Tweet Thread Saver
Your Twitter history has value: years of writing, networks built over time, conversations that documented moments. The Twitter data archive is the only official way to export this history. Knowing how to request it, what it contains, and how to use the exported data protects your investment in the platform against account issues, policy changes, and future platform uncertainty.
Step-by-Step: Requesting Your Twitter Data Archive
- Log in to X and go to Settings and Support (three dots menu or gear icon)
- Select Settings
- Click Your Account in the left sidebar
- Click Download an archive of your data
- Confirm your identity — X will send a verification code to your email or phone
- Click Request archive
- Wait for the confirmation email (usually within 24 hours)
- Click the download link in the email — it expires after 7 days
- Extract the ZIP file to a folder on your computer
- Open
index.htmlin the extracted folder to browse your archive
What the Archive Includes
| Data Type | Included? | File Name |
|---|---|---|
| All your tweets and replies | Yes | tweets.js |
| Direct messages (text) | Yes | direct-messages.js |
| DM media | Partial (paid) | direct-messages-group.js |
| Follows (accounts you follow) | Yes | following.js |
| Followers | Yes | follower.js |
| Likes (tweet IDs only) | Yes | like.js |
| Bookmarks | No | Not included |
| Lists you created | Yes | lists-created.js |
| Profile information | Yes | profile.js |
| Media you uploaded | Yes | tweets_media/ folder |
| Ad impressions and engagements | Yes | ad-impressions.js |
Archive Bookmarks Separately
The Twitter data export does not include bookmarks. Tweet Thread Saver fills this gap — capturing thread content locally so you have a complete archive of what you have saved. Free to install.
Add to Chrome — It's FreeNavigating the Archive
The archive's index.html file opens a browser-based interface for exploring your data:
- Tweets section: Searchable, shows all tweets with dates and engagement
- DMs section: Conversation threads with dates (no media for free accounts)
- Following/Followers: Lists with profile images
- Likes: Tweet IDs — you can look up specific tweets but the archive does not include full liked tweet text
The interface works offline — you do not need an internet connection to browse your archive once downloaded.
Working with the Raw Data Files
For analysis or import into other tools:
- tweets.js format: Each file starts with a JavaScript variable declaration — strip
window.YTD.tweets.part0 =from the beginning to get pure JSON that any JSON tool can read - Excel/Google Sheets analysis: Convert tweets.js to CSV using an online JSON-to-CSV converter, then import to spreadsheet
- Python analysis: Load tweets.js with a regex substitution to remove the JS wrapper, then parse as JSON — enables date analysis, engagement metrics, and full-text search
- Finding threads in the archive: Threads are identifiable by tweets with
in_reply_to_user_idmatching your own user ID (self-replies creating a thread)
How Often to Download Archives
Recommended archive frequency:
- Casual users: Annually — captures your history without excessive overhead
- Active users: Quarterly — captures recent activity and reflects current follows/following
- Accounts with significant historical value: Before any major platform changes, before long periods of inactivity, and before any planned account actions
- Before deleting your account: Always download before deletion — there is no recovery after account deletion
Complete Your Twitter Backup Strategy
The Twitter data archive covers your tweets and follows. Tweet Thread Saver covers the threads you save from others. Together, they create a complete offline archive of your Twitter activity. Free to install.
Install Tweet Thread SaverFrequently Asked Questions
How do I download my Twitter data archive?
Settings → Your Account → Download an archive of your data. Verify your identity, click Request archive, wait for the email (up to 24 hours), download from the link in the email within 7 days, extract the ZIP, and open index.html to browse. The archive contains all tweets going back to account creation.
What is included in the Twitter data archive?
Includes: all tweets, DM text, follows, followers, like IDs, lists you created, profile data, uploaded media, and ad impressions. Does NOT include: bookmarks, full text of liked tweets (IDs only), or DM media (free accounts). The bookmarks omission is a significant gap — use Tweet Thread Saver separately to archive saved threads.
How long does it take to get the Twitter data archive?
Usually within 24 hours. Large accounts with years of media may take 48-72 hours. The download link expires after 7 days — download promptly when the email arrives. If no email after 48 hours, check spam, then re-request from Settings.
Can I get tweets from a deleted account?
No — once an account is deleted, data is gone. There is no recovery. Download your archive before deleting an account. For suspended accounts, contact X support — there may be a data access process. For other users' deleted tweets, a third-party service that cached the content while it was live is the only option.
How do I read the Twitter data archive files?
Open index.html for an interactive browser interface. The underlying .js files are JSON inside a JavaScript variable wrapper — strip the wrapper text to get pure JSON readable in any JSON tool. Tweets.js, direct-messages.js, following.js, and follower.js are the most commonly useful files. The archive works offline once downloaded.
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