iMessage & WhatsApp: What Format Should Your Chat Evidence Be In?

You want to preserve your messages, so you open WhatsApp, tap "Export Chat," and send yourself the file. You expect a clean record of the conversation.

Instead, you get a `.txt` file that looks like this:

12/18/25, 10:00 PM - John: Where are you?

12/18/25, 10:01 PM - Jane: I'm at home.

12/18/25, 10:02 PM - John: <Media omitted>

It is hard to read, it has no page numbers, and, like any text file, it can be edited in a basic text editor without leaving an obvious trace.

That doesn't make a raw export useless. It is actually the source material. But on its own, it is not a convenient format to review, cite, or share with your attorney.

The Problem with Native Exports

1. WhatsApp's ".txt" export

WhatsApp gives you a plain text file, plus attachments if you choose to include media. The attachments come as separate files, so it isn't always clear which photo belongs with which message. When media is excluded, you just see "<Media omitted>".

2. iMessage

Apple doesn't offer a built-in way to export a full conversation to a printable document. Common workarounds, like hundreds of screenshots or copy-pasting into a document, are slow and drop useful details. (ScanMyChat currently works with WhatsApp exports.)

Why PDF Is a Common Choice

PDF is a fixed-layout format: it looks the same on every device and prints predictably. That is why it is so widely used for documents shared with attorneys and courts.

ScanMyChat turns your WhatsApp export into an Evidence Package built around a Transcript PDF:

""Clear presentation helps readers understand your evidence. It doesn't replace authentication.""

An important distinction: a readable format is about organization. It doesn't authenticate the messages (show they are genuine) or determine admissibility (a decision for the judge). Every court has its own rules, so ask your attorney what format and supporting documentation yours expects.

Documenting Integrity

A PDF can be edited too, with the right software. That is why ScanMyChat also creates an Integrity Manifest with a SHA-256 Source hash (of your original export) and Report hash (of the generated PDF). If either file changes, its hash won't match. This shows the files are unchanged since hashing. It doesn't prove who wrote the messages.

Why a Universal Format Matters

Your attorney may use Windows, the court clerk a different system, the judge a tablet. A standard PDF opens on nearly anything and prints consistently. Electronic filing requirements (file size, PDF standards, redaction rules) differ by court, so check with your attorney before filing anything.

Privacy: Think Before Using Upload-Based Converters

Some websites offer to convert WhatsApp chats to PDF. To use them, you upload your entire chat history, including photos and personal conversations, to someone else's server.

ScanMyChat runs locally in your browser.

Visual PDF vs Text File

Give Your Attorney Something Easy to Work With

A clean, chronological, page-referenced PDF, with hashes of the source and output, is easy to read, cite, and share. The legal questions stay with your attorney.

Turn your WhatsApp export into an organized Evidence Package.

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Disclaimer: This article explains file formats and is not legal advice. Evidence and e-filing requirements vary by court and jurisdiction.