Request your Twitter archive from X's account-data settings, wait for the ready notification, then download and extract the ZIP. Open the included HTML viewer if available. Keep the original ZIP as a backup and use a separate folder for browsing.
This downloads a snapshot of information associated with the account you can verify. It does not delete your posts, give access to someone else's account or guarantee recovery of posts deleted before the snapshot.
Request and download the account snapshot
- Sign in to the correct account. Confirm the handle, especially if you manage several profiles.
- Open Settings and privacy. Find your account/data section and the option to download an archive of your data. Labels can vary by app or web layout.
- Complete identity verification. Follow X's password or email/phone-code prompts. Use only the official X settings and confirmed contact details.
- Request the archive. Leave the request to process rather than assuming an instant download.
- Return when it is ready. Use the notification or revisit the same settings in a browser signed in to that account, then download the ZIP.
X's official archive instructions cover the request, verification and download flow for its supported interfaces.
While X prepares the download
X says preparation can take a few days. Avoid relying on a guaranteed 24-hour or 48-hour turnaround. Record when you submitted the request and check the correct account's settings and notification inbox before starting over.
If you are preparing to delete an account or change access, first download the file and confirm that it opens. A pending request or an email notification is not a verified local backup.
Save the download with a clear date and account label, such as example-archive-2026-10-15.zip. Do not replace an older archive until you know whether you still need its earlier snapshot.
Extract the ZIP and open the viewer
- Check that the browser finished the download. A partial download may have a temporary extension or fail to extract.
- Use your operating system's ZIP extraction option to extract the full folder structure.
- Look for an HTML viewer, commonly named
Your archive.html. Open that file in a browser from the extracted folder. - Leave the related data/assets folders next to the viewer. Moving only the HTML file can break its links.
- Browse a few known posts from different periods. Confirm that this is the account and snapshot you intended.
Opening the HTML viewer and executing every .js file are different actions. Do not paste archive data into a browser console. If the viewer is missing or fails, inspect filenames with the archive format reference before changing anything.
Inspect what your particular archive contains
The archive can include account details, posts, messages and media. The exact files and available fields can vary. Inspect the files you received rather than assuming that every category, attachment or engagement metric is complete.
Keep private messages and account details in mind before uploading or sharing the ZIP. If another person only needs a few posts, provide a narrow export or copy instead of your entire account archive.
A post missing from the viewer might require checking the underlying data, but it is not a reason to promise that deleted content is hidden somewhere in every archive. For that specific question, use the deleted-post evidence checklist.
Troubleshoot the point that actually failed
| Problem | First check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Cannot verify identity | Correct account and access to the registered contact method. | Follow X account-access help; do not send codes to a third party. |
| No ready notification | Request status in settings and email spam/junk folder. | Allow the stated preparation time; keep the original request time in your notes. |
| Download link fails | Same account signed in within the downloading browser. | Return to account-data settings for the available download action. |
| ZIP will not extract | File size and whether the browser finished downloading. | Download a fresh complete copy if the official link remains available. |
| Viewer opens but appears broken | Full extraction and nearby data/assets directories. | Re-extract into a new folder and try a current browser. |
| A particular post is missing | Correct snapshot, file parts and a known phrase or ID. | Record the gap; do not assume the archive can restore it. |
Keep screenshots of the exact error and note the browser/device when asking for help. Remove account codes and private details before sharing those screenshots.
Choose what to do after the backup works
For reading, the local viewer may be enough. For your own analysis, inspect the post-data structure or convert selected post fields to an Excel workbook.
Tweet Archivist also provides an archive-upload analysis workflow for supported files. Review the available account options and limits before uploading. Analysis can summarize records that exist in your file; it cannot add missing originals, impressions or historical records that the file never contained.