How to export a WhatsApp chat
Exporting a WhatsApp chat is essential for keeping records of customer orders, legal evidence, or migrating conversations to a CRM. WhatsApp lets you export any individual or group chat as a .txt file (with or without media attachments), via email or any sharing app.
The export limit is 40,000 messages without media and 10,000 messages with media. Here's how to do it correctly on every platform.
- 1
Open the chat to export
Open the individual or group chat you want to export.
- 2
On Android
Tap the three-dot menu > More > Export chat > choose 'Without media' or 'Include media' > pick a destination (Gmail, Drive, etc.). Without-media is much faster and works for >10k messages.
- 3
On iPhone
Tap the contact name at top of chat > scroll down > Export Chat > 'Attach Media' or 'Without Media' > pick Mail, Files, Notes, etc.
- 4
On WhatsApp Business API
Inside LandinChat, open the conversation > three-dot menu > Export. Exports include agent notes, customer attributes and full audit log — admissible in compliance audits.
- 5
Convert .txt to PDF / CSV
The export is a .txt file (UTF-8). To convert: open in Google Docs > Download as PDF. For CSV, use a parser script splitting on the timestamp regex.
Pro tips
- → Exports are end-to-end encrypted only in transit — store the file safely (no public Drive links).
- → If you need ongoing exports, use the API + webhook to stream messages to your warehouse in real time.
- → Bulk-export 100s of chats at once is only possible via the API, not the consumer apps.
Frequently asked questions
What's the WhatsApp export limit?
40,000 messages without media, 10,000 messages with media per export.
Can I export deleted messages?
No — deleted messages are removed from the device immediately.
Is the export legally admissible?
In most jurisdictions yes, but courts may require additional metadata. API exports include timestamps and message IDs that strengthen the record.
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