How to export a Claude conversation
How to save and export Anthropic Claude conversations to JSON, Markdown, or plain text with the free, local-only ConvoVault browser extension. One click, nothing uploaded.
ConvoVault is a free, privacy-first browser extension that adds a one-click export button inside Claude (claude.ai), so you can save any conversation to JSON, Markdown, or plain text. The export runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded, and there is no account or sign-in beyond your existing Claude session.
The short answer
Install ConvoVault, open the Claude conversation you want to save, and click the export button added to the toolbar. Choose your format (JSON, Markdown, or plain text), toggle which messages and metadata fields to include, then copy to clipboard or download the file. It takes a few seconds and stays on your device.
Step-by-step: export a Claude conversation
- Install ConvoVault. Add the extension to Chrome or any Chromium browser. No account, no setup wizard.
- Open the conversation. Go to claude.ai and open any chat. An export button appears in the conversation toolbar.
- Click export. This opens the panel where you choose the format and fields.
- Choose a format. Pick JSON for structured output, or Markdown / plain text for readable text. Toggle which metadata fields to include.
- Copy or download. Copy the result to your clipboard or download it as
conversation_2026-07-14.json.
Does Claude have a built-in export?
Anthropic does offer an account-level data export in Settings, which emails you a zip archive of your data. It is meant for account portability, not for grabbing a single conversation on demand. If you just want to save one chat as clean JSON right now, ConvoVault is faster and keeps everything local.
| Claude account data export | ConvoVault | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Your entire account data | One conversation, on demand |
| Delivery | Emailed zip archive | Instant clipboard or download |
| Choose messages | No | Yes — pick individual messages |
| Choose fields | No | Yes — toggle metadata fields |
| Privacy | Processed server-side | Local-only, in your browser |
Export only the messages you need
Long Claude threads often contain tangents you don't want to keep. ConvoVault adds a checkbox to each message so you can keep the answers that mattered and drop the rest. Shift + click selects a range; Ctrl + click clears everything at once. See the features page for details.
Continue a Claude thread in another app
Want to pick up a Claude conversation in ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok? ConvoVault can stage a thread and open it pre-filled in a new chat on another platform. The handoff payload lives in local storage for about five minutes, then clears itself. See how it works.
Privacy
ConvoVault has no backend, no database, and no analytics. Exports are generated in your browser and never sent over the network. Read more in the privacy section or the privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I export a Claude conversation?
Yes. ConvoVault is a free browser extension that adds an export button inside Claude (claude.ai). Open any conversation, click export, and save it as JSON, Markdown, or plain text. No sign-in beyond your existing Claude session is required. - Does Claude have a built-in export feature?
Anthropic offers an account-level data export in Settings that emails you a zip of your data, but it is not designed for grabbing a single conversation on demand. ConvoVault exports one conversation instantly, in clean JSON, with no email and no wait. - Is exporting Claude conversations safe and private?
Yes. ConvoVault is local-only and privacy-first. The export is processed inside your browser tab and never sent to a server. There is no backend, no database, and no analytics. - Can I continue a Claude conversation in another AI app?
Yes. ConvoVault can stage a conversation from one platform and open it pre-filled in a new chat on another, for example sending a ChatGPT thread into Claude or a Claude thread into ChatGPT. The handoff payload stays in local storage for about five minutes, then clears itself. - Can I export only some messages from a Claude chat?
Yes. Each message has a checkbox so you can keep some and drop others before exporting. Use Shift + click to select a range, or Ctrl + click to clear all selections.