Skip to main content

How to Export a WhatsApp Chat on iPhone

Step-by-step guide to export any WhatsApp conversation on iPhone as a .zip file, including media and voice messages.

Watch how to export a WhatsApp chat on iPhone

Watch the iPhone export tutorial on YouTube, or follow the written steps below.

How to export a WhatsApp chat on iPhone

Exporting a WhatsApp chat on iPhone is straightforward once you know where to look. Whether you want to save an important conversation, share it with someone, or convert it to PDF, here’s exactly how to do it.

Step-by-Step Instructions #

  1. Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat you want to export.
  2. Tap the contact name or group name at the top of the screen to open the Contact Info or Group Info page.
  3. Scroll down and tap Export Chat.
  4. A dialog will appear asking: “Attach Media?”
    • Choose Include Media to export messages plus photos, videos, and voice messages.
    • Choose Without Media for a text-only export (much smaller file).
  5. The iOS Share Sheet will open. You can:
    • Send it via email to yourself
    • Save it to Files (iCloud Drive or On My iPhone)
    • Share it to any other app

If Export chat is missing for a particular conversation, check how Advanced chat privacy affects exports. For other failures, use the export troubleshooting guide.

What You Get #

The export produces a .zip file containing:

  • _chat.txt — all messages with timestamps and sender names
  • Media files: .jpg for photos, .mp4 for videos, .opus for voice messages

Note on voice messages: WhatsApp exports voice messages as .opus files. This format isn’t playable by default on most computers, but tools like Zap2Doc can transcribe them automatically using AI.

Already have the file? Follow how to open and read your exported WhatsApp ZIP, including the text file and its media.

File Size Tips #

  • A text-only export is usually just a few kilobytes — even for years of messages.
  • Including media can produce files ranging from a few MB to several GB for active group chats.

What to Do With Your Export #

Upload your .zip and convert it to PDF

Once you have the .zip file, you can convert it into a clean, professional PDF with Zap2Doc. Upload the file, get an instant preview with stats (message count, images, audio), and download a formatted PDF — including AI-generated transcriptions of all voice messages.

No installation needed. Works on any device.

Need it on paper? See how to print WhatsApp messages.