on paper
How to convert a WhatsApp chat to PDF (Android, iPhone and computer)
You want to convert a WhatsApp chat to PDF to keep it, send it or print it, but WhatsApp has no “Save as PDF” button. What it does have is the “Export chat” option, which creates a text file. From there, there are several ways to go.
In this guide we explain the 4 methods that work in 2026, with their pros and limits, so you can choose based on what you need: a quick, simple PDF or a beautiful one with photos, emojis and voice notes.
Before you start: export the chat
Every method except screenshots starts from the same file: the chat export. Open the conversation and tap “More › Export chat” (on iPhone, tap the contact’s name at the top and scroll down to “Export Chat”). Choose whether to include media or not.
On Android you’ll get a .txt file with every message (and, separately, the photos and voice notes). On iPhone you’ll get a .zip containing a file called _chat.txt. If you need help with this step, see our full guide to exporting a chat on Android and exporting a chat on iPhone.
How to convert a WhatsApp chat to PDF on Android
- Export the chat and save it to Google Drive (it appears as an option when sharing).
- Open Google Drive, find the .txt file and open it with Google Docs.
- Tap the three dots › Share & export › Save as and choose PDF.
- The PDF is saved in your Drive, ready to download, send or print.
Without Drive: open the .txt in any text viewer, tap Share › Print and, as the printer, select “Save as PDF”.
How to convert a WhatsApp chat to PDF on iPhone
- Export the chat and choose “Save to Files”.
- In the Files app, tap the .zip to unzip it and open _chat.txt.
- Tap the Share › Print button.
- In the preview, tap Share again and choose “Save to Files”: it will be saved as a PDF.
For short chats you can also take screenshots, select them in Photos, tap Share › Print and save the result as a PDF just like in step 4.
How to convert a WhatsApp chat to PDF on a computer
WhatsApp Web and the desktop app can’t export chats, so first export it from your phone and email it to yourself or save it to the cloud. Then, on your computer:
- Open the .txt with Word or Google Docs.
- If you like, adjust the font and margins so it’s easier to read.
- In Word: File › Save As › PDF. In Google Docs: File › Download › PDF.
With these free methods, the PDF is plain text: photos don’t appear (you’ll only see “IMG-2026…jpg (file attached)”), there are no chat bubbles and voice notes can’t be played. Fine for reading or archiving; for a gift or for rereading with love, it falls short.
The beautiful option: a PDF book with photos, emojis and voice notes
If the chat is special, at Mi Libro de Mensajes we turn your export into a professionally laid-out PDF book: WhatsApp-style bubbles, photos and emojis in place, a table of contents and page numbers. Voice notes and videos become QR codes you can scan to hear and watch them again.
You upload the export, choose which messages go in, customise the cover and download it right away. And if you’d like it on paper later, you can order it as a printed book.
Which method to choose to convert your chat to PDF
| Method | Photos | Emojis | Voice notes | Look | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Export + print .txt | no | sometimes | no | plain text | free |
| Screenshots | yes | yes | no | like your phone | free |
| Third-party apps | it depends | it depends | no | varies | varies |
| Laid-out PDF book | yes | yes | yes, with QR | a book | €12.99 |
A word of warning about “free” apps that promise to convert WhatsApp to PDF: many ask for full access to your phone or upload your conversations to servers you know nothing about. Before using one, check who is behind it and what they do with your data.
Would you rather have it on paper? Here’s how to print a WhatsApp conversation step by step. And if you don’t know how long your chat is, you can count your messages before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Can WhatsApp export a chat directly as a PDF?
No. WhatsApp’s “Export chat” option creates a text file (.txt), or a .zip with the text and media if you include attachments. To get a PDF you need to open that text and print it as a PDF, or use a service that lays it out for you.
Do emojis and photos show up in the PDF?
It depends on the method. If you print the .txt as a PDF, photos don’t appear (only their file names) and emojis depend on the program. With screenshots everything looks as it does on screen, but it takes up a lot of pages. In a laid-out PDF book, photos and emojis appear within the conversation.
Can voice notes be included in a PDF?
A PDF can’t play audio by itself. The most practical solution is to turn each voice note into a QR code printed next to the message: scan it with your phone and you’ll hear the original recording.
How do I convert a very long WhatsApp chat to PDF?
Screenshots stop being practical after a few dozen messages. For long chats, the best option is to export the chat and convert the .txt, or upload it to a tool that lays it out automatically with a table of contents and page numbers.
Can a WhatsApp PDF be used as evidence in court?
A PDF or a screenshot on its own can be challenged, because they’re easy to alter. If you need the messages as evidence, speak to a lawyer: in those cases a forensic expert report or notarised record is usually recommended.
A well-kept chat gets read again.
