Easy Ways to Backup and Download Your Facebook Chat History
How to Download Old Messenger Messages
Have you ever wanted to download old messenger messages from Facebook? Maybe you need to find some important information, relive some memories, or backup your conversations. Whatever your reason, downloading old messenger messages can be very useful and convenient. But how do you do it?
In this article, we will show you how to download old messenger messages in different ways. You can use the Messenger mobile app, the Facebook website, or some other tools and tricks. We will also explain the pros and cons of each method, so you can choose the best one for your needs. Let's get started!
download old messenger messages
Method 1: Downloading Your Messages with the Mobile App
One of the easiest ways to download old messenger messages is to use the Messenger mobile app. This app allows you to request a copy of your messages and download them as an HTML file. Here are the steps to follow:
Steps to download your messages with the mobile app
Open the Messenger app on your phone or tablet.
Tap your profile icon in the top left corner.
Tap Account settings.
Tap Download your information.
Tap Deselect all, then tap the circle next to Messages to select it.
Select a date range, format, and quality for your file. We recommend choosing HTML as the format, as it is easy to open and read.
Tap Create File. Facebook will start preparing your file and send you an email when it is ready.
Open your email app and find the email from Facebook. Tap the Download Your Information link in the email.
Enter your Facebook password and tap Continue.
Tap Download next to your file. The file will be saved in your device's Downloads folder.
Pros and cons of this method
This method has some advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before using it. Here are some of them:
ProsCons
- It is simple and straightforward.- It may take a long time depending on how many messages you have.
- It allows you to choose a specific date range for your messages.- It may not include all your deleted messages, as Facebook may remove them from its servers after a while.
- It gives you a complete copy of your messages that you can keep offline.- It may take up a lot of storage space on your device.
Method 2: Downloading Your Messages on a Computer
Another way to download old messenger messages is to use the Facebook website on a computer. This method allows you to download all your Facebook data, including your messages, as a ZIP file. Here are the steps to follow:
Steps to download your messages on a computer
Open your web browser and go to www.facebook.com.
Log in to your Facebook account.
Click the arrow icon in the top right corner and select Settings & Privacy.
Click Settings.
Click Your Facebook Information in the left sidebar.
Click Download Your Information.
Click Deselect All, then click the box next to Messages to select it.
Select a date range, format, and quality for your file. We recommend choosing JSON as the format, as it is more compact and faster to download.
Click Create File. Facebook will start preparing your file and send you an email when it is ready.
Open your email app and find the email from Facebook. Click the Download Your Information link in the email.
Enter your Facebook password and click Continue.
Click Download next to your file. The file will be saved in your computer's Downloads folder.
Pros and cons of this method
This method has some advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before using it. Here are some of them:
ProsCons
- It allows you to download all your Facebook data, not just your messages.- It may take a long time depending on how much data you have.
- It gives you a complete copy of your messages that you can keep offline.- It may not include all your deleted messages, as Facebook may remove them from its servers after a while.
- It lets you choose between JSON and HTML formats for your file.- It may be difficult to open and read the JSON file without a special software or tool.
Method 3: Checking Your Archived Messages
A third way to download old messenger messages is to check your archived messages. These are messages that you have hidden from your inbox, but not deleted. You can still access them and download them as an HTML file. Here are the steps to follow:
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Steps to check your archived messages
Open the Messenger app on your phone or tablet.
Tap the search bar at the top and type the name of the person or group you want to find.
If you see the message "No Results Found", tap See filtered requests.
You will see a list of archived messages. Tap the one you want to open.
To download the message, tap the i icon in the top right corner.
Tap Export Chat History.
Select HTML as the format and tap Export Chat History again.
The message will be saved as an HTML file in your device's Downloads folder.
Pros and cons of this method
This method has some advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before using it. Here are some of them:
ProsCons
- It is quick and easy.- It only works for archived messages, not deleted ones.
- It allows you to download individual messages or chats.- It may not include all the media files or attachments in the message.
- It gives you an HTML file that you can open and read easily.- It may not work for some older or corrupted messages.
Method 4: Checking Your Email Notifications
A fourth way to download old messenger messages is to check your email notifications. These are emails that Facebook sends you when someone sends you a message on Messenger. You can use these emails to view and download your messages as text files. Here are the steps to follow:
Steps to check your email notifications
Open your email app and log in to your email account that is linked to your Facebook account.
Search for emails from Facebook with the subject "You have a new message from..." or "You have a new group conversation with...".
You will see a list of emails with previews of your messages. Open the one you want to download.
Scroll down to the bottom of the email and click View Full Conversation.
You will be redirected to the Facebook website, where you can see