Download ArticleDownload Article

This How.com.vn article teaches you how to save Facebook messages by downloading them on your computer using the Messenger mobile app or the Facebook website.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Downloading Your Messages with the Mobile App

Download Article
  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Open Messenger.
    Tap the icon that looks like a chat bubble with a lightning bolt inside it.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Tap your profile icon.
    It's in the upper left corner of your screen next to "Chats."
    Advertisement
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Tap Account settings.
    This is under the "Account" header next to a blue circle with a gear in it.
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Tap Download your information.
    You'll find this under the "Your information" header next to an arrow that's pointing down.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Tap Deselect all.
    It's on the right side of your screen across from "Your activity across Facebook," and will uncheck everything in the list.
    • If you don't see this wording, make sure you're in the Request Copy tab first.
  6. Step 6 Tap the circle next to "Messages" to select it.
    Since you're only downloading your Messenger conversations, unchecking everything else and checking "Messages" will make sure your saved document only contains messages.
  7. How.com.vn English: Step 7 Select a date range, format, and quality.
    Tap the drop-down arrows to make your selections to customize your file.
    • Since HTML is the easiest file to open and read, you'll want to select that from the format dropdown.
  8. How.com.vn English: Step 8 Tap Create File.
    This button is centered at the bottom of your screen and will prompt Facebook to begin gathering your information into a downloadable file.
    • Depending on the amount of information that you're downloading, this process may take a while.
    • As this process starts and when it ends, you'll receive emails letting you know the progress of the file creation.
  9. How.com.vn English: Step 9 Open your email app (if you want to download the file to your mobile).
    This could be Thunderbird for iOS, Gmail, or any other email app for mobile.
    • If you don't want to download the file on your phone or tablet, you can open your email on your computer.
  10. How.com.vn English: Step 10 Navigate to the email from Facebook.
    The subject line should say something like "Your information file is ready."
  11. Step 11 Tap the "Download Your Information" link in the email.
    Tapping or clicking this will bring you to the tab that allows you to download your information, which is Messenger > Account settings > Download your information > Available copies.
    • For security purposes, the file that you requested will only be available for a few days after the email is sent. If you couldn't download the file in that time frame, you'll need to restart the process and request your information again.
  12. How.com.vn English: Step 12 Tap Download.
    If you're on a computer, you'll be prompted to select a save location using the file manager. If you're on mobile, however, you'll just see when the download finishes.
    • Enter your Facebook password when prompted.
    • Unzip the file or tap the file on your phone to extract the files inside the zipped folder.
    • To view these files, open your file manager, then go to Downloads > Messages.
    • If you want to save the images only instead of your text, tap the image then tap Save.
  13. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Downloading Your Messages on a Computer

Download Article
  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Go to https://facebook.com...
    Go to https://facebook.com in a web browser. You can use any web browser, like Chrome or Firefox, to request your information and download it.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Click your profile icon.
    You'll see this circular icon in the top right corner of the page, and clicking it will prompt a menu to drop down.
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Click Settings & privacy and Settings.
    Both of these options are next to an icon of a gear.
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Click Your Facebook Information.
    This is in the panel on the left side of the page next to a grid icon.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Click Download your information.
    You'll see this on the right side of the page.
  6. How.com.vn English: Step 6 Select your file options.
    Under "Select file options," pick a date range, format, and quality. Click the drop-down arrows to make your selections to customize your file.
    • Since HTML is the easiest file to open and read, you'll want to select that from the format dropdown.
  7. How.com.vn English: Step 7 Click Deselect All.
    It's on the right side of the page.
    • If you don't see this wording, make sure you're in the Request a download tab, which you will find in the top right corner of the page.
  8. Step 8 Click "Messages" to select it.
    Since you're only downloading your Messenger conversations, unchecking everything else and checking "Messages" will make sure your saved document only contains messages.
  9. How.com.vn English: Step 9 Tap Request a download.
    This button is centered at the bottom of your screen and will prompt Facebook to begin gathering your information into a downloadable file.
    • Depending on the amount of information that you're downloading, this process may take a while.
    • As this process starts and when it ends, you'll receive emails letting you know the progress of the file creation.
  10. How.com.vn English: Step 10 Click the notification.
    As well as an email, you'll also be notified by a notification when your file is ready to download. You can access your notifications by clicking the bell icon in the top right corner of Facebook.
    • You can also get to the file download by going to Settings & privacy > Settings > Your Facebook Information > Download your information > Available Files.
    • For security purposes, the file that you requested will only be available for a few days after the email is sent. If you couldn't download the file in that time frame, you'll need to restart the process and request your information again.
  11. How.com.vn English: Step 11 Click Download.
    It's to the right of the file that you requested.[1]
    • You'll be prompted to enter your Facebook password to download the file then your file manager will appear and ask where you want to save the file.
    • Unzip the file and extract the files to a location that you'll remember.
    • To view these files, find them in your file manager.
    • If you want to save the images only instead of your text, tap the image, right-click it, then select Save Image.
  12. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      How.com.vn English: Darlene Antonelli, MA
      Written by:
      How.com.vn Technology Writer
      This article was co-authored by How.com.vn staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for How.com.vn. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 132,079 times.
      How helpful is this?
      Co-authors: 4
      Updated: August 26, 2023
      Views: 132,079
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 132,079 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      ⚠️ Disclaimer:

      Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
      Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.

      Notices:
      • - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
      • - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
      • - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
      • - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.

      Advertisement