How to Export Telegram Data for Personal Use
Posted: Mon May 26, 2025 5:03 am
As a messaging platform with millions of users, Telegram stores a vast amount of personal data—from messages and media to contacts and settings. Sometimes, users want to export their Telegram data for backup, personal archiving, or transferring information to another service. Fortunately, Telegram provides built-in tools that allow users to export their data safely and efficiently. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to export Telegram data for personal use, along with tips on managing your exported information securely.
Why Export Telegram Data?
Exporting Telegram data helps users maintain a telegram data local copy of their messages, media files, contacts, and more. This can be useful if you want to:
Backup important conversations.
Keep a record of shared media like photos, videos, and documents.
Archive chat history before deleting your account or switching devices.
Analyze chat data for personal or professional reasons.
Step 1: Use Telegram Desktop
Telegram’s data export feature is available only through the Telegram Desktop application for Windows, macOS, or Linux. If you haven’t installed it yet, download and install Telegram Desktop from the official website.
Step 2: Open Settings and Access Data Export
Once logged in on Telegram Desktop:
Click on the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top-left corner.
Select Settings.
Scroll down and click on Advanced.
Under Data and Storage, find the Export Telegram data option and click it.
Step 3: Choose What Data to Export
Telegram provides multiple options for data export. You can select:
Personal chats (private messages with individuals).
Group chats and channels.
Contacts.
Chat photos, videos, files, and stickers.
Voice messages and video notes.
Saved GIFs.
Account information like your profile and settings.
You can customize your export by selecting specific types of data, or export everything for a comprehensive backup.
Step 4: Define Export Format and Size Limits
Telegram lets you choose the export format (usually JSON or HTML) and specify size limits for media files to control storage space. If you have large amounts of media, you can choose to exclude or limit file size to reduce export time and file size.
Step 5: Start the Export Process
Click the Export button. The process may take several minutes depending on how much data you have. Telegram will display a progress bar and notify you when the export is complete.
Step 6: Access Your Exported Data
When the export finishes, Telegram will provide a folder location containing your data. Open the folder to see:
Chat history saved as readable HTML files or JSON data.
Media files sorted by type in subfolders.
A summary file detailing the export contents.
Tips for Managing Exported Data
Keep it secure: Exported Telegram data contains personal and potentially sensitive information. Store it securely on encrypted drives or password-protected folders.
Avoid sharing: Do not share your exported data with untrusted parties, as it may expose your contacts, conversations, and private files.
Regular backups: Make exporting a regular habit to ensure you have updated backups of your Telegram activity.
Use offline archives: Exported data can be useful for offline reading or reference, especially if you want to keep a permanent record independent of Telegram servers.
What Exporting Does Not Include
Note that Secret Chats and some ephemeral content cannot be exported due to their end-to-end encryption and privacy-focused design. These messages are stored only on your devices and are not accessible via Telegram’s export tool.
In summary, exporting Telegram data for personal use is straightforward with the Telegram Desktop app. By following the steps above, you can safely create backups of your chats, media, and account details while maintaining control over your personal information. This proactive approach helps safeguard your digital communication history and provides peace of mind in managing your Telegram presence.
Why Export Telegram Data?
Exporting Telegram data helps users maintain a telegram data local copy of their messages, media files, contacts, and more. This can be useful if you want to:
Backup important conversations.
Keep a record of shared media like photos, videos, and documents.
Archive chat history before deleting your account or switching devices.
Analyze chat data for personal or professional reasons.
Step 1: Use Telegram Desktop
Telegram’s data export feature is available only through the Telegram Desktop application for Windows, macOS, or Linux. If you haven’t installed it yet, download and install Telegram Desktop from the official website.
Step 2: Open Settings and Access Data Export
Once logged in on Telegram Desktop:
Click on the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top-left corner.
Select Settings.
Scroll down and click on Advanced.
Under Data and Storage, find the Export Telegram data option and click it.
Step 3: Choose What Data to Export
Telegram provides multiple options for data export. You can select:
Personal chats (private messages with individuals).
Group chats and channels.
Contacts.
Chat photos, videos, files, and stickers.
Voice messages and video notes.
Saved GIFs.
Account information like your profile and settings.
You can customize your export by selecting specific types of data, or export everything for a comprehensive backup.
Step 4: Define Export Format and Size Limits
Telegram lets you choose the export format (usually JSON or HTML) and specify size limits for media files to control storage space. If you have large amounts of media, you can choose to exclude or limit file size to reduce export time and file size.
Step 5: Start the Export Process
Click the Export button. The process may take several minutes depending on how much data you have. Telegram will display a progress bar and notify you when the export is complete.
Step 6: Access Your Exported Data
When the export finishes, Telegram will provide a folder location containing your data. Open the folder to see:
Chat history saved as readable HTML files or JSON data.
Media files sorted by type in subfolders.
A summary file detailing the export contents.
Tips for Managing Exported Data
Keep it secure: Exported Telegram data contains personal and potentially sensitive information. Store it securely on encrypted drives or password-protected folders.
Avoid sharing: Do not share your exported data with untrusted parties, as it may expose your contacts, conversations, and private files.
Regular backups: Make exporting a regular habit to ensure you have updated backups of your Telegram activity.
Use offline archives: Exported data can be useful for offline reading or reference, especially if you want to keep a permanent record independent of Telegram servers.
What Exporting Does Not Include
Note that Secret Chats and some ephemeral content cannot be exported due to their end-to-end encryption and privacy-focused design. These messages are stored only on your devices and are not accessible via Telegram’s export tool.
In summary, exporting Telegram data for personal use is straightforward with the Telegram Desktop app. By following the steps above, you can safely create backups of your chats, media, and account details while maintaining control over your personal information. This proactive approach helps safeguard your digital communication history and provides peace of mind in managing your Telegram presence.