How to save a WhatsApp chat as a PDF
WhatsApp can’t make a PDF on its own. It can export a chat as a text file, and from there you need something that turns it back into a readable document. Here’s how to do it on your phone, with photos and the full date and time on every message.
Why you might want a PDF
A PDF is easy to print, easy to send and opens anywhere. People use it to keep a chat with someone who passed away, to print a family group’s photos and messages, to keep a record of what was agreed with a landlord or a client, or just to keep a conversation that matters safe outside WhatsApp.
Step 1: Export the chat
Do this in WhatsApp first. On iPhone, tap the chat name at the top and choose Export Chat instead.
- Open the chat in WhatsApp.
- Tap ⋮, then More, then Export chat.
- Choose Include media if you want photos in the PDF.
- Pick ThreadKeep in the share menu.
Step 2: Save it as a PDF
In ThreadKeep, the chat opens as real chat bubbles. Then:
- Open Save as PDF.
- Pick a date range, or keep the whole chat.
- Choose whether to show photos and stickers.
- Save the PDF to your phone, or share it straight to email, Drive or a printer app.
What the PDF looks like
Each message shows who sent it and the full date and time, with photos in place and page numbers on every page. ThreadKeep can also add a fingerprint page with a SHA-256 hash of the export file, which shows which export the PDF was made from. That’s useful if you ever need to show a chat hasn’t been edited since you exported it.
Why not use a website?
Many “WhatsApp to PDF” tools ask you to upload your chat to their server. That’s your private messages, photos and phone numbers on someone else’s computer. ThreadKeep does everything on your phone. It has no server, no account, no ads and no tracking, and it needs no permissions.
Questions
Can WhatsApp export a chat straight to PDF?
No. WhatsApp exports chats as a .txt file, or a .zip with media. You need another app to turn that into a PDF.
Can I include photos in the PDF?
Yes, as long as you chose Include media when you exported the chat. You can also leave photos out for a smaller file.
Can I save only part of a chat?
Yes. In ThreadKeep, pick a date range before you save the PDF.
Is the PDF feature free?
Saving as PDF is part of ThreadKeep Pro, a one-time payment with no subscription. Reading, search and your story are free for one chat, with no ads.