WhatsApp export limit: 40,000 messages without media, 10,000 with media. Here’s why — and how to still get a full recap.
Workarounds that keep analysis quality: export without media, split by date, multiple exports. Then upload to ThreadRecap.
Upload to ThreadRecapHow to work within the limit
Export without media — up to 40k messages. Best for summaries and action items.
Split by date — export “last 6 months”, then “6 months before” if you need more.
Upload the .zip(s) to ThreadRecap — we parse and analyze. Start with the most recent.
Why the limit exists and what to do
WhatsApp caps export size. You can still get great analysis.
Why the limit exists
WhatsApp caps export for technical and UX reasons.
- •Technical — very large .zips are heavy to generate, upload, and open. Caps reduce failed exports and support load.
- •UX — most people need “recent context” more than years of media. 40k without media is usually enough for the last 1–2 years of a busy chat.
- •40,000 messages without media; 10,000 with media — these are WhatsApp’s stated limits. They can vary slightly by app version or region; if you hit “export failed”, assume you’re over.
Workarounds that keep analysis quality
You can still get summaries and action items from long chats.
- •Export without media — gets you up to 40k messages. Enough for decisions, action items, and open questions. Upload that .zip to ThreadRecap. You lose photos/videos; voice notes need a separate “include media” export for a shorter range if you want transcription.
- •Split by date — export “last 6 months” (or 3, or 12), then earlier chunks if needed. Analyze the most recent .zip first; that’s usually the one that matters for “what’s next.”
- •Multiple exports — e.g. “Jan–Jun 2024” and “Jul–Dec 2024”. Upload and analyze one at a time. ThreadRecap doesn’t merge exports; each analysis is per .zip.
Once you’re within the limit
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 on a ≤10k export
Generate Group Awards — shareable recap
Frequently asked questions
WhatsApp documents 40,000 messages without media and 10,000 with media. Slight variation by app version or region is possible. If export fails on a large chat, assume you’re over and try “Export without media” or a shorter range.
You can’t get one .zip with more than 40k (or 10k with media). You can export multiple chunks (e.g. by date) and analyze each. For “what happened recently,” the latest chunk is usually enough.
Export with media only for the date range that fits in 10k messages (e.g. last 2–3 months of a busy group). Use that .zip for transcription. For full-text recap of the whole history, use “Export without media” for the 40k chunk.
We accept whatever .zip WhatsApp gives you. Our limits are on analysis size (see our config and pricing). If your export is under WhatsApp’s cap and parses correctly, we can analyze it.
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.
Could be limit, low storage, or Advanced chat privacy. Try “Export without media”, free up space, and check our “WhatsApp export chat not working” and “WhatsApp advanced chat privacy export blocked” pages.