DiscordChatExporter

DiscordChatExporter is a tool for saving Discord conversation history to files on your computer. It works with direct messages between two people, group chats, and channels inside Discord servers. You can export the messages in several formats: HTML (which shows the chat with formatting, much like it looks in Discord), plain text, CSV spreadsheet, or JSON.

The tool comes in two versions. One is a desktop app with a graphical interface where you click through menus to select a channel and export it. The other is a command-line version for people comfortable with a terminal, which allows automation and scripting. Both versions are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Docker is also supported for the command-line version.

To use the tool, you provide it with a Discord token so it can read your messages on your behalf. The README notes that automating a personal user account is against Discord's terms of service, and recommends using a bot token instead when possible, since bots are the officially supported way to access Discord data programmatically.

Exports can capture media attachments, embedded content, emoji, and Discord's markdown formatting. You can filter exports by date range or specific messages, and split large exports into multiple files. The resulting HTML exports are self-contained, meaning you can view them offline without an internet connection.

The project is currently in maintenance mode rather than active development, meaning it receives bug fixes but major new features are unlikely. The author funds development through community donations.