How to export your Messenger chats

Messenger uses Meta’s export, the same one as Instagram. Like Instagram, it can’t export one chat on its own: it packs all your messages into one download, and Marco asks which chat to read.

1. 1

   Open Facebook’s settings

   In the Facebook app or on facebook.com, open the menu, then “Settings & privacy” and “Settings”.

2. 2

   Open “Meta Account”

   Older versions call it “Accounts Center”.

3. 3

   Tap “Your information and permissions”, then “Export your information”

   Then tap “Create export” and pick your Facebook profile.

4. 4

   Tap “Export to device”

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

5. 5

   Choose only Messages

   Tap “Customise information”, clear everything, tick “Messages” and save.

6. 6

   All time, in JSON

   Set “Date range” to “All time” and “Format” to “JSON”. HeyMarco reads JSON, not the HTML version.

7. 7

   Tap “Start export”

   Meta tells you when the file is ready, usually within hours to a few days. Download the ZIP and upload it to HeyMarco as it is.

• End-to-end encrypted chats, the default in Messenger since late 2023, may be missing from this export or only partly there. Meta lets you download them on a computer as a separate chat backup; HeyMarco reads that file too.
• Once your export is ready you have a few days to download it before Meta removes it.