Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n If you have to backup Google Chat messages for an upcoming compliance audit or legal purpose (like a divorce case) you might be surprised to see that there isn\u2019t any direct export mechanism. This limitation can lead to lots of confusion. However, not to worry we have a number of ways. Let’s get straight into the methods starting with the one involving Gmail.<\/p>\n This method allows you to easily print Google Chat messages so you can make hard copies of the conversations.<\/p>\n Follow these steps:<\/p>\n Note that this script gives you the chat data in raw JSON format. However, you can modify the script to change the file format, but it will add more complexity and complementary troubleshooting steps. Search for Chat Messages:<\/p>\n In the Export Box<\/p>\n Download the Exported Google Chat History for Offline Access:<\/p>\n Like in the Google API export here too you are not getting the desired end format. Therefore, if you ultimately need a PDF, you can later convert MBOX to PDF<\/a> or convert PST to PDF without Outlook<\/a> after the export.<\/p>\n Try out every method described in this text and use the one you find the most easy and convenient. Moreover, if you are an admin exporting out messages in bulk for all employees in your organization it is possible you may have to document other workloads too. Fortunately, Download Now<\/a> Purchase Now<\/a><\/p>\n This tool can export Google Workspace Email to PST<\/a> as well all you have to do is follow these simple steps. Just get a copy, open, select endpoints, mark workloads, apply date filter, validate source and destination, map users, preview, select, prioritize, and validate start Export. You might also be interested in general strategies to backup Google Workspace emails<\/a>.<\/p>\n So now users have a complete idea of how to export Google Chat to PDF in any situation, we gave them 4 distinct ways to make this task possible. In an organization, it is not just the chats that need to be saved and documented. Moreover, the methods outlined here work perfectly for Google Chats for other major workspace workloads you can use the professional export tool suggested in the content.<\/p>\n Q. How to Add Google Chat in Gmail UI to Make the Export Process Easier?<\/strong><\/p>\n A. Follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n
Export Google Chat to PDF by Sending it to Gmail and Print<\/h2>\n
\n
\n![\"click](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-1-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"Forward](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-2-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"open](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-3-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"Printer](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-4-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"Save](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-5-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\nCopy-Paste Messages in Doc<\/h2>\n
\n
\n![\"Select](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-doc-1-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"Select](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-doc-2-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"hit](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-doc-3.webp\")
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTake a Screenshot and Save Google Chat as a PDF<\/h3>\n
\n
\n![\"click](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-ss-1-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"Select](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-ss-2-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"File](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-ss-3-scaled.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"Microsoft](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-ss-4.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"click](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-to-pdf-ss-5.webp\")
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nUse Google Takeout to Get Chat Data Out<\/h3>\n
\n
\n![\"go](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-export-1.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"mark](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-export-2.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"down](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-export-3.webp\")
<\/li>\n
\n![\"Create](\"https:\/\/www.systools.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/google-chat-export-5.webp\")
<\/li>\nDownload Google Chat Conversation History with Google Chat API + Python Script<\/h3>\n
\n
pip install google-api-python-client google-auth google-auth-httplib2 google-auth-oauthlib<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
import google.auth\r\nfrom googleapiclient.discovery import build\r\nimport json\r\nimport os\r\nfrom datetime import datetime\r\n# --- Configuration ---\r\nos.environ[\"GOOGLE_APPLICATION_CREDENTIALS\"] = r\"PATH\/TO\/YOUR\/SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY.json\"\r\nSTART_DATE = \"2025-01-20\"\r\nEND_DATE = \"2025-02-19\"\r\nOUTPUT_FILE = \"chat_history.json\"\r\n# -----------------------\r\ndef download_chat_history(start_date_str, end_date_str, output_file):\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0try:\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0creds, _ = google.auth.default(scopes=['https:\/\/www.googleapis.com\/auth\/chat.messages.readonly','https:\/\/www.googleapis.com\/auth\/chat.spaces.readonly'])\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0service = build('chat', 'v1', credentials=creds)\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0start_date = datetime.strptime(start_date_str, \"%Y-%m-%d\")\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0end_date = datetime.strptime(end_date_str, \"%Y-%m-%d\")\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0all_messages = []\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0next_page_token = None\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0while True:\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0spaces_response = service.spaces().list(pageSize=100, pageToken=next_page_token).execute()\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0spaces = spaces_response.get('spaces', [])\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0next_page_token = spaces_response.get('nextPageToken')\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0if not spaces: break\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0for space in spaces:\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0space_name = space['name']\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0space_next_page_token = None\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0while True:\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0messages_response = service.spaces().messages().list(parent=space_name,pageSize=100,pageToken=space_next_page_token,filter=f'createTime >= \"{start_date.isoformat()}Z\" AND createTime <= \"{end_date.isoformat()}Z\"').execute()\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0messages = messages_response.get('messages', [])\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0space_next_page_token = messages_response.get('nextPageToken')\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0if messages:\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0for message in messages:\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0message['space'] = {'name': space_name, 'displayName': space.get('displayName', \"No display name\")}\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0all_messages.append(message)\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0if not space_next_page_token: break\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0if not next_page_token: break\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0with open(output_file, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0json.dump(all_messages, f, indent=4)\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0print(f\"Chat history saved to {output_file}\")\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0except Exception as e:\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0print(f\"An error occurred: {e}\")\r\nif __name__ == '__main__':\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0download_chat_history(START_DATE, END_DATE, OUTPUT_FILE)<\/pre>\n
\nSo once you have the JSON data and still want to save Google Chat as PDF, convert it in the required format with the help of a professional solution like SysTools Document Converter, <\/strong>you may also be intersted in way to save Gmail emails to PDF<\/a>.<\/p>\nUse Google Vault to Export Google Chat History<\/h3>\n
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What to do After you Export Google Chat as PDF?<\/h4>\n
\nyou need not repeat the manual maneuver rest of the data like Emails, contacts, calendars, etc as the SysTools G Suite Export tool<\/strong> can handle bulk export easily.<\/p>\nConclusion<\/h4>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h4>\n