Local File ViewerFREE & PRIVATERead your WhatsApp
chats again.
Open exported messages, photos and voice notes in one place.
Free to use. No account. Your files stay on your device.
Open a chat export
Select your exported ZIP or TXT file.
Your ZIP opens directly. No need to unzip it.
Lost a WhatsApp chat? Ask for a copy.
If a friend still has your conversation, they can export their copy and send it to you. Already have an export? Skip straight to importing it.
- 1
Ask someone who still has the chat
Ask the friend or group member to open the conversation on their phone. Their export can only include the messages and media they still have.
- 2
Export the conversation
iPhone
Open the chat in WhatsApp, tap the contact or group name at the top, then choose Export chat.
Android
Open the chat in WhatsApp, tap ⋮ at the top right, then More → Export chat.
Choose the media option to include available photos, videos and voice notes, or Without media for messages only. On iPhone, options may say With all media or With selected media; other versions may say Include media or Attach Media.
- 3
Save and send the export
Save the export to Files or Downloads. Send the original ZIP privately to the person who needs it using AirDrop, email, or a private file-sharing link. If the export is a folder, compress it to ZIP first.
Keep the chat text and attachments together. For a large ZIP, use a sharing method that supports its size.
- 4
Open it in Local File Viewer
On the receiving phone or computer, save the file, open localfileviewer.com, and choose Import file. Read the chat in order, see who wrote each message, and search without losing the surrounding conversation.
A text-only export works too; photos and voice notes need to be included in the export.
This viewer reads exported chats. It cannot retrieve messages from WhatsApp servers, recover a chat nobody has, or restore an export inside WhatsApp. Exports may leave out older messages or media.
Your WhatsApp export, explained.
Can I recover deleted WhatsApp chats here?
If someone still has the conversation, ask them to export their copy and send it to you. You can read that export here. Without an export, this tool cannot recover deleted messages or access backups.
Is this WhatsApp ZIP viewer free?
Yes. Reading messages, searching conversations and viewing included media are free. No account or subscription is required.
Are my chats uploaded to a server?
No. Your selected ZIP, text and media are read locally in your browser. Chat files are never uploaded to our servers. Sharing an export with a friend happens separately, using the method you choose.
What stays on my device after importing?
The viewer keeps a temporary local copy so refreshing this tab can reopen your chat. You can save it on this device or clear all local copies in Help. Browser storage is not separately encrypted; someone with access to your browser profile may be able to read it.
Can I import the ZIP back into WhatsApp?
No. A chat export is a readable archive, not a WhatsApp backup. Local File Viewer lets you browse it separately from WhatsApp.
Why are some messages or attachments missing?
The viewer can only show what the export contains. Ask for an export with media if you need attachments. WhatsApp may omit older content, and playback depends on the formats supported by your browser.