Start on a computer.
Telegram’s export tool lives in Telegram Desktop—not the mobile or web apps. Install or update the desktop application, sign in, and open the individual conversation you want to export.
Five steps, one folder.
- 01Open the one-to-one chat in Telegram Desktop.
- 02Open the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- 03Choose Export chat history.
- 04Set Format to Machine-readable JSON.
- 05Choose a destination, complete the export, and keep the entire resulting folder together.
Telegram also supports exporting all account data from Settings → Advanced → Export Telegram data, but a single-chat export is simpler when you only want to analyze one conversation.
JSON is the important choice.
HTML is designed for reading in a browser. JSON preserves the structured fields software needs: timestamps, senders, message text, media references, and reply relationships.
Media is optional
Text analysis does not require downloading every photo and video. Include stickers if you want Telescope to display their artwork; otherwise you can leave large media categories unticked to make the export faster and smaller.
Keep the folder intact
Choose the completed export folder rather than moving only result.json. Relative media paths point to files beside it.
If “Export chat history” is missing.
- Check the app: use Telegram Desktop, not Telegram Web or a phone app.
- Update Telegram Desktop: older versions may not expose the current export interface.
- Wait or confirm: a fresh desktop sign-in can trigger Telegram’s security delay.
- Check the chat type: Telescope expects a one-to-one JSON conversation, not a full-account export or group chat.
Telegram documents both individual-chat and full-account exports in its official export announcement.
Try it with your history
The folder is the starting point.
Telescope reads the JSON in your browser and builds the numerical report locally. No account is needed for the local analysis.
Analyze a Telegram chat →