The process on iPhone is similar but uses slightly different menus:
Steps
Open WhatsApp and go to the chat you want to export.
Tap the contact name or group name at the top.
Scroll down and tap Export Chat.
Choose "Attach Media" or "Without Media".
Select Mail, AirDrop, or Save to Files.
Transfer the .zip file to your computer.
Open ChatXport and drop the ZIP file onto the upload area.
Note: WhatsApp on iPhone limits media exports to approximately 10,000 items. Very large chats may have some media omitted. This is a WhatsApp limitation, not a ChatXport one.
This usually happens when your WhatsApp uses a date format that ChatXport doesn't recognize yet. WhatsApp formats dates differently depending on your phone's language, region, and operating system.
What to try first:
Make sure you exported using WhatsApp → Export Chat (not a database backup from Google Drive or iCloud).
Open the ZIP file manually and check for a _chat.txt file. If there's no .txt file, the export may have failed — try again.
If there IS a .txt file, open it in a text editor. The first few lines should look something like: [25/01/2024, 14:30:05] John: Hello or 1/25/24, 2:30 PM - John: Hello
If it still doesn't work: We support most formats worldwide, but there are always edge cases. Contact us and paste the first 3-4 lines from your _chat.txt file (just the date/time and sender name — no message content needed). We can usually add support for your format within 24 hours.
If you see attachment chips but clicking them says "Attachment not found," there are a few possible causes:
You exported without media. If you chose "Without Media" during export, the ZIP only contains the chat text. Re-export with "Include media" / "Attach Media" selected.
WhatsApp's media naming mismatch. Sometimes the filename referenced in the chat text doesn't exactly match the filename in the ZIP. ChatXport has fuzzy matching that handles most cases, but some edge cases slip through.
HEIC images from iPhone. ChatXport recognizes HEIC files, but your browser may not be able to preview them. Try opening the attachment or downloading it to view in a dedicated image viewer.
If you see "(Media not included in export)" on a message, this means WhatsApp itself excluded that media during export — the image or video was not in the ZIP file. This is normal for older media in large chats.
ChatXport stores your bookmarks, notes, and workspace data in your browser's local storage. If you clear your browser data (cache, cookies, site data), this information is permanently deleted.
If you had a backup: Open ChatXport, go to Workspaces, click "Restore Backup," and select your .chatxport file. All bookmarks, notes, and workspace structures will be restored. You'll need to re-load the original ZIP files, but all your annotations will come back.
If you didn't have a backup: Unfortunately, there's no way to recover. Your chat messages are safe (they're in the original WhatsApp ZIP file on your device), but bookmarks and notes are gone.
Prevention: We strongly recommend downloading a backup regularly. Go to Workspaces → Backup All Data and save the .chatxport file somewhere safe. It takes 2 seconds and can save hours of work.
ChatXport lets you download a complete backup of all your work — bookmarks, notes, workspace structures, and settings — as a single file.
To create a backup
Open Workspaces from the main screen.
At the bottom, click "Backup All Data".
Save the .chatxport file to your computer, cloud drive, or anywhere safe.
To restore from a backup
Open Workspaces.
Click "Restore Backup".
Select your .chatxport file.
Your workspaces, bookmarks, and notes will be imported. Existing data won't be overwritten — it merges safely.
The backup file does NOT contain your actual chat messages or media (those are in the original WhatsApp ZIP files). It only contains your annotations and workspace organization, so backup files are very small — typically under 100KB.
How to transfer your license to a new device License
Personal and Pro licenses are tied to a single device. If you get a new computer or need to switch browsers, you'll need to deactivate your old device first.
Steps
On your old device/browser: Open ChatXport → click the lock icon → click "Deactivate".
On your new device/browser: Open ChatXport → click the lock icon → enter your license key → click "Activate".
If you no longer have access to your old device (lost, broken, or sold), contact us with your license key and we'll reset it manually.
Don't forget: If you have bookmarks and notes on the old device, download a backup first so you can import it on the new one.
ChatXport runs entirely in your browser — no software to install. It works best on:
Google Chrome (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android) — recommended
Microsoft Edge (Windows, Mac)
Mozilla Firefox (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Safari (Mac, iPhone, iPad)
Known limitations:
In-app browsers (opening links from Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) may not support all features. If something isn't working, tap the "open in browser" option or copy the URL into your default browser.
Safari on iOS may evict stored data if you haven't visited in 7+ days. Install ChatXport to your home screen to prevent this.
Internet Explorer is not supported.
PDF export quality varies by browser. Chrome and Edge produce the best results. If your PDFs look different than expected, try printing from Chrome.
ChatXport is a Progressive Web App (PWA), which means you can install it to your device like a regular app. This gives you a dedicated window (no browser chrome), an app icon, and faster loading.
On desktop (Chrome/Edge)
Visit ChatXport in Chrome or Edge.
Look for the install icon in the address bar (or the install prompt at the bottom of ChatXport).
Click "Install". The app will appear in your Start menu / Applications folder.
On iPhone/iPad (Safari)
Visit ChatXport in Safari.
Tap the Share button (square with arrow).
Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen".
On Android (Chrome)
Visit ChatXport in Chrome.
Tap the three-dot menu → "Add to Home screen" or "Install app".
Troubleshooting: If the installed app shows a blank screen, tap and hold the icon → look for an option to clear data or cache. Alternatively, open the app and wait a few seconds — a "Reset App Cache" button will appear if there's a loading issue. Your bookmarks and notes will not be affected by a cache reset.
