How to export WhatsApp chats from Chrome

Joseph Hu

Joseph HuLast reviewed September 14, 2026

Quick answer

For one chat, use WhatsApp's own Export chat on the phone. For several chats, CSV or HTML with media, install WAexport; for a free local export, WA Chat Export.

Cover illustration for How to export WhatsApp chats from Chrome

WhatsApp can export a chat, but only from the phone, one chat at a time, as a text file. If you need several chats, a spreadsheet of messages, a readable archive with media, or the members of a group, WhatsApp Web plus an extension is the route. Three are listed as of September 2026; one is large and partly paid, two are small and free.

Export a chat from the WhatsApp app on your phone

WhatsApp's built-in export makes a text file of one chat, with or without media, and sends it wherever your phone can share a file. It is the right route for a single conversation.

  1. 1On the phone, open the chat, tap the contact or group name, then More (Android) or scroll down (iPhone) and choose Export chat.
  2. 2Choose Include media or Without media; media exports are limited to the most recent files and grow large fast.
  3. 3{ "Pick where to send the file": "email, a cloud drive or a file app." }
  4. 4Open the .txt on your computer; each line carries the date, time, sender and message.

That is one chat per export, as plain text, and no group member list. An extension on WhatsApp Web exports many chats at once into HTML, CSV or PDF and pulls contacts and group members into a spreadsheet.

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Export several chats to HTML, CSV or Excel

The largest extension in this category exports chats and contacts in several formats from WhatsApp Web. Its recent reviews include a complaint that the paid part is revealed only after you select the chats, so know the free limits first.

WAexport

WAexport is the largest export extension still listed and the most recently updated, and it covers both jobs: chats to HTML, CSV or TXT and contacts or group members to a spreadsheet. Its paid tier is the caveat; a recent reviewer found out about it only after selecting chats.

WAexport icon
WAexport Healthy & maintained
Users
20K
Rating
4.5★
Reviews
2.7K
Established publisher
Chrome Web Store

The listing describes exporting or backing up chats in HTML, CSV and TXT, and exporting contacts and group members, in a few clicks from WhatsApp Web.

  • Exports chats to HTML (web view), CSV or TXT.
  • Exports contacts and group members to a list.
  • Updated 12 September 2026, with 2,700 reviews.

Trade-offs

  • Some features are paid, and the listing does not state the free limits.
  • A recent reviewer calls the late disclosure of paid features a predatory practice.
  • Offered in one language.

Export locally, for free, with a date range

Two small extensions export chats to PDF, HTML, CSV or text with the processing done in the browser. They have a few hundred users each and near-perfect ratings from a handful of reviews.

WA Chat Export

WA Chat Export processes everything in the browser and sends nothing to a server, exports to PDF as well as HTML, CSV and text, and supports date ranges and media. It is tiny, which is the trade-off.

The listing describes exporting chats as text, PDF, HTML or CSV, exporting contacts and group participants, selecting individual chats or all at once, custom date ranges, media on or off, and local processing with no data sent to external servers.

  • PDF, HTML, CSV and text exports with date ranges.
  • Contact and group participant exports.
  • All processing in the browser; nothing sent to a server, according to the listing.

Trade-offs

  • 316 users and 2 reviews; a very short track record.
  • Offered in one language.
  • No stated support channel on the listing.

WAExport

WAExport turns selected conversations into a readable HTML archive or structured Excel and CSV rows, with a date range and optional media, and is offered in 15 languages. Its two recent reviews are positive and mention the export staying local.

The listing describes choosing conversations, controlling the date range, selecting HTML for a readable archive or Excel and CSV for structured rows, including supported media, and contact and group-member export tools.

  • HTML archive or Excel and CSV rows, with a date range.
  • Optional media in the export.
  • Contact and group-member export tools; 15 languages.

Trade-offs

  • 436 users and 7 reviews; a short track record.
  • No PDF output.
  • Similar name to WAexport above; check the publisher before installing.

Compare the solutions

Need

One chat

Recommendation
WhatsApp's Export chat
Why
Built into the phone app; text file with optional media.
Keep in mind
One chat at a time, text only, no member lists.

Need

Many chats and contact lists

Recommendation
WAexport
Why
HTML, CSV and TXT exports of chats plus contact and group-member exports; 20,000 users, updated 12 September 2026.
Keep in mind
Paid features revealed late, according to a recent review.

Need

Free, local, PDF or CSV

Recommendation
WA Chat Export
Why
PDF, HTML, CSV or text with date ranges and media, processed in the browser.
Keep in mind
316 users and 2 reviews.

Need

HTML archive or Excel rows

Recommendation
WAExport (WA Chat Export - Save Chats and Media)
Why
Chats to HTML or Excel with media and a date range, offered in 15 languages.
Keep in mind
436 users and 7 reviews.

Store data comes from a daily crawl of the Chrome Web Store; rating trends are computed from the public review history. Recommendations are editorial judgements, last reviewed on , with store figures from .

Methodology

Sources & verification

Product details and availability are checked against the linked official websites and Chrome Web Store listings. These sources support factual product information; the recommendation itself is an editorial judgement.

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