How to export a WhatsApp chat: Complete guide

Do you want to export a WhatsApp Chat to save it outside of your iPhone or Android Smartphone?

For many of us, WhatsApp has come to play an important role in our daily communications. If you think about it, it is very likely that you have at least on chat that means a lot to you and that you’d rather keep forever. That’s why in this guide we show you how to a save a WhatsApp chat from your iOS iPhone or Android to your computer or email.

This guide covers:

The different options for exporting your WhatsApp chat
The advantages and disadvantages of each option
Some tricks for the most common problems which you might encounter in the process

We will keep this guide updated to possible changes in Android, iOS or WhatsApp, so that this guide is always useful.

Let´s get started!

How to export WhatsApp chat from…

Export WhatsApp Chat from iOS | iPhone

Exporting your complete WhatsApp Chat with an iPhone is quite easy and consists in two steps:

1) First you use the native WhatsApp function to create a .zip file containing your complete chat.

2) Then you can choose which app you want to use to either send the .zip file of your chat via email or to upload it directly to the cloud.

For the second part we will cover the three most common options, which are:

Email via iCloud
Cloud Upload to Dropbox
Cloud Upload to Google Drive

Option	You will need:	+ Advantages / – Disadvantages
Email via iCloud	An email account To have icloud activated on your email (as the email will probably exceed the maximum size limit for email)	+ It is a simple process and your chat will land in your inbox – It can take some time to upload the chat. If it is very big sometimes it does not work (see troubleshooting) – You have to download the chat from the email as the link expires after one month

Cloud upload to Dropbox	A Dropbox account and if you upload a big chat (over 2Gb) you will need a paid account The dropbox app installed on your phone	+ This system works quite well – It is a bit more complex than email if you want to download or email the file

Cloud upload to Google Drive	A google drive account The google drive app installed on your phone	+ This system works quite well – It is a bit more complex than email if you want to download or email the file

1) Email via iCloud

You will need:

An email account
iCloud activated on your email (as the email will probably exceed the maximum size limit for email)

Advantages / Disadvantages:
+ It is a simple process (if you are used to sending emails with attachments)
+ Your chat will land in your inbox
+ Almost everyone has an email account set up
– It can take some time to upload the chat. If it is very big sometimes it does not work (see troubleshooting)
– You have to download the data from the email as links delete after one mont

Tutorial for E-Mail

2) Cloud upload to Dropbox

You will need:

A Dropbox Account and if you upload a big chat (over 2Gb) you will need a paid account
The dropbox app installed on your phone

Advantages / Disadvantages:
+ This system works quite well
– It is a bit more complex than email if you want to download or email the file

Tutorial for Dropbox

3) Cloud upload to Google Drive

You will need:

A google drive account
The google drive app installed on your phone

Advantages / Disadvantages:
+ This system works quite well
– It is a bit more complex than email if you want to download or email the file

Tutorial for Google Drive

Tutorials

Here you can find a step by step tutorial for each option. Click on the option you would like to use to get started:

Tutorial for iCloud (Email)

Tutorial for Dropbox

Tutorial for Google Drive

Problems exporting your WhatsApp Chat

You might face some difficulties when exporting a very big WhatsApp Chat. Keep calm!

These are the most common problems and how to solve them.

PROBLEM	POTENTIAL ISSUE(S)	SOLUTION
Email: My email is stuck in the outbox	1) Wi-Fi connection is unstable 2) iCloud Drive is not activated for WhatsApp 3) Not enough data space	1) Check if your Wi-Fi connection is stable 2) Make sure that your iCloud Drive is activated for WhatsApp 3) Close all other apps completely, to allow more memory for the process 4) Make sure you have enough data space on your phone. If you are under 2 Gb we recommend you to free some memory

Email: I can’t enter an email address	iPhone email account is not set up	You need to setup an email account

Dropbox / Google Drive: It wont upload	Chat is very big and the device can´t process it	1) Close all other apps completely, to allow more memory for the process 2) Make sure you have enough data space on your phone. If you are under 2 Gb we recommend you to free some memory

Email: My email is stuck in the outbox

Potential Issues:

1) Wi-Fi connection is unstable
2) iCloud Drive is not activated for WhatsApp
3) Not enough data space

Solutions:

1) Check if your Wi-Fi connection is stable
2) Make sure that your iCloud Drive is activated for WhatsApp
3) Close all other apps completely, to allow more memory for the process
4) Make sure you have enough data space on your phone. If you are under 2 Gb we recommend you to free some memory

Email: I can’t enter an email address

Potential issues:

iPhone email account is not set up

Solution:

You need to setup an email account

Dropboy / Google Drive: It wont upload

Potential issue:

Chat is very big and the device can´t process it

Solutions:

1) Close all other apps completely, to allow more memory for the process
2) Make sure you have enough data space on your phone. If you are under 2 Gb we recommend you to free some memory

The output: a zip with a text file and all media files

Once you have succesfully exported your chat you find a .zip file contanining all your media files (pictures, audio notes, videos, gifs) and a .txt file, containing the chat messages chronologically sorted with a timestamp at the beginning.

Unfortunately, the media files are not in the text file. The text files only contain references to these files.

This means that you do not have the data structured as in WhatsApp, but only a bunch of files which belong to your chat. But that might be sufficient if you just want to save those chats.

BONUS: Create a book of your favourite WhatsApp Chat

Some WhatsApp Chats can have a great importance to you. Therefore zapptales offers a service which allows you to transform your WhatsApp Chat in a beautiful printed book or PDF.

Also, exporting your chat is very easy with the zapptales iOS App, which has optimised the exporting process over time.

Additionally, you will be able to design and personalize your book, which could become the most personal book in the world.

Information: Prices for your WhatsApp chat as a book start at 26.9€ (soft cover) and 29.9€ (hard cover) and depend on the number of pages you choose to print. The books are printed with very high quality standards in Germany. Shipping costs depend on your location.

WOW! Learn more

1 2 3

Export WhatsApp chat from Android | Samsung, Motorola, Sony…

Unfortunately the WhatsApp export with Android has some limitations, as the only method to export the chat is via email.

The cloud storage options from iPhone are not available. This makes it hard to export all messages and media of your chat. There are two options available, if you export your chat with or without media files:

Option 1: Exporting chat with media and Option 2: Exporting chat without media

1) Exporting chat with media files	2) Exporting chat without media files
A maximum of the last 10.000 messages are sent. However, if you have a number of videos or images, the number of exported messages might be much smaller.	A maximum of the last 40.000 messages are sent.
WhatsApp creates a “package” with the latest media files and texts. It will put the last media files and messages first and then stops when approximately 18 Mb of data have been packaged.	It sends an email with a text file containing a maximum of 40.000 messages.
If you have a number of videos in your chat, this could mean that you have two or three videos, some pictures and only one week of chat. If you have many pictures, you will be able to export about 50 to 75 pictures and a few months of chat. In case that you do not have many media files, you will be able to export a maximum of 10.000 messages with this system	Unfortunately, in the text file you will only find a note a where a picture, video or audio note was not exported.

1) Exporting chat with media files

A maximum of the last 10.000 messages are sent. However, if you have some videos or images, the number of exported messages might be much smaller.

WhatsApp will start creating a “package” with the latest Media files and text. It will put the last media files and messages first and then will stop when approximately 18 Mb of data have been packaged.

If you have some videos in your chat, this could mean that you have two or three videos, some pictures and only one week of chat.
If you have basically many pictures, you will be able to export about 50 to 75 pictures and a few months of chat.
In case that you do not have many media files, you will be able to export a maximum of 10.000 messages with this system

2) Exporting chat without media files

A maximum of the last 40.000 messages are sent.

It will send a email with a text file containing a maximum of 40.000 messages.

Unfortunately, in the text file you will only find a where a picture, video or audio note was not exported.

1 2

1) Intro

Tutorial

Here you can find a step by step tutorial for exporting your WhatsApp chat via Android.

Get started!

20) Android Mail

Export Your WhatsApp Chat from Android

1. Select your Chat

Select “More” in the dropdown menu of your desired chat.

2. Generate the Export

Select E-Mail Chat.

3. Send the Chat

Select if your want to export your chat with or without media files.

3. Send the Chat

Send the e-mail to your email address.

Troubleshooting

PROBLEM	POTENTIAL ISSUE(S)	SOLUTION
The email won´t arrive	Sometimes emails are stuck in the outbox and are not sent.	Open your email app and go to outbox. Try refreshing the folder in order to force the app to retry sending the message. Do not close the app until it is sent.
This option does not really help me a lot, most of what I wanted to save is not exported.	WhatsApp for Android limitations	Scroll down for a better solution :)

The email won´t arrive

Potential Issues:

Sometimes emails are stuck in the outbox and are not sent.

Solutions:

Open your email app and go to outbox. Try refreshing the folder in order to force the app to retry sending the message. Do not close the app until it is sent.

This option does not really help me a lot, most of what I wanted to save is not exported.

Potential issues:

WhatsApp for Android limitations

Solution:

Scroll down for a better solution 😊

BONUS I: Using the zapptales App to export your chat

As you have seen, it is not completely possible to easily export your WhatsApp Chat from an Android device.

Therefore zaptales has developed a solution that allows you to export the maximum amount of chat. First you will need to export your chat without media files (in order to achieve the greatest amount of messages) and then the app will search for the missing media files on your phone.

This system is currectly the best option to export your WhatsApp Chat from an Android device.

You can then purchase the PDF of your chat, which has been put together in a nice layout which you can personalise as well. It is a far better solution than just the .text file and the images.

If you want to go one step further, check the next section.

Learn more

BONUS II: Create a book of your favourite WhatsApp Chat

WhatsApp chats can have a great significance. Therefore zapptales offers a service which allows you to transform your WhatsApp chat into a beatiful book or PDF.

With the iOS App exporting your chat will be super easy and fast, as it has optimized the process over time:

You will be able to design and personalize your book, which could become the most personal book in the world.

WOW! Learn more

1 2 3

How to export a WhatsApp chat: Complete guide

How to export WhatsApp chat from…

Export WhatsApp Chat from iOS | iPhone

Tutorials

Problems exporting your WhatsApp Chat

The output: a zip with a text file and all media files

BONUS: Create a book of your favourite WhatsApp Chat

Export WhatsApp chat from Android | Samsung, Motorola, Sony…

1) Intro

Tutorial

Here you can find a step by step tutorial for exporting your WhatsApp chat via Android.

20) Android Mail

Export Your WhatsApp Chat from Android

1. Select your Chat

2. Generate the Export

3. Send the Chat

3. Send the Chat

Troubleshooting

BONUS I: Using the zapptales App to export your chat

BONUS II: Create a book of your favourite WhatsApp Chat

COMPANY

CHAT BOOKS FROM

Chatbooks