How to export a WhatsApp chat as a TXT file
For chat analysis, you need the conversation as readable text. WhatsApp’s export feature can produce that file without including your photos and videos. Exporting is different from a backup: you need the text export, not your iCloud or Google Drive backup.
Analyze your chat →On iPhone
Open the individual or group conversation in WhatsApp. Tap the contact or group name at the top, find Export Chat and choose Without Media. Use the share sheet to save the export to Files. Menu wording can vary with the app version and language.
On Android
Open the conversation, tap the three-dot menu, then More and Export chat. Choose Without media and save the export through an available sharing or file-saving option. If your version places the export action elsewhere, consult WhatsApp’s official instructions linked below.
If you received a ZIP instead of a TXT
Extract the ZIP archive and locate the .txt file, often named _chat.txt or after the conversation. Upload that text file, not the ZIP. On an iPhone you can usually tap an archive in Files to extract it; on a Mac, double-click it. Other devices offer an Extract action in their file manager.
Check the file before uploading
Open the TXT file and confirm that it contains the intended conversation, readable messages, sender names and dates. A typical export groups messages by timestamp and sender, but punctuation and date formats vary by platform and locale. Do not manually rewrite the format or strip the sender labels. WhatsApp export limits can mean an export does not contain the entire history.
Upload it for analysis
Choose Analyze your chat, select the conversation context and WhatsApp, then upload the TXT file. Sign in when prompted to continue. A plain-text export includes personal conversation content: check what you are sharing and obtain any permission you need before uploading.