Before you start
- Use the WhatsApp app on your Android phone. Export works one chat at a time, and WhatsApp’s help pages describe no chat export in WhatsApp Web or the desktop app.
- Update WhatsApp from Google Play first, because menu positions can change between versions.
- Make sure the phone has some free storage, especially if you want media.
- A Google Drive backup of WhatsApp is not an export. A backup restores WhatsApp on a phone; an export is a file you can open, read and keep.
Export the chat on Android
- Open the chatOpen WhatsApp and tap the individual or group conversation you want to export.
- Open More optionsTap More options, the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the chat.
- Tap More, then Export chatIn the menu, tap More, then Export chat.
- Choose mediaTap Without media for text only, or Include media to add the most recent media.
- Choose where to send itThe Android share sheet opens. Pick Google Drive, Gmail, a files app, Quick Share or another app to save or send the export.
Without media or Include media: TXT or ZIP?
| Option | What you usually get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Without media | One plain-text file, usually named like WhatsApp Chat with Name.txt | Reading, keeping long histories and importing into AI apps |
| Include media | The text file plus the most recent photos, videos, voice notes and documents as attachments; some apps and versions package everything in a ZIP | Keeping media as well as the words |
WhatsApp’s help page explains that with Include media, the most recent media is added as attachments from your share sheet. It is not the whole media history, and WhatsApp limits how large an export can be. For the longest text history, export without media; if you also want media, make a second export with media.
Messages sent as view once are not exported. To keep voice notes in particular, read how to save WhatsApp voice messages.
Where to save the export
- Google Drive: choose Drive in the share sheet and pick a folder. You can then download the file on any computer.
- A files app: many phones offer an option to save into local storage, often the Downloads folder. The file stays on the phone until you copy it.
- Gmail or another email app: simple for text-only exports. Personal Gmail accounts can attach up to 25 MB; larger attachments are turned into a Google Drive link.
- Quick Share: sends files to a nearby Windows PC that has Quick Share for Windows installed.
An export includes the other person’s messages as well as yours. Keep it somewhere you control and delete extra copies from email or shared folders once you have moved it.
Copy the export to a Windows PC by USB
If you saved the file on the phone itself, a USB cable is often the quickest route. These steps follow Google’s Android Help; wording can vary by phone maker.
- Connect the phoneUnlock your phone and connect it to the PC with a USB cable that supports data.
- Allow file transferOn the phone, tap the Charging this device via USB notification. Under Use USB for, select File Transfer.
- Find the exportA file transfer window opens on the PC. Open the phone’s storage and go to the folder where you saved the export, often Download.
- Copy it to the PCDrag the TXT or ZIP file into a folder on your PC, such as Documents.
- Disconnect safelyEject the phone in Windows, then unplug the cable.
If the PC does not see the phone, try another cable, because not all cables can transfer files. Restarting both devices also helps. Google Drive, email or Quick Share avoid cables entirely.
What the TXT file contains
- Each line usually begins with the date and time, then the sender’s name as saved in your contacts, then the message.
- The date and time format follows your phone’s language and region settings, so exports from different countries look different.
- Media you left out appears as a short placeholder line.
- System notices, such as the encryption message or group changes, appear as lines without a normal sender.
- The file is plain text. WhatsApp states that it cannot be re-imported into WhatsApp, because it is not a backup.
Troubleshooting on Android
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Export chat is not in the menu | Advanced chat privacy is on, or the app is out of date | Update WhatsApp; ask whoever turned on Advanced chat privacy whether they agree to switch it off |
| Nothing happens after choosing an app | The receiving app failed or storage is full | Free up space and try Google Drive or a files app instead |
| Older messages are missing | WhatsApp limits export size | Export again without media |
| The email bounces | The attachments are too large | Save to Google Drive and download from there |
| The PC does not show the phone | USB is set to charging only, or the cable is charge-only | Select File Transfer, or try another cable |
More causes are covered in WhatsApp export chat not working. Also using an iPhone? See exporting a WhatsApp chat on iPhone.
Importing your Android export into Memory Clone
Memory Clone is a Windows app, currently in alpha, that imports WhatsApp TXT and ZIP exports from Android and iPhone in many languages and date formats. On the import step, choose files on your PC, or select Add from phone and scan the QR code with your Android phone to send the export over the same Wi-Fi network (the link expires after 15 minutes).
Your imported chats and the memory index stay on your PC. Memory Clone learns the writing style of each relationship from the text; it does not use photos, videos or voice notes today. Download Memory Clone for Windows, then read how WhatsApp chats become an AI chatbot.
Domande frequenti
Where does WhatsApp save an exported chat on Android?
WhatsApp does not save it to a fixed folder. It hands the file to the app you choose in the share sheet, such as Google Drive, Gmail or a files app.
Can I export a WhatsApp chat as a PDF on Android?
No. WhatsApp exports a plain-text file. You can open it on a computer and print it to PDF if you need one.
Can I export every chat at once?
No. WhatsApp exports one chat at a time, so repeat the steps for each conversation.
Why are some messages missing from my export?
WhatsApp limits the size of an export, and view once messages are never included. Exporting without media keeps the most text.
Is a Google Drive backup the same as an export?
No. A backup can only be restored into WhatsApp. An export is a file you can open and keep on any computer.
Fonti
Verificato il . I prodotti di terze parti e le pagine di assistenza cambiano spesso; segui i link per i dettagli aggiornati.
- How to export your chat history (Android) (WhatsApp Help Center)
- How to back up your chat history (WhatsApp Help Center)
- Introducing Advanced Chat Privacy (WhatsApp Blog)
- Transfer files between your computer and Android device (Android Help)
- Send attachments with your Gmail message (Gmail Help)
App menus change over time, so labels on your device may differ slightly. Memory Clone creates an AI simulation from the material you provide; it is not the person.