Export your ChatGPT chats before you need them
Every conversation you've had in ChatGPT lives inside your OpenAI account — not on your machine. Nothing backs it up on its own, so a lockout, ban, or deleted account takes the whole history with it. OpenAI will email you an export on request, but it's a one-time snapshot that only reflects the moment you asked.
Worth knowing up front: the official ChatGPT export isn't instant. After you request it, OpenAI emails a download link — often hours later, sometimes a few days for large accounts — and the link expires 24 hours after it lands. Request it now, but don't sit around waiting on it.
Free, no card — email sign-in only when you're ready to upload.
Three ways forward — two of them today
You don't have to wait on the Takeout email to start building your archive.
After you upload
Once your export is in Mirror, ask your chats in plain language — or connect your agents so Cursor / Claude Desktop share one memory.
Have Claude too? Start there
Claude's export usually lands in minutes — a working archive this same session. Then merge the ChatGPT zip whenever it lands; big zips are fine, we prepare them. How to save Claude conversations.
Request Takeout, come back
Kick off the official ChatGPT export using the steps below, then come back when the email lands. Drop the .zip in as it arrived — whatever size it is, Mirror strips it down to your chats in your browser before upload.
How Mirror works
1 Official export
Request the data export in your provider's settings. They email you a .zip — no scraping, no API keys, nothing extra to install.
2 Upload once
Drop the official .zip in as it arrived — whatever size it is. Mirror strips it down to conversation data in your browser before upload, then it's encrypted and tied to your account.
3 Browse your archive
Mirror counts the conversations, messages, and words that exist only in the provider's account — and surfaces the threads you'll actually recognize.
Get your export
ChatGPT can take days
- Sign in at chatgpt.com, open your profile menu, and choose Settings → Data controls.
- Under Export data, click Export, then Confirm export.
- OpenAI emails a download link — often hours, up to a few days for large accounts — and it expires 24 hours after it arrives.
- Download the .zip while signed in, then drop it into Mirror as it arrived — big Takeouts are fine; we strip them down to your chats before upload.
Timing, size limits, and common mistakes: full step-by-step export guide. Also: Using Claude too? How to save Claude conversations.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a ChatGPT export take?
OpenAI's official ChatGPT Takeout is rarely instant. After you request it, the download link often arrives hours later, and for large accounts it can take a few days. The link expires 24 hours after it lands — download the zip while you're signed in.
Can I start a backup before the Takeout zip arrives?
Yes. If you use Claude, its export usually lands in minutes — start there and merge ChatGPT when Takeout arrives. When the email lands, drop the official zip in as it arrived. After upload, ask your chats or connect your agents. Soft Pro Capture keep-current recruiting stays on hold.
Is this an unofficial scrape of ChatGPT?
No. Mirror works with OpenAI's official data export only — no scraping, no API keys, no other providers on the door. Your exports are never used to train models.
After you upload: Once your export is in Mirror, ask your chats in plain language — or connect Cursor / Claude Desktop so your agents share one memory.
Mirror works with the official data exports from ChatGPT and Claude only — no scraping, no other providers. Your exports are never used to train models. Soft Pro Capture keep-current recruiting stays on hold.