How to export a WhatsApp chat (iPhone and Android)

WhatsApp can hand you any chat as a file: a .zip with the conversation as text plus the photos, videos and voice messages, or a single .txt if you leave the media out. That file is what LogMyChat reads.

To have your voice messages transcribed, export with media. Without media, the voice messages are only listed as "audio omitted".

On iPhone

1. Open WhatsApp and open the chat.
2. Tap the contact or group name at the top of the chat.
3. Scroll down and tap Export chat.
4. Choose With all media (older versions say Attach media).
5. In the share sheet, tap Save to Files and pick a folder you can find again.
6. Open the upload page on the same iPhone and choose the .zip from Files.

On Android

1. Open WhatsApp and open the chat.
2. Tap the three dots at the top right, then More.
3. Tap Export chat.
4. Choose Include media.
5. Pick Drive or Files (some phones show Save as file, which puts it in Downloads).
6. Open the upload page and choose the .zip.

On Android this last step is not optional: WhatsApp only creates the file where you send it. If you close the share panel, there is no file.

On a computer

The Mac app exports like an iPhone: choose With all media to include voice messages. WhatsApp Web and the Windows app export only the text (all messages, or a custom date range), so voice messages are left out. For voice messages, export on your phone or Mac, then move the .zip to the computer (Google Drive, iCloud Drive, email to yourself, or a cable), and upload it there.

Common problems

There is no Export chat option

• The chat may have Restricted chat turned on (older versions call it Advanced chat privacy), which blocks exporting. In a one-to-one chat, either of you can turn it off in the chat settings. In a group, an admin can.
• Your company may manage the phone and block exports. Ask your IT team.
• Update WhatsApp to the latest version.

The export does not include everything

WhatsApp decides how much goes into one export. With media, its help page says only “the most recent media” is attached, and older versions of its help pages mentioned about 10,000 recent messages with media and 40,000 without. If an older part of a long chat is missing, export once without media for more of the text, and once with media for the recent voice messages.

I can't find the file

• iPhone: open the Files app and search for "WhatsApp Chat".
• Android: look in the Downloads folder, or in the Drive folder you picked. Many phones name it "WhatsApp Chat with …".

The .zip won't open

You don't need to unzip it. Upload it, or open it in the free chat viewer, just as it is. To look inside anyway, see what is in a WhatsApp ZIP file and how to open it.

The dates look wrong

WhatsApp writes dates and times the way your phone's language does (day/month or month/day, 12 or 24 hours). LogMyChat detects the order automatically from the whole chat. If a chat still looks wrong, contact us and we will add your format.

Next step

Upload your export: the overview is free, and you see your exact price before paying. Or open it in the free chat viewer to download it as PDF, text or a spreadsheet.