Telegram guide
How to export a Telegram chat
Exporting needs Telegram Desktop on a computer (Windows, Mac or Linux). The phone apps can't do it. It takes about two minutes.
You'll upload result.json
One chat
- 1Install Telegram Desktop from desktop.telegram.org and log in.
- 2Open the chat, then click the three dots in the top-right corner.
- 3Click Export chat history.
- 4Untick photos, videos and files. Text is all we need.
- 5Set Format to Machine-readable JSON, then click Export.
- 6Upload the result.json file from the export folder.
All chats at once
- 1In Telegram Desktop, open Settings, then Advanced.
- 2Click Export Telegram data.
- 3Tick Personal chats (and Private groups if you want), untick media.
- 4Choose Machine-readable JSON and click Export.
- 5Upload result.json and pick the conversation in the next step.
Good to know
- On a Mac, use Telegram Desktop, not the App Store app called Telegram. Only Telegram Desktop has the export.
- Choose JSON. The default HTML format can't be read.
- Telegram may ask you to confirm the export on your phone and wait a few hours the first time. That's a security feature.
Questions
Is the other person notified?
No. Telegram shows the confirmation only to you.
Can I zip the folder instead?
Yes. Upload result.json on its own or a .zip of the export folder.
What about secret chats?
Secret chats live on one device only and can't be exported.
Who's the toxic one?
Analyze my Telegram chat