How do I save a KakaoTalk conversation as a PDF?

Add your exported chat file, press “Open print dialog” and set “Destination” to “Save as PDF”.

Is the chat file I add uploaded anywhere?

No. The PDF is made on this computer by your browser’s own print function.

Why a print dialog instead of a “Save PDF” button?

Printing uses the fonts already installed on your device, so even a long chat does not stall.

Does the conversation come out exactly as written?

Not one character is changed. Spacing, line breaks and emoji are carried across as they are.

A4 portrait with 15mm margins and a page number on every page.

How long a conversation can it take?

It reads up to 100MB or 1,000,000 lines and lays out 1,000 A4 pages comfortably, 2,000 at most.

Can I save it with the participants’ names hidden?

Yes. Switch on “Mask participant names” and senders become Participant 1, Participant 2.

Can I save only one person, or only part of the period?

Yes. Narrow it by date range, participant and keyword.

Do exports from iPhone and PC work too?

Yes. It tells the formats of each device and language apart on its own.

Another tool would not open my file. Will this one?

Add it and you will know at once. If no format fits, you get the reason instead of an empty document.

Can I use this for a court submission?

It carries the original across unchanged, but it cannot judge what weight the document has. Check with the relevant body or your lawyer first.

Is a KakaoTalk conversation admissible as evidence?

That is for a court to decide case by case. The tool can record the original file’s SHA-256 on the cover page.

It says some lines could not be read. How do I report that?

Press Report this format in the lines not read notice to get a draft with names and messages masked.

KakaoTalk Chat to PDF — save an exported chat as A4 pages

Drop a chat file here, or

How to get a KakaoTalk chat file

Open the chat room you want to save in KakaoTalk.
Tap ≡ (menu) at the top right.
In Settings (the gear), tap Chat history, then Export chat history.
Choose Send text messages only and save it as a file.
Pick the saved file with “Choose a file” on this page.

How do I save a KakaoTalk chat as PDF?

Press “Open print dialog”, set “Destination” (or “Printer”) to “Save as PDF” and save. Pick a printer in the same place to print on paper instead.

Paper is already set to A4 portrait.
Leave “Scale” at “Default”.
Clear “Headers and footers”.

Instead of dozens of screenshots you keep one A4 file with date headers and page numbers, and you can search it for a word.

Where does the exported file end up?

On Android it goes to My Files, Download or the KakaoTalk folder; on PC, to the folder you picked while saving. On iPhone, add the mailed .zip or .eml as it is.

Can I use it instead of screenshots as a record?

With “Evidence markings” on, the cover page carries the original file name, its size, its SHA-256 and how many of the messages were printed. Masking names does not change the hash, because it is computed from the original file.

Whether something is admitted as evidence is decided case by case by a court. Talk to your lawyer about whether and how to submit it.

Can my conversation leak?

No. The file is read inside this browser and the PDF is made by this computer’s own print function. It still finishes after you disconnect from the internet.

Common questions

How do I save a KakaoTalk conversation as a PDF?: Add your exported chat file, press “Open print dialog” and set “Destination” to “Save as PDF”.
Is the chat file I add uploaded anywhere?: No. The PDF is made on this computer by your browser’s own print function.
Why a print dialog instead of a “Save PDF” button?: Printing uses the fonts already installed on your device, so even a long chat does not stall.
Does the conversation come out exactly as written?: Not one character is changed. Spacing, line breaks and emoji are carried across as they are.
What paper size?: A4 portrait with 15mm margins and a page number on every page.
How long a conversation can it take?: It reads up to 100MB or 1,000,000 lines and lays out 1,000 A4 pages comfortably, 2,000 at most.
Can I save it with the participants’ names hidden?: Yes. Switch on “Mask participant names” and senders become Participant 1, Participant 2.
Can I save only one person, or only part of the period?: Yes. Narrow it by date range, participant and keyword.
Do exports from iPhone and PC work too?: Yes. It tells the formats of each device and language apart on its own.
Another tool would not open my file. Will this one?: Add it and you will know at once. If no format fits, you get the reason instead of an empty document.
Can I use this for a court submission?: It carries the original across unchanged, but it cannot judge what weight the document has. Check with the relevant body or your lawyer first.
Is a KakaoTalk conversation admissible as evidence?: That is for a court to decide case by case. The tool can record the original file’s SHA-256 on the cover page.
It says some lines could not be read. How do I report that?: Press Report this format in the lines not read notice to get a draft with names and messages masked.

KakaoTalk Chat to PDF