Short answer: use the latest official Telegram Desktop app. To save one conversation, open that chat, open its … menu, and choose Export chat history. To export broader account data, open Settings → Advanced → Export Telegram Data, choose what to include, then start the export.
Telegram's official export tool can save messages and selected media for offline use in HTML or JSON. It is a Desktop workflow; the mobile apps do not present the same documented export controls.
Before you start
- Install Telegram Desktop from the official Telegram Desktop page.
- Sign in to the account that contains the history you need.
- Make sure you have enough free disk space for media.
- Decide whether you need one chat or a broader account export.
- Choose a private destination: an exported archive may contain personal messages, files, names, and other sensitive information.
Telegram introduced this tool in its official Chat Export Tool announcement. Menu names can vary slightly between Desktop versions, but the export is performed in Telegram Desktop, not through an external bot or service.
Export one Telegram chat
Use this when you need a copy of a particular private chat, group, or channel that is available in your Telegram account.
- Open Telegram Desktop and open the chat.
- Click the … menu in the chat header.
- Select Export chat history.
- Choose the content and media you want to include.
- Select HTML for a readable archive or JSON for structured data.
- Choose the destination folder and start the export.
- Open the resulting export locally and check that the messages and files you needed are present.
This is an individual chat export. It does not mean that all of your Telegram account data has been exported.
Export account data from Telegram Desktop
Use the account-level tool when you want to export data from more than one chat or review the wider set of data Telegram makes available for export.
- Open Telegram Desktop.
- Go to Settings.
- Open Advanced.
- Select Export Telegram Data.
- Select the categories, chats, date range, media types, and other options you need.
- Choose HTML or JSON, select a destination, and start the export.
- Review the saved folder before moving or sharing it.
The exact options shown depend on the current Telegram Desktop version and the data available to your account. Export only what you need: a smaller archive is easier to protect and inspect.
HTML or JSON: which format is better?
- HTML is the practical choice for reading an offline copy in a browser.
- JSON is better when you need structured records for your own analysis or migration work.
- If you are unsure, export only the necessary scope and keep the archive in a private folder rather than creating several full copies.
Desktop versus mobile
Telegram's official export documentation points to Telegram Desktop and its Desktop menus. Android and iOS remain useful for reading and managing chats, but this documented export path is not the same as a mobile backup or a phone-wide app backup.
If you only have a phone, do not hand your messages to an unverified bot or website claiming to export your account. Wait until you can use the official Telegram Desktop app and sign in there.
Secret Chat caveat
Secret Chats are not ordinary cloud chats. Telegram's FAQ explains that Secret Chats are end-to-end encrypted, device-specific, and not stored in Telegram's cloud. Because of that, do not assume that an account-level cloud export contains their history.
If a conversation is sensitive, remember that an exported HTML or JSON archive is another copy of that conversation. Protect the folder like the original messages, and delete extra copies securely when you no longer need them. Exporting a chat does not make it anonymous or remove information from other participants' devices.
For related privacy settings, see our guide to Telegram privacy settings and our Telegram Secret Chat guide.
Privacy checklist after export
- Store the export outside shared folders and public cloud links.
- Use your operating system's access controls or disk encryption where available.
- Do not upload the archive to an online converter or paste its contents into a third-party service.
- Check whether media files were exported alongside the message data.
- Remove temporary or duplicate copies when the task is complete.
Frequently asked questions
Does exporting delete anything from Telegram?
No. Export creates a local copy; it does not delete the original chat from Telegram. If you want to remove messages or an account, use Telegram's own controls separately and understand that deletion is a different action.
Can I export only a date range?
The account-level export tool can show date-range and content-selection options in Telegram Desktop. The available controls depend on the current Desktop version, so check the options before starting the export.
Is an export a backup that Telegram will restore automatically?
No. HTML and JSON are local export formats, not a one-click restore promise. Keep the original export folder intact if you need it for reference.
Can I share an exported chat safely?
Treat it as sensitive personal data. Remove anything you do not need to share, check linked media and metadata, and share it only with the intended recipient through a private channel.
Official sources
- Telegram Desktop
- Telegram: Chat Export Tool, Better Notifications and More
- Telegram FAQ: Secret Chats