How to Export a WhatsApp Chat (iOS and Android, 2026)

There are many legitimate reasons to export a WhatsApp conversation: saving a record of a business negotiation, archiving a family group chat, preparing evidence for a legal matter, or simply freeing up storage on your phone without losing important messages. WhatsApp provides a built-in export feature on both iOS and Android that produces a portable file you can store anywhere or convert into a more readable format like PDF. This guide explains exactly how to use it.

How to Export a WhatsApp Chat on iPhone (iOS)

The steps below apply to WhatsApp on iOS 16 and later. The interface is consistent across iPhone models. Make sure WhatsApp is updated to the latest version from the App Store before you begin.

1. Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat or group you want to export.
2. Tap the contact name or group name at the very top of the conversation to open the Contact Info or Group Info screen.
3. Scroll down past the media gallery and shared files section until you see Export Chat.
4. Tap Export Chat. A prompt will appear asking whether to Include Media or export Without Media.
5. Select your preferred option. WhatsApp will generate the export file - this may take a moment for large chats with lots of media.
6. The iOS share sheet will appear. Choose Files to save locally, AirDrop to transfer to a Mac, or any cloud storage app. For legal purposes, save to at least two locations.

How to Export a WhatsApp Chat on Android

The process on Android is slightly different because the menu structure varies by WhatsApp version and Android manufacturer skin. The steps below work on the standard WhatsApp release for Android 10 and later.

1. Open WhatsApp and open the specific conversation you want to export.
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the upper-right corner of the conversation screen.
3. Tap More from the dropdown menu that appears.
4. Tap Export Chat.
5. Choose Include Media (produces a .zip file) or Without Media (produces a .txt file).
6. The Android share sheet opens. Save the file to Google Drive, your device's Downloads folder, or another app. Note the filename - WhatsApp names it using the chat name and export date.

Exporting a WhatsApp Group Chat

Exporting a group chat works the same way as exporting a one-on-one conversation. The resulting .txt file includes messages from all participants, each line prefixed with the sender's saved name or phone number. Group admin messages - such as someone being added or removed - are also included.

One important limitation: you can only export a group chat if you are a current member of the group. If you have been removed from a group, or if the group was deleted, the export option will not be available and any messages you received from that group before leaving may still be accessible on your device locally, but cannot be exported through the standard WhatsApp UI.

For very active groups with thousands of messages per day, the export file can become large quickly. If you only need a specific period, consider using the date range filter in the PDF converter rather than trimming the export file manually - the converter handles this cleanly without you needing to edit the raw .txt file.

Include Media vs Without Media - Which Should You Choose?

The choice depends on what you plan to do with the export. Including media produces a richer archive but creates a larger file that takes longer to process.

• Include Media: Photos, videos, audio messages, documents, stickers, and GIFs are bundled into the ZIP. Best for legal evidence, complete archives, and converting to a PDF that shows images inline.
• Without Media: Only the text transcript is exported as a .txt file. Best for quick reference, text-only backups, or when storage is limited.
• For court use: Always export with media. Judges and lawyers may ask to see media files that are referenced in the text. Having the files bundled with the transcript prevents disputes about which file corresponds to which message.
• For large chats: You can export without media first, convert it to PDF to verify the date range and content, then re-export with media if you confirm you need the files.

What Files Are Inside the Export?

When you export with media, WhatsApp creates a .zip archive. Inside the archive you will find a plain-text file called _chat.txt and a flat folder of media files. Every media file referenced in the chat is included - photos saved as .jpg or .webp, audio messages as .opus files, videos as .mp4, and documents in their original format (PDF, DOCX, etc.).

The _chat.txt file references each media file by filename. A typical line looks like: [12/03/2025, 14:22:07] Alice: <attached: 00000042-PHOTO-2025-03-12-14-22-05.jpg>. The converter reads both the text and the media files simultaneously, which is why uploading the full .zip produces the best PDF output.

What to Do with Your Export Next

A raw WhatsApp export is not particularly readable - the .txt file uses a simple timestamp-and-sender prefix format that is difficult to skim and impossible to share professionally. Converting it to a well-formatted PDF is the most common next step, whether you need it for personal records, to share with a solicitor, or to file as a court exhibit.

WaChat to PDF converts your .zip or .txt file into a paginated PDF with WhatsApp-style chat bubbles, embedded images, and precise timestamps in seconds. The free tier handles chats up to 5,000 messages with no account required. For larger chats or legal-grade output with integrity hashing and Bates numbering, the pro tier covers everything you need.