How to Download Facebook Data: Complete Guide

Facebook lets you export a copy of your information either to a device or to an external service. The available information includes content and information you shared, your activity, and information Facebook collects according to Facebook.

To save a file on your computer or phone, choose Export to device. You can choose what to include, set a date range, select HTML or JSON, adjust media quality, and start the export.

Download Facebook data on desktop

Facebook's current desktop device-export path is:

1. Click your profile picture in the top right.
2. Click Settings & privacy.
3. Click Settings.
4. Click Meta Account.
5. Click Your information and permissions.
6. Click Export your information.
7. Click Create export.

This path is given in Facebook's help instructions here.

Next:

1. Select the profile you want to export.
2. Select Export to device.
3. Choose the specific information, date range, format, notification email, and media quality.
4. Click Start export.

These export choices and steps come from Facebook's device-export instructions here.

For a device export, Facebook sends an email and a Facebook notification when the export is ready according to Facebook. When it appears in Available downloads, download it within four days. Facebook also lets you delete an export or view earlier requests in Past requests according to Facebook.

Download Facebook data on a phone

The mobile flow differs from the desktop path. In the Facebook app:

1. Open Facebook and log in if prompted.
2. Tap the three-bar Menu icon at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap Settings at the top right.
4. Scroll to Your information.
5. Tap Download your information.
6. Tap Request a download.

These mobile steps are documented in Clario's rendered guide here.

Choose what to export

Facebook's export can cover different kinds of information. Facebook says available information includes content and information you shared, your activity, and information it collects according to Facebook.

Examples of categories listed in the rendered guide include:

• Posts, tagged photos, likes, comments, groups, and events.
• Facebook friends and followers.
• Linked apps and websites.
• Personal information and preferences.
• Ads you have clicked on.
• Logged information such as searches and location history.
• Security and login information.

These category examples come from Clario's guide here.

If you want a narrower file, Facebook lets you choose specific information and a date range. It also lets you choose the notification email and media quality before you start the export according to Facebook.

Keep the export size manageable

A device export needs sufficient storage. The selected information types and media quality affect the file size: high-quality videos make files larger, while selecting one information type makes them smaller according to Facebook.

HTML vs JSON: which Facebook format should you choose?

HTML

Facebook describes HTML as an easy-to-view format. The download arrives as a ZIP file; after you open and extract it, an HTML file named index opens like a web page, with folders containing requested images and videos according to Facebook.

Choose HTML when you want to browse the exported information through the index page and its folders.

JSON

Facebook describes JSON as a machine-readable format that could make transferring your information to another service easier according to Facebook.

Choose JSON when a machine-readable file is more useful for your next step. The choice is made during the export configuration, alongside the information, date range, notification email, and media quality options according to Facebook.

Export Facebook data to an external service

Facebook also supports exporting a copy to an external service. On desktop, the path begins:

1. Click your profile picture in the top right.
2. Click Settings & privacy.
3. Click Settings.
4. Click Meta Account.
5. Click Your information and permissions.
6. Click Export your information.
7. Click Create export.
8. Select the profile you want to export.
9. Click Next.
10. Select Export to external service.

This path is from Facebook's help instructions here.

Then:

1. Choose the external service and click Next.
2. Choose how often you want to export and click Next.
3. Click Connect and connect to the selected service.
4. If requested, enter the selected profile's password and click Next.
5. Customize the notification email and format.

Facebook documents this external-service flow here.

Limits to know before you request the export

• The download window is short. An export that is ready in Available downloads remains available for four days according to Facebook.
• Verification may be required. Facebook asks for your password before an export begins and may ask for additional verification. The request expires after a few days, and you can request a new one according to Facebook.
• A deleted profile is different from a deactivated one. You may reactivate a deactivated profile to export its information. If you deleted the profile, you cannot access its profile information through the profile, although some information you shared may still appear on other people's profiles according to Facebook.
• Additional profiles have a special limitation. You can export a copy for each additional profile, but some information collected from additional profiles, including ads information, is available only by exporting the main profile according to Facebook.
• Storage matters. Available storage, selected information types, and media quality affect the size of a device export according to Facebook.

Facebook export vs a separate backup

Use Facebook's export when you need a copy of information Facebook makes available, such as content and information you shared, your activity, and information Facebook collects according to Facebook. Plan to retrieve the ready file promptly: once it appears in Available downloads, Facebook keeps it available for four days according to Facebook. This is the right use case when you want to save or work with that account-information export.

Use a separate backup when you want Facebook content archived automatically and available to download or restore later. SocialGuardian says it automatically backs up Facebook posts, photos, videos, and stories, and its workflow lets you download or restore the archive according to SocialGuardian.

Its described workflow is:

1. Share a public @handle.
2. Let SocialGuardian archive posts, photos, videos, and stories.
3. Download or restore the archive when needed according to SocialGuardian.

SocialGuardian says it does not ask for a password or login, and that you can export your full archive anytime according to SocialGuardian. If you want to use that separate archive workflow, the start page advertises a 30-day free trial and no password requirement according to SocialGuardian.