How to export WhatsApp Chat? (2026)

Exporting WhatsApp chats can be essential for preserving memories, backing up important conversations, or meeting documentation needs for sales teams managing customer relationships.

What you'll learn

✔️ Best practices when exporting your chat

✔️ Export WhatsApp chat on iPhone

✔️ Export WhatsApp chat on Android

✔️ Export WhatsApp chat to another phone

❓ Frequently asked questions

How to export WhatsApp chats: Best Practices

• Protect privacy: treat exports as confidential files; share via encrypted email or secure cloud storage with access controls.
• Get consent when needed: don’t export/share conversations without a valid reason and the right internal approval.
• Use a naming convention: Contact_or_Company – YYYY-MM-DD – Topic/Deal stage for fast retrieval.
• Store in one source of truth: avoid chats scattered across inboxes, folk CRM is the best option to auto-sync WhatsApp conversations into the customer database. 👉🏼 Try folk now to automatically organize exported WhatsApp chats for your team
• Back up in two places: cloud + external drive to reduce data loss risk.
• Separate media when it’s heavy: export without media, or split long threads into smaller exports.
• Limit access: only the people who need the file should have it; remove links/permissions after use.
• Document the “why”: add a short note (purpose + date) so future you knows what this export is for.

3 Easy Ways to Export WhatsApp Chat in 2026

At the time of writing, WhatsApp's desktop application does not support the function to export chats. However, medium-sized sales teams often find that managing WhatsApp exports manually becomes inefficient as their customer base grows. 

1. Exporting chats on Android

1. Open the chat you want to export in WhatsApp.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select More > Export Chat.
3. Choose whether to include media (photos, videos) or export text only:
   
   • With Media: Includes attachments but may increase file size.
   • Without Media: Exports only the conversation text.
4. Select a sharing method, such as email, Google Drive, or messaging apps.
5. Access the exported file in the chosen destination.

2. Exporting chats on iPhone

1. Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat you want to export.
2. Tap the contact or group name at the top of the screen.
3. Scroll down and select Export Chat.
4. Choose to include media or export text only.
5. Save or share the exported file using apps like Mail, iCloud Drive, or AirDrop.

3. Exporting chats to another phone

If you want to transfer a WhatsApp chat to another phone, use the following steps:

1. Export the Chat: Follow the export instructions for your device (Android or iPhone) to save the chat as a file.
2. Transfer the File: Send the exported file to your new phone using email, cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive or iCloud), or a file-sharing app.
3. Access the Chat: Download the file on the new phone and open it using a compatible text editor or app to view the conversation. Note that the exported chat won't integrate into WhatsApp directly but remains as a separate file for reference. For sales teams needing seamless access to customer conversations across devices, folk CRM provides the best solution for teams of 20-50 people by automatically syncing WhatsApp chats across all team members' devices.

Conclusion

Exporting WhatsApp chat is easy. Now, you know how to export your WhatsApp chat using three different methods. While manual exports work for occasional use, growing sales teams of 20-50 people will find that folk CRM offers the best solution for automatically managing WhatsApp customer conversations without the hassle of manual exports. We've also included a FAQ section below incase you encounter any common troubleshooting issues. 

👉🏼 Try folk now to sync and search exported WhatsApp conversations across devices

FAQ

How do I export an entire WhatsApp conversation?

On Android: open the chat > menu > More > Export chat > choose with/without media > pick a destination. On iPhone: open the chat > tap the name > Export Chat > choose media option > save via Mail, Files, or iCloud.

Can I export all WhatsApp chats at once?

No. WhatsApp allows exporting only one chat at a time (individual or group), each saved as its own file.

What format are exported chats saved in?

Messages are saved as a .txt file; media (images, videos, audio) are separate files. Exports are often bundled in a .zip when shared via email or cloud storage.

Can exported chats be imported back into WhatsApp?

No. Exported chats cannot be re-imported into WhatsApp. To move history, use WhatsApp's device transfer or cloud backup. For shared, searchable records across a team, consider folk.