How to export your Instagram chats (DMs)

Instagram can’t export one chat on its own: it packs all your messages into one download. Ask for Messages only, in JSON, and Marco will ask which chat to read when you upload it.

1. 1

   Open the menu

   Go to your profile and tap ☰ (the three lines) at the top right.

   
2. 2

   Open “Meta Account”

   Tap “Meta Account” at the top of Settings and activity. Older versions call it “Accounts Center”.

   
3. 3

   Tap “Your information and permissions”

   It’s in the list under your account.

   
4. 4

   Tap “Export your information”

   It opens a page inside Instagram.

   
5. 5

   Tap “Create export”

   If you have more than one profile, pick your Instagram profile.

   
6. 6

   Tap “Export to device”

   This makes a file you download, instead of sending it to another service.

   
7. 7

   Choose only Messages

   Tap “Customise information”, tap “Clear all”, tick “Messages” and tap “Save”. A smaller download arrives sooner.

   
8. 8

   Set the date range to “All time”

   Tap “Date range”, choose “All time” and tap “Save”. The default is only the last year.

   
9. 9

   Set the format to JSON

   Tap “Format”, choose “JSON” and tap “Save”. HeyMarco reads JSON, not the HTML version.

   
10. 10

    Tap “Start export”

    Re-enter your Instagram password if it asks. Meta lets you know by notification and email when the file is ready.

    

• The file usually takes from a few hours to a few days. You then have four days to download it.
• Download the ZIP and upload it to HeyMarco as it is. If it holds many chats, Marco shows them with their message counts and you pick one.
• Messenger uses the same Meta export, from Facebook’s settings under Meta Account (called Accounts Center in older versions).