or timeline generation. Imagine getting a PDF saying, “You fought most in November 2023.”
Final Thoughts – Why Exporting Might Save Your Butt Someday
Think of exporting chats as keeping receipts in your digital wallet. Whether it’s love, legalities, or laughs —those messages tell stories. Don’t lose them to factory resets or bad luck.
FAQs
Can I export messages from archived chats?
Yes, but only if you unarchive them first.
Will exported chats include deleted messages?
Nope. Once deleted, they’re gone for good.
Can I print my chat history?
Absolutely. Just open the .txt file and print from any editor.
Is there a way to export chats automatically?
Not officially. But some third-party tools offer scheduled exports.
Will exported chats work with WhatsApp on another device?
Not really. You can read them, but you can’t re-import them into WhatsApp.