Since WhatsApp shares user information with other Meta companies, you may be wondering exactly what information the company has gathered about you. It’s easy to get a copy of your account information from WhatsApp when you ask for it.
Please note that your chat history is not included in this report; only account information such as your name, email address, phone number, and WhatsApp contacts. Learn how to get your WhatsApp info on Android or iOS by following the instructions below;
First, you will need to make a formal request on the app. You can only do this on an Android or iPhone, as the feature isn’t yet available on WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp Desktop.
How to request your WhatsApp Account Information on Android or when using an iPhone
- Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner and select Settings.
- Go to Account and select Request account info.
- Lastly, tap the Request report option.
It usually takes three days after submitting a request for your WhatsApp account report before it can be downloaded. When your report is ready, you can access it by clicking the ‘Ready by’ date on the Request Account Info page.
WhatsApp will send a notifiication on your iPhone or Android that reads “Your account info report is now available”. If you click on the notification, you can then download the report to your device.
In case you forget to save the report to your phone or accidentally dismiss the notification, repeat the steps on how to request your account info. After step 3, you will see a “Download report” option. Tap it to download you Whatsapp Account Info.
Your WhatsApp report will be available for download for approximately one month after it has been finished being generated. It will be downloaded as a ZIP file to your Android or iPhone. Having your WhatsApp data stored in HTML and JSON files means you can’t access it from within WhatsApp.
The ZIP file can be downloaded to your computer and unzipped there. Select Export Report from the menu that appears. If you want to save a copy to your computer, you can do so by selecting your preferred app from the share sheet that appears.
Once you extract the account info file on your computer, you will find an index.html file which contains the following information.
Registration Info: This includes basic information about your phone, such as the device name, operating system, manufacturer, etc.
User Information: In this section, you can find account information like your phone number, email address, profile picture, etc.
WhatsApp Connections: This section contains a list of WhatsApp communities and groups you’re part of. You’ll also find a list of your WhatsApp contacts.
Account Settings: You can find your account settings preferences, and a list of numbers you’ve blocked on WhatsApp in this section. You’ll also see a list of your linked devices, and their model number and OS version.
Terms of Service: This section contains the date and time you agreed to WhatsApp’s terms and services.
Even if you don’t find a ton of value in the details provided in the report on your WhatsApp account, you should still read it. After receiving the report on your WhatsApp account, read it carefully to see if there is anything that catches your attention.
