User Guide

How to use ChatLume

ChatLume runs entirely in your browser. Your chat files are never uploaded to any server.

.txt

Plain text WhatsApp export. Fastest to load, smallest size.

.zip

WhatsApp or Instagram ZIP export. Enables inline media viewing.

.json

Instagram JSON export. Place inside its ZIP or load the file directly.

WhatsApp

  1. 1Go to the Viewer page.
  2. 2In the Display Name field, type your name exactly as it appears in the chat export — this is how ChatLume identifies which messages are yours.
  3. 3Click Choose file or drag and drop your .txt or .zip file into the drop zone.
  4. 4Wait a moment while ChatLume parses the chat in your browser. No data leaves your device.
  5. 5Your conversation loads. Use the sidebar icons (top-left) to access Analytics, Wrapped, and Settings.
  6. 6Use the search bar at the top to find specific messages, or use the date picker to jump to any day.
Display name tip: Open your export .txt in a text editor and look at the very first few messages. Copy the name exactly (including any emojis or special characters).

Instagram

  1. 1Download your Instagram data as a JSON ZIP (see How to Export).
  2. 2Go to the Instagram Viewer page and drag the entire ZIP file into the drop zone — do not unzip it.
  3. 3ChatLume automatically finds the messages/inbox/ folder inside the ZIP and lists all your conversations.
  4. 4Select the conversation you want to view from the list.
  5. 5Browse, search, and analyze your messages just like with WhatsApp.
Not working? Make sure you requested the export in JSON format, not HTML. HTML exports have a completely different structure that ChatLume can't read.

Tips for the best experience

Dark mode

Toggle between dark and light themes in Settings (gear icon in the viewer sidebar).

Search

Press Ctrl+F (or just /) to jump straight into search, and Esc to close it again.

Back to the latest

Scrolled deep into an old conversation? The round arrow button in the corner of the chat takes you straight back to the newest message.

Date jump

Click any date in the chat to reveal the date-jump picker and skip to any point in history.

Analytics

Open the Analytics panel for message counts, most active days, emoji stats, and more.

Wrapped

Generate a shareable year-in-review card from your chat highlights.

Install as app

ChatLume is a PWA — add it to your home screen for offline use and a native-app feel.

Frequently asked questions

Is my chat data uploaded anywhere?

No. ChatLume processes everything locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your files never leave your device and nothing is sent to any server.

Why does ChatLume need my Display Name?

WhatsApp exports don't mark which participant is "you". ChatLume uses the name you enter to style your messages on the right and the other person's on the left, matching the original WhatsApp look.

My messages appear but the sender is wrong / all on one side.

This means your Display Name doesn't exactly match what's in the export. Open the .txt file, copy your name character-for-character (including any emojis), and paste it into the Display Name field.

Can I view group chats?

Yes. Export any group chat from WhatsApp the same way. Group chats with many participants may take slightly longer to parse.

Is ChatLume free?

Yes — ChatLume is completely free. Full viewer, search, analytics, and Wrapped are available to everyone with no account required.

Open Viewer