A WhatsApp export is a .zip file containing a _chat.txt file (all messages), plus optional .opus voice notes and media files. The _chat.txt file is always included and contains every text message with timestamps and sender names. Voice notes (.opus or .m4a) are only included when you export with media.
This guide breaks down every file type in a WhatsApp export, shows you what each one looks like, and helps you decide which export option fits your needs.
Quick comparison: every file in a WhatsApp export
File type
What it contains
Included by default?
Used in analysis?
_chat.txt
All text messages, timestamps, system events
Always
Yes (always)
.opus
Voice notes (newer exports)
Only with media
Yes (transcribed)
.m4a
Voice notes (older exports, iOS)
Only with media
Yes (transcribed)
.jpg / .webp
Photos
Only with media
No
.mp4
Videos
Only with media
No
.vcf
Shared contacts
Only with media
No
.pdf / .docx
Shared documents
Only with media
No
The two files that matter most are _chat.txt (your messages) and audio files (your voice notes). Everything else is supplementary.
This is the most important file. Every text message, system event, and media placeholder lives here in a plain text format.
Here is what a typical _chat.txt looks like:
1/15/25, 10:32 AM - John: Can we push the deadline to Friday?
1/15/25, 10:33 AM - Sarah: Works for me. I'll update the tracker.
1/15/25, 10:35 AM - John: Great, sending the updated scope now
1/15/25, 10:35 AM - John: <Media omitted>
1/15/25, 10:40 AM - Sarah changed the group description
What you need to know about _chat.txt:
Date format depends on your phone locale. US phones show MM/DD/YY, European phones show DD/MM/YY, and some use DD.MM.YYYY. ThreadRecap detects all common formats automatically.
Time format varies too. You may see 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour clocks depending on your phone settings.
"Media omitted" means you exported without media. The message existed (probably a photo or voice note), but the file was not included.
System messages are included. Group name changes, participant joins, and admin actions all appear in the log.
Messages are strictly chronological. There are no message IDs or thread indicators, just a flat timeline.
You do not need to clean or reformat _chat.txt before analysis. Upload the export and the parser handles it.
.opus files: WhatsApp voice notes
WhatsApp uses the Opus audio codec for voice messages. If you exported with media, each voice note appears as a separate .opus file in the .zip.
Why WhatsApp uses Opus:
Extremely efficient compression (a 1-minute voice note is roughly 100KB)
Optimized for speech, not music
Open standard, royalty-free
The catch: most desktop audio players cannot open .opus files directly. This means you cannot just double-click and listen on most computers.
ThreadRecap transcribes .opus files using Whisper and merges the transcripts back into the conversation timeline, so voice notes become searchable, readable text alongside your messages. The same pipeline powers our .opus to readable text page if you want the standalone tool. Learn more about how OPUS to text conversion works.
If your export is mostly voice notes, go straight to WhatsApp voice to text to transcribe them before or alongside your recap.
.m4a files: voice notes from older exports
Some older WhatsApp exports, especially from iOS, use .m4a instead of .opus. The .m4a format uses AAC encoding and is more widely supported by media players.
If your export contains .m4a files, ThreadRecap handles them exactly the same way. No conversion needed on your end.
With media vs without media: which should you choose?
This is the most important decision you make when exporting. Here is how each option compares:
Export without media (text only):
You get only _chat.txt
Small file size (usually under 5MB)
Up to 40,000 messages included
Voice notes appear as "Media omitted" in the log
Best when you only need text analysis
Export with media:
You get _chat.txt plus all media files
Larger file size (can be hundreds of MB)
Up to 10,000 messages included
Voice notes included as .opus or .m4a files
Required if you want voice note transcription
How to decide
Choose "without media" if:
Your chat is mostly text messages
You want maximum message coverage (40K vs 10K)
You need a quick, lightweight export
Choose "with media" if:
Important information was shared in voice notes
You need voice note transcripts in your analysis
The chat has under 10,000 messages
If your chat has voice notes with key decisions or commitments, always export with media. Otherwise, those messages are just blank lines in your analysis.
Not sure how to export? Follow this step-by-step guide: How to [Export a WhatsApp Chat for Analysis](/blog/export-whatsapp-chat-for-analysis).
The 40,000 message limit (and how to work around it)
WhatsApp caps exports silently:
Without media: up to 40,000 messages
With media: up to 10,000 messages
If your chat exceeds these limits, WhatsApp exports only the most recent messages. You will not get a warning.
Workarounds:
Export without media to capture more messages (40K vs 10K)
Focus your analysis on the time period that matters using ThreadRecap's date filtering
Export multiple times and analyze each batch separately
Photos (.jpg, .webp), videos (.mp4), and documents (.pdf, .docx, .vcf) appear in the .zip when you export with media. However, these files are not used in text-based analysis.
ThreadRecap never uploads photos or videos. They stay on your device. This is a privacy-first design choice, not a limitation.
Unzip locally - ThreadRecap unpacks the .zip in your browser. Nothing is uploaded yet.
Parse _chat.txt - The date format and message structure are detected automatically.
Identify audio files - .opus and .m4a voice notes are listed for optional transcription.
You choose what to include - Select which audio files to transcribe and pick an analysis goal (meeting recap, decisions, action items, etc.).
Only selected data is sent - Text and opted-in audio go to analysis. Photos and videos stay local.
Structured output - You get a formatted recap combining text messages and transcribed voice notes in a single timeline.
The result is a recap you can actually use: paste it into a document, share it with your team, or send it to a client. See a real example in this case study: client call recap. If the chat covers a recurring work meeting, the same export can produce meeting minutes from a WhatsApp chat without any extra prompt.
Common questions
Can I export just voice notes without text?
No. WhatsApp always includes _chat.txt. But you can choose to transcribe only the audio during analysis.
Do deleted messages appear in the export?
No. Only messages visible in the chat at the time of export are included.
Pick an analysis goal and get your structured recap
ThreadRecap handles all the format detection, voice note transcription, and timeline reconstruction for you. No file conversion, no cleanup, no prompting.
Learn what's inside WhatsApp export files, including _chat.txt messages, .opus voice notes, and media, plus how ThreadRecap transforms exports into summaries.
Jan 31, 20268 min read
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