How to export WhatsApp chat on Android — step by step, with or without media.
Google Drive, email, or Files app. Best settings for ThreadRecap. Then upload and get your recap.
Export → upload to ThreadRecapHow to export on Android
Open WhatsApp → open the chat you want.
Tap ⋮ (menu) → Export chat.
Choose “Export without media” or “Include media”. Pick where to save (Drive, Gmail, Files, etc.).
What you need for analysis
ThreadRecap uses the .zip from WhatsApp. Android paths can vary by device and app.
Android UI path variations
Menus and labels vary by Android version and OEM.
- •Menu is usually ⋮ (three dots) at the top of the chat, or the chat name. Look for “Export chat” or “More” → “Export chat”.
- •Export without media / Include media — same limits as iPhone: 40k without media, 10k with media. For analysis, “Export without media” is often enough unless you need voice notes.
- •After export, the .zip is where you chose: Drive, Gmail, Files, or Downloads. Open the .zip to see _chat.txt or “WhatsApp Chat - Name.txt” inside.
Google Drive vs email vs Files app routes
You can send the export to several places.
- •Google Drive — good for backup and then download on another device. Download the .zip and upload to ThreadRecap from your computer or phone.
- •Gmail / email — send to yourself, open the attachment, download the .zip, then upload to ThreadRecap.
- •Files app / Downloads — on many Androids the .zip goes to Downloads or “WhatsApp” folder. Open Files, find the .zip, then upload it to ThreadRecap in the browser.
Why export for ThreadRecap
What you can do after export
Summarize the chat — decisions, action items, open questions
Get meeting-style minutes — agenda, decisions, actions
Transcribe voice notes — include media, get transcript + summary
Generate Group Awards — shareable recap with optional expiry
Frequently asked questions
It goes where you chose in the share sheet: Google Drive, Gmail, Files, or Downloads. On many devices, “Save to device” puts it in Downloads or a “WhatsApp” folder. Use the Files app to locate it.
Export without media does not include voice note files. To transcribe voice notes with ThreadRecap, export with “Include media” and upload that .zip. It’s larger and subject to WhatsApp’s 10k-message limit.
On some group chats, export can be disabled by the admin (Advanced chat privacy). Or the menu can be in a different place (chat name, ⋮, or “More”). See our “WhatsApp advanced chat privacy export blocked” and “WhatsApp export chat not working” pages.
WhatsApp limits export to 40,000 messages without media (10,000 with media). Export without media for the most recent 40k, or split by date. See our “WhatsApp export limit 40,000” page.
We parse the .zip in your browser. Only the text (and voice note audio, if you include media and choose to send it) is used for analysis. We don’t store your raw chat. See our Privacy Policy.
Large chats or low storage can cause failure. Try “Export without media”, free up space, or export a shorter date range. See our “WhatsApp export chat not working” page for a full checklist.