Is a cloud backup enough to keep my chats?

Not necessarily. A backup is usually meant to restore chats inside the same app, not to give you a readable file. Exporting as well gives you a copy you can open and store on its own.

Should I edit the exported file before storing it?

Keep the original untouched and make any edits or PDFs from a copy, so you can always go back to the file as exported.

Will an exported chat be accepted by a court?

That is for the court to decide case by case. convokeep does not promise admission or any outcome.

Keeping a Chat Record Before You Change Your Phone: A General Checklist

This article is general information about keeping chats you sent or received as a participant when you replace, reset or repair a phone. It does not cover reading another person's device or account, and it says nothing about what any particular chat proves.

Not legal advice. This page is general information. Whether a court admits or relies on a chat is for the court; convokeep does not promise admission or any outcome. Ask a qualified lawyer about your case.

Why does a phone change put chats at risk?

In many apps, chat history is stored mainly on the device. A new phone may not bring over everything, a reset or repair may wipe local data, and a lost phone may take the only copy with it. What is carried over depends on the app, the operating system and your settings, so do not assume it will all come across.

Is a backup the same as an export?

No. A backup is usually meant to restore chats inside the same app. An export produces a readable file, often text, that you can store and open on its own. They do different jobs, and keeping both is more careful than relying on only one.

What should I do before switching?

Do not wipe or hand in the old phone yet. Check first that everything you need is safe.
Export the chats you need with the app's own export or history function. Include media only if the app offers it and you need it.
Keep the exported file untouched as your original. Do any editing, trimming or PDF work on a copy.
Store copies in two separate places, for example a computer and an external drive.
Write a short note: the date of export, which phone and account, and which app.
Open the file and check it. Make sure it is readable and covers the date range you expected.
Optionally record a SHA-256 hash of the original file, so that you can later check that a copy is unchanged.

What might an export not contain?

Exports often leave out messages that were deleted before you exported, and media that has already expired. Formats also differ between apps. Check what is actually in the file rather than assuming it is complete.

Can I make a PDF later?

Yes. Once you have the original export, you can choose a date range and build a PDF from it at any time, as long as the original file is kept safe.

Will this be accepted?

Whether a record is accepted, and how much weight it carries, is decided case by case by the court or similar body. This article does not promise any result.

Who should I ask?

Talk to a qualified lawyer or an official legal advice service in your area.

Privacy

Reading the file, building the PDF and calculating hashes all happen in your browser. No chat or attachment is uploaded and there is no account. See the privacy policy and the disclaimer.

Related guides

Sources

This article is a general checklist and does not rely on a specific statute. Export options and what carries over to a new phone differ by app and version, so check your app's own help pages.

Ready to try it?

Drop your exported .txt file on the convokeep app for a free preview. The first 3 pages are free (watermarked, no integrity page); saving the full PDF is a one-time paid feature. No chat or attachment is uploaded: the file is read in your browser. To check later that a file is unchanged, use the hash checker.

FAQ

Is a cloud backup enough to keep my chats?: Not necessarily. A backup is usually meant to restore chats inside the same app, not to give you a readable file. Exporting as well gives you a copy you can open and store on its own.
Should I edit the exported file before storing it?: Keep the original untouched and make any edits or PDFs from a copy, so you can always go back to the file as exported.
Will an exported chat be accepted by a court?: That is for the court to decide case by case. convokeep does not promise admission or any outcome.

Open the app

This document was generated locally in the user's browser; no content was uploaded.