WhatsApp export with media vs without media

What with media means

WhatsApp adds available media files to the exported ZIP. Photos, videos, documents, audio, voice messages, stickers, and other attachments can make the ZIP much larger, but they also let Chat Archive show included files beside the conversation and use supported previews in the PDF.

What without media means

Without media is still useful when you mainly need the message text, dates, and sender names. The ZIP is smaller and easier to move, but original photos, videos, documents, audio, and voice messages will not be available in Chat Archive.

Voice messages need media

If voice messages matter, export with media. Chat Archive can play and transcribe voice messages only when the audio files are included in the export.

Choose, then check

Open the export before relying on it.

1. Decide what matters

   Choose text only for a smaller export. Choose with media for a fuller archive.

2. Start with media when media matters

   Export with media if photos, files, or voice messages are important.

3. Use without media when size matters

   If the media export is too large or hard to share, make a second, text-only export.

4. Save the ZIP somewhere safe

   Keep the source export before making decisions.

5. Open it in Chat Archive

   Check the date range, search for known messages, open important photos, videos, and files, and play key voice messages.

6. Check before deleting

   Before clearing WhatsApp storage or deleting the chat, confirm the export contains what you need and keep the source ZIP somewhere safe.

What Chat Archive helps with

After opening the ZIP, you can read the conversation, search messages, browse included media and files, listen to included voice messages, search available transcripts, and preview or save a PDF.

Why photos, voice messages, or files are missing

Chat Archive shows what WhatsApp placed in the ZIP. If something is missing, the chat may have been exported without media, or the file may have been deleted, unavailable, not downloaded, or skipped by WhatsApp during export.

After you choose an export