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User Guide & FAQ

Learn how to export WhatsApp chats and format them with this free tool

Getting Started

  1. Open WhatsApp on your phone
  2. Open the chat or group you want to export
  3. Tap the contact/group name at the top → scroll down → tap Export Chat
  4. Choose Without Media (or With Media for PRO users)
  5. Save the .txt file to your device (share to Files or email it to yourself)
  6. Go to WhatsApp Chat Formatter and drag the .txt file onto the upload area
  7. Preview, filter, and export as your desired format

How to Export from WhatsApp

On iPhone (iOS)

  1. Open the chat you want to export
  2. Tap the contact name or group subject at the top
  3. Scroll down and tap Export Chat
  4. Choose Without Media for a text-only export (smaller file, faster)
  5. Share the .txt file via email, Files, AirDrop, or save to iCloud Drive

On Android

  1. Open the chat you want to export
  2. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner
  3. Tap More → Export Chat
  4. Choose Without Media (or With Media for PRO)
  5. Share the .txt file via email, Google Drive, or save to your device

On WhatsApp Web / Desktop

  1. WhatsApp Web and Desktop do not have an Export Chat feature
  2. You must export from your phone first, then transfer the .txt file to your computer
  3. Use email, cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud), or a messaging app to send the file to yourself

Transfer the Export to Your Computer

  • Email: Share the .txt file via email from WhatsApp, then download on your computer
  • Cloud Storage: Save to Google Drive, iCloud Drive, or Dropbox from your phone
  • USB Cable: Copy the .txt file from your phone's storage to your computer
  • AirDrop (iPhone → Mac): Quick and wireless transfer

Export Formats Explained

Markdown (MD)

Clean, formatted document with headers, bold sender names, and italic timestamps. Perfect for Notion, Obsidian, GitHub, or any Markdown editor. Each message is separated by a horizontal rule for readability.

HTML

Full HTML page styled like a WhatsApp chat interface with green bubbles and the classic WhatsApp background. Great for printing, archiving, or sharing as a web page. Includes printable CSS for physical copies.

Plain Text (TXT)

Simple text format with timestamps and sender names. Universal format that opens in any text editor. Best for importing into other tools or quick reference.

CSV

Spreadsheet-friendly format with columns: Index, Date, Sender, Message, Type. Import into Excel, Google Sheets, or use for data analysis. BOM-included for proper Unicode display.

JSON

Structured data format for developers. Each message has index, timestamp, sender, message text, and type (text/media/system). Ideal for programmatic processing or API integration.

Features

  • 100% Browser-Based: Your chat never leaves your device. No upload, no server, no signup.
  • iOS & Android Support: Detects both iPhone and Android export formats automatically.
  • Date Range Filtering: Filter messages by start and end date.
  • Sender Filter: View messages from specific participants only.
  • Statistics Dashboard: Total messages, user messages, media shared, character count, and per-sender breakdowns.
  • System Message Detection: Automatically identifies group changes, encryption notices, and other system messages.
  • Multi-Line Messages: Correctly handles multi-line messages in the export.

PRO Features

  1. Purchase a PRO key at xuebo8.gumroad.com/l/oaeyoa ($9.99 one-time)
  2. Copy the key you receive via email
  3. Click "Learn More" or "Upgrade to PRO" on the WhatsApp Chat Formatter page
  4. Paste your key and click "Activate"

✅ Each key works on up to 3 devices · No subscription · One-time payment

✅ PRO unlocks: unlimited messages per export, ZIP export with media parsing, priority support

FAQ

Is my chat uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Your chat file never leaves your device. The page works even offline after it's loaded. This is the safest way to process your private conversations.
What is the free limit?
Free exports include the first 100 messages with full features: date filters, sender filters, statistics, and all 5 export formats. PRO unlocks unlimited messages and ZIP export with media support.
Can I export media (photos, videos)?
WhatsApp's "Without Media" export only includes text. If you choose "With Media" on your phone, you'll get a .zip file. PRO users can parse ZIP exports and see media references. Actual media files (photos, videos) are not included in WhatsApp exports for privacy reasons.
Does it work with group chats?
Yes! Group chats work exactly the same way. Sender names are preserved, and system messages (member added/removed, group name changes, etc.) are automatically detected and labeled.
How many devices can I use one PRO key on?
Up to 3 devices per key. The key is stored locally in your browser and validated offline — no account or internet connection needed after activation.
What WhatsApp export formats are supported?
Both iOS format ([YYYY-MM-DD, HH:MM:SS] Sender: Message) and Android format (M/D/YY, HH:MM - Sender: Message). The tool auto-detects the format. 12-hour and 24-hour time formats are both supported.
Can I use this for business or legal purposes?
Absolutely. PRO users can process unlimited messages — great for customer support teams, legal document preparation, business record keeping, and content creators who need to archive conversations.
What if my chat has many messages?
The free version handles the first 100 messages. PRO supports unlimited messages. Large chats (>100,000 messages) may take a few seconds to process since everything runs locally in your browser.
Is there a file size limit?
There's no enforced limit, but very large files (>50MB) may be slow to process in the browser. For extremely large chats, consider splitting the export into multiple months before uploading.

100% local · No upload · No server · Your chat never leaves your device