WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the key features of WhatsApp is the ability to create groups to communicate and collaborate with multiple people at once.
WhatsApp groups make it easy to stay in touch with friends, family, coworkers, and more. However, as groups grow, managing all those contacts can get chaotic. Fortunately, WhatsApp provides a way to export the contacts list from any group you are a member of, allowing you to organize and manage that list outside of WhatsApp.
Exporting the contacts list from a WhatsApp group is a simple process that only takes a few taps in the app. Here is a step-by-step guide to exporting your WhatsApp groups’ contacts lists on both iPhone and Android.
Prerequisites
Before exporting your WhatsApp groups’ contacts lists, make sure:
- You have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on your device
- Your WhatsApp account is set up with your phone number
- You are a member of the WhatsApp group(s) whose contacts you want to export
- Your device has enough storage space to save the exported contacts list
Export WhatsApp Group Contacts on iPhone
If you have an iPhone, here are the steps to export contacts from a WhatsApp group:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab
- Tap on the group whose contacts you want to export
- Tap on the group name at the top to open the group information
- Scroll down and tap “Export chat”
- Select if you want to Include Media or not
- Tap Export
- Choose the app to export the contacts to (Notes, Mail, etc)
By default, the contacts will be exported as a .txt file into the app you selected. The file will contain all the phone numbers of the participants in that WhatsApp group. From there, you can open the file and copy or move the numbers into a contact list or spreadsheet as desired.
Export WhatsApp Group Contacts on Android
If you have an Android device, here is how to export the contacts from a WhatsApp group:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab
- Tap and hold on the group you want to export contacts from
- Tap More options > More > Export chat
- Tap Export without media
- Select where to export the file (Apps like Email, Drive, etc)
The contact list will be exported as a .txt file to the selected app. You can then access the file, copy the numbers, and add them to your main contacts list or spreadsheet.
How to organize the exported contact list
Once you’ve exported the contacts list from your WhatsApp group(s), you may want to organize the numbers for easier management. Here are some tips:
- Create a spreadsheet and paste the numbers into their own column
- Add columns for names, emails, or other info you want to track
- Sort the list alphabetically or by last name
- Divide into multiple sheets by group or category
- Sync the spreadsheet to your smartphone if needed
You can also import the contacts directly into your regular phone contacts list or a contacts management app. Follow the app’s instructions to import a .txt or .csv file.
Pros of exporting WhatsApp groups’ contacts
Here are some of the benefits of exporting your WhatsApp groups’ contacts lists:
- Creates a separate backup of all the numbers
- Allows you to add additional notes and details for each contact
- Makes it easy to sort, organize, and search the list of contacts
- No character limits like in WhatsApp groups
- Enables easy sharing of the contacts list with others
- Gives you control over your data outside of WhatsApp
What else can you export from WhatsApp groups?
In addition to the contacts list, WhatsApp also allows you to export the entire conversation history of a group. Here’s what you can export:
- Media: Photos, videos, GIFs, voice messages, documents etc. shared in the group
- Messages: The entire message history going back to the creation of the group
- Info: Group name, description, number of participants etc.
Exporting the full chat backup gives you a record of everything ever shared and discussed in your WhatsApp groups. It’s a great way to archive important group conversations for future reference.
Limitations of exporting WhatsApp group contacts
While exporting WhatsApp contacts has many benefits, there are some limitations to be aware of:
- Requires manual exporting for each group – no bulk export option
- Only provides basic info like phone numbers – no chat history
- Doesn’t auto-update if contacts change or leave the group
- Names aren’t always accurate or complete in the export
- Large groups can result in huge unwieldy contact lists
- Private groups don’t show all members in the export
Due to these limitations, you may need to supplement the exported lists with data from your phone contacts or other sources for accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about exporting WhatsApp group contacts:
Does exporting contacts notify group members?
No, exporting a WhatsApp group contact list is completely invisible to other members of the group. They will not be notified or aware that you exported the list.
Do names get exported along with numbers?
Unfortunately, the exported file will only contain the raw phone numbers of each group participant. Names and other info will need to be added separately.
Can I export groups where I’m no longer a member?
No, you can only export contact lists from WhatsApp groups that you are currently a member of. Once you leave a group, you can no longer access the group info or contacts.
Is there a limit to how many contacts I can export at once?
There is no limit on the number of contacts you can export from a WhatsApp group. Even large groups with hundreds of participants can be exported.
Do I need all group members’ permission to export contacts?
No, since you are exporting the contacts to yourself, you do not need anyone’s permission as long as you are a member of the group.
Conclusion
Exporting contacts from your WhatsApp groups makes it easy to organize, manage, and utilize those contacts outside of WhatsApp. It only takes a few taps to export the numbers to a separate document or spreadsheet for further sorting and sharing. While the exported lists have some limitations, they still provide a valuable way to back up your WhatsApp groups’ contact data for reference even after leaving the group.