How to export a WhatsApp chat on iPhone

Export the chat from WhatsApp

The exact labels can vary by WhatsApp version, language, and device, but the path starts from the chat itself.

1. Open the conversation

   In WhatsApp, open the individual or group chat you want to save.

2. Open chat info

   Tap the contact or group name at the top of the chat.

3. Find Export Chat

   Scroll through chat info and choose Export Chat. If your screen looks different, check WhatsApp's current Help Center instructions.

4. Choose Attach Media

   Attach media when photos, videos, documents, audio, or voice messages matter. Choose without media only when you need a smaller text-focused export.

5. Save the ZIP

   Use Files, iCloud Drive, external storage, your computer, or another trusted place.

Choose Attach Media for the best archive

If photos, videos, documents, audio, or voice messages matter, export with media. Chat Archive can only show attachments that WhatsApp includes in the ZIP. A text-only export is smaller, but it will not carry the files that make many old chats useful.

Where to save the ZIP

Large exports are easier to handle when you save them to Files, iCloud Drive, external storage, or a computer instead of sending them through a chat app. Keep the original ZIP until you have opened and checked it.

What Chat Archive does next

Open the ZIP in Chat Archive to turn the export into a readable chat on iPhone. You can read messages in order, search names and phrases, review included media and voice messages, and preview a PDF before saving or sharing it.

An export is not a WhatsApp backup

Use a WhatsApp backup when you want to restore WhatsApp itself. Use an export when you want a separate copy of one conversation that you can keep, read, search, or save as a PDF.

Check before deleting anything

Open the export and confirm the messages, dates, media, files, and voice messages you care about are included before clearing WhatsApp storage or deleting the original conversation.

After you create the export