Convert WhatsApp chats to PDF on Windows

Convert your WhatsApp conversations to PDF Saving them in this format has become an increasingly common practice. It's a good solution for users who want to preserve memories, relevant documentation, or test messages in work and legal contexts.

In this article we present a practical guide to do so. We explain the methods to apply on Android, iPhone and PC. We also offer a selection of third-party applications and manual alternatives that can be very helpful in many cases.

Why convert your WhatsApp chats to PDF?

There are many reasons to export WhatsApp chats to PDF. Here's a brief list of the reasons why. and advantages that this format offers you:

• Portability and compatibility: PDF files can be viewed from virtually any device or operating system.
• Security and privacy: You can password protect them or manage them in the cloud.
• Ease of printing and presentation: Ideal for filing, presenting at meetings, or attaching to legal documents.

In addition, the PDF gives you the possibility to organize, search, and even digitally sign your conversations, making it one of the most versatile formats for preserving sensitive or relevant information.

There are several ways to convert your WhatsApp conversations to PDF files. Options vary depending on your device (Android, iOS, PC) and whether you prefer to do it manually, with native tools, or through third-party applications. Below, we'll cover the most commonly used methods and how to perform them step by step:

Export WhatsApp chats natively (Android and iOS)

WhatsApp There is no direct function to export chats to PDF., but it does allow you to save conversations in text format (.txt), which you can later convert to PDF with other tools.

Steps on Android

1. Open WhatsApp and select the chat you want to save.
2. Click on the three vertical points in the upper right and select 'More' > 'Export chat'.
3. choose if you want include media files or just text.
4. Choose how to share the file (you can email it to yourself, upload it to Google Drive, etc.). A .txt file (or .zip if there are attached files).

Steps on iPhone

1. Open WhatsApp and select the chat you want to export.
2. Click on the contact or group name on top.
3. Swipe down and select 'Export chat'.
4. Choose if include media files o no.
5. Select the option to share via email, iCloud Drive, etc. The generated file will be a .zip (with a .txt file inside).

Convert the .txt file to PDF

Once you have the text file with the conversation, it's time to transform it into PDFThe most common and convenient options are:

Using Google Docs (Android, iPhone, and PC)

1. Upload the .txt file to Google Drive from your mobile or PC.
2. Open the file with Google Docs.
3. Adjust the text format if necessary (change font, size, etc.).
4. On the menu 'Archive', Select 'Download' > 'PDF Document (.pdf)'.

This method is universal, free and doesn't require any additional programs. Plus, it lets you edit the text before converting it and access the PDF from any device connected to your Google account.

Using office applications (WPS Office, Microsoft Word, etc.)

1. Open the .txt file with WPS Office, Microsoft Word or any compatible text editor.
2. Review the format, make any changes you want.
3. Choose the option 'Save as' and select 'PDF' as the output format.

Applications like WPS Office They are especially useful on Android phones, as they allow you to run the entire process from the device itself. Additionally, these apps often offer options to adjust the layout, include images, and password-protect the PDF.

Online conversion tools

If you don't want to use installed programs, there are multiple web platforms (PDFAid, PDF-Filler, etc.) where you can upload your .txt file and download it as a PDF in seconds. Simply:

1. Access the tool's website.
2. Upload the .txt file.
3. Configure conversion options if necessary.
4. Download the generated PDF file.

A quick option without installing anything, although it's always a good idea to check the tool's privacy policy if the chat contains sensitive information.

Specialized applications to export WhatsApp to PDF

In addition to manual and native methods, there are specific applications Designed for both PC and mobile devices, they simplify and automate the process of exporting WhatsApp chats to PDF, allowing you to preserve the conversation structure, emojis, and even images, in some cases.

MobileTrans - WhatsApp Transfer

This is one desktop tool Compatible with Windows and Mac. It allows you to transfer, backup, and export WhatsApp chats to PDF or HTML directly from your phone to your PC. It also transfers photos, videos, and attachments, maintaining the original quality. Here's how to use it:

1. Install Mobile Trans on your computer and launch it.
2. Select the “WhatsApp Transfer” feature and connect your device via USB cable.
3. Follow the steps to make a backup of your chats in the computer.
4. From the interface you can export any conversation as a PDF and save it locally.

Mobile conversion applications

Some applications like WPS Office they help us to simplify the process: Everything is done from a single interface, without any intermediate steps. They also allow you to include images, emojis, and multimedia files in the final PDF (depending on the app) and, in some cases, also allow you to restore or transfer chats between devices. Here are two good options:

Advanced Method: Use WhatsApp Viewer (Android and PC only)

If you need export large volumes of messages or access old history that is no longer in the app, you can use whatsappviewer, a PC application designed to open and view WhatsApp database files (msgstore.db.crypt12).

1. Open your Android's file manager and locate the WhatsApp/Databases folder.
2. Copy the file msgstore.db.crypt12 to your PC (you will also need the key file: /data/data/com.WhatsApp/files/key).
3. Download whatsappviewer on your computer, open it and select the database file.
4. You can export all chats as a text file and then convert it to PDF using the methods above.

This method to pass WhatsApp to PDF It is more technical and is recommended if you need recover old conversations or make a full backup not limited by the maximum number of messages in the standard WhatsApp export.

Other ways to save WhatsApp conversations

Finally, we mention some tricks we can use to convert WhatsApp chats to PDF:

• Screenshots: useful for short fragments or specific messages, but impractical for long conversations.
• Ask WhatsApp for personal dataYou can request WhatsApp to send you all your data and conversations. It's a slow process.
• Cloud BackupsWhatsApp allows automatic backups to Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iOS). Keep in mind that these backups aren't PDF files and can't be viewed outside of WhatsApp, but they can restore your entire history if you change your phone or reinstall the app.

Converting your WhatsApp chats to PDF is a process within everyone's reachWhether you're technically savvy or prefer quick, automated methods, choose the method that best suits your needs, prioritize data privacy, and always keep your files organized so you can access your relevant conversations when you need them.