How to Export a WhatsApp Chat (iPhone & Android)
Last updated · FlagMyChat
Export a WhatsApp chat on Android
- Open WhatsApp and open the one-to-one chat you want to export.
- Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.
- Tap More → Export chat.
- Choose Without media (smaller and faster; photos are not analyzed anyway).
- Save the file to your phone (Files / Google Drive) or share it to yourself. You get a .zip or a .txt file.
Export a WhatsApp chat on iPhone
- Open WhatsApp and open the one-to-one chat you want to export.
- Tap the contact's name at the top of the chat.
- Scroll down and tap Export Chat.
- Choose Without Media.
- Tap Save to Files. You get a .zip file containing _chat.txt.
What the export contains
The export is a plain-text transcript: one line per message with the date, time, sender name and text. Android lines look like 12/03/2026, 21:04 - Maya: hey and iPhone lines like [12/03/2026, 21:04:05] Maya: hey. FlagMyChat reads both formats, 12- and 24-hour clocks, and chats in any language, including mixed-language chats.
Common questions
Should I export with or without media?
Choose Without media. FlagMyChat only reads the text, and exporting without media makes the file much smaller and faster to open.
Where is the exported WhatsApp chat saved?
On iPhone it goes wherever you pick in Save to Files (for example On My iPhone → Downloads). On Android it goes to the app you share it to, such as Files, Google Drive or email; many phones put it in Downloads.
Do I need to unzip the file first?
No. Drop the .zip straight into FlagMyChat. Your browser unzips it on your device and reads only the chat text.
Does exporting a chat notify the other person?
No. WhatsApp does not notify the other person when you export a chat.
Limits
- One-to-one chats only (no group chats).
- Zip up to 50 MB; chat text up to 20 MB (media is ignored).
- Only upload chats you are part of.
Free daily preview, or the full report for one small payment. Nothing is stored.
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