How to Export Telegram Group Chat History

[fatimahislam]

Exporting Telegram group chat history is a valuable feature for various reasons: archiving important discussions, preserving memories, complying with record-keeping requirements, or simply having an offline backup. While Telegram's mobile apps offer limited direct export capabilities, the Telegram Desktop application provides a robust and user-friendly method for a comprehensive export.

Using Telegram Desktop (Recommended Method)
The Telegram Desktop client offers the most comprehensive telegram data and customizable way to export group chat history, including messages, media, and other files.

Download and Install Telegram Desktop: If you don't already have it, download the official Telegram Desktop application from the Telegram website (desktop.telegram.org). Install it on your Windows, macOS, or Linux computer and log in with your Telegram account.

Open the Desired Group Chat: Launch the Telegram Desktop application and navigate to the specific group chat whose history you wish to export.

Access Export Options:

Click on the group chat to open it.
In the top-right corner of the chat window, you'll see three vertical dots (⋮). Click on these dots to open the chat's options menu.
From the dropdown menu, select "Export chat history."
Configure Export Settings: A new "Export Chat History" window will appear, allowing you to customize your export:

Select Data Types: This is crucial for determining what information is included in your export. Check the boxes next to all the elements you want to export. Common selections include:
Photos: All images shared in the group.
Videos: All video files shared.
Voice Messages: Audio recordings.
Video Messages: Short video clips.
Stickers: Saved sticker packs used in the chat.
GIFs: Animated GIF files.
Files: Documents, archives, and any other file types.
Messages: The text of all messages.
Chat Info: Details about the group, like its title and description.
Size Limit for Media: For "Photos," "Videos," "Voice Messages," "Video Messages," and "Files," there's a "Size limit" slider. By default, it might be set to a small value (e.g., 8MB). It's highly recommended to drag this slider to the maximum (up to 4GB) to ensure larger media files are included. If a single file exceeds 4GB, it might not be exported.
From and To Dates (Optional): If you only need a specific portion of the chat history, you can define a custom date range. Leave these blank to export the entire chat history.
Format:
Human-readable HTML: This is the most common and recommended format. It creates a web page that you can open in any browser, with all messages and media neatly organized and viewable. The media files will be saved in separate folders and linked within the HTML.
Machine-readable JSON: This format is suitable for developers or for processing the data programmatically. It's not easily readable by humans directly.
Download Path: Click the "Browse" button to choose the folder on your computer where the exported data will be saved.
Initiate Export: Once you've configured all your preferences, click the "Export" button. Telegram will then begin processing and downloading the selected data to your chosen location. This process can take a considerable amount of time, especially for large group chats with many messages and media files.

Access Exported Data: After the export is complete, a "Show My Data" button will appear. Click it to open the destination folder. You will find a main HTML file (usually messages.html or export_results.html) which you can open in your web browser to view the entire chat history. Alongside it, there will be subfolders (e.g., photos, videos, files) containing all the exported media, organized by type.

Limitations on Mobile Devices
Telegram's mobile applications (iOS and Android) do not offer a direct, comprehensive "export chat history" feature for entire group chats. While you can individually save photos and videos to your device's gallery or camera roll, and forward messages to your "Saved Messages," these methods are impractical for exporting an entire group's history. For a complete and organized export, the Telegram Desktop application is indispensable.