The short version
- ChatSheet runs entirely inside your own browser.
- It reads only what WhatsApp Web already holds in that browser, and only when you ask for a preview or an export.
- Your exports are saved to your Downloads folder. They never pass through us.
- We don't collect, receive, sell or share any of your data. There is no analytics, no tracking, no ads and no code loaded from the internet.
- No sign-up and no account.
Who we are
ChatSheet is a free Chrome extension that exports your own WhatsApp data from WhatsApp Web (web.whatsapp.com) to Excel, CSV, JSON, vCard and HTML files. In this policy, "ChatSheet", "we" and "us" mean ChatSheet and its developer. You can reach us at connect@pilu.in.
ChatSheet is an independent product. It is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by WhatsApp LLC or Meta Platforms, Inc.
What ChatSheet reads
ChatSheet works only on web.whatsapp.com, in the same browser where you are logged in to WhatsApp Web. It reads data that WhatsApp Web has already loaded for you. It can't see anything WhatsApp Web doesn't show you, and it can't read any other website.
Depending on what you choose to export, this can include:
- Groups and their members: group names, descriptions, settings, sizes and created dates; members' names, phone numbers, admin status and whether they are saved in your phone; invite links and join requests for groups you admin; people who left recently, if you ask for them.
- Contacts: names, phone numbers and whether a contact is a business.
- Chats: your chat list, with last message time, unread, archived, pinned and muted status, and labels.
- Messages: for the chats you pick, the sender, time and text of each message, and captions of photos and videos. If you turn on media backup, the photos, videos, voice notes, documents and stickers in those chats.
- Channels, communities, labels and blocked numbers: the channels you follow or run, your communities and their groups, your WhatsApp Business labels and the chats in each, and the numbers you have blocked.
- Your own account: your own number and WhatsApp ID, used only to leave you out of exports when you choose that option, and to check whether WhatsApp Web is open and logged in.
Where WhatsApp hides a member's phone number (for example in communities), ChatSheet keeps only the name WhatsApp shows and marks the number "Number hidden by WhatsApp". It never tries to find hidden numbers.
How it's used
ChatSheet uses this data for one purpose only: to show you a preview and to build the file you asked for. It isn't used for anything else, including advertising, profiling or deciding anyone's creditworthiness.
While you work, the data is held only in your browser's memory. Apart from the few items listed under What's kept on your computer, ChatSheet doesn't keep a copy of your groups, contacts or messages after you close it.
Where your files go
Exported files are saved by Chrome to your Downloads folder (or wherever Chrome is set to save downloads). Media from a chat backup goes into a folder next to the file. After that, the files are yours: ChatSheet doesn't upload them, open them or read them again.
ChatSheet has no servers and doesn't send your data over the internet. When you include media in a chat backup, WhatsApp Web downloads those files from WhatsApp's own servers, the same way it does when you open a photo in a chat, and ChatSheet saves them to your computer.
What's kept on your computer
To remember your choices between visits, ChatSheet keeps a small amount of information in your browser's own storage for the extension. It stays on your computer and is never sent anywhere.
| What | Why |
|---|---|
| Your settings, such as file format and theme | So ChatSheet looks and works the way you set it. |
| Your options for each export type, and any columns you hid | So you don't have to set them again. |
| The groups or chats you picked last time | So they are already ticked next time. These are saved as WhatsApp's own IDs; for a one-to-one chat, that ID contains the other person's number. |
| A list of your last 30 exports: file name, export type, a short label such as the group's name, the time, and a short code that tells apart the WhatsApp accounts used on this computer (worked out from your number, but not your number) | So you can find your recent files again, and so someone else using ChatSheet on the same computer with their own WhatsApp doesn't see yours. You can clear it any time in Settings. |
| Whether ChatSheet opens in a tab or in the side panel | So the toolbar icon opens it the way you prefer. This one setting is kept in Chrome's extension storage. |
Uninstalling ChatSheet removes all of this.
What we collect
Nothing. We don't receive your WhatsApp data, your files, your settings or any information about how you use ChatSheet.
- There is no analytics, no tracking, no cookies and no ads in ChatSheet.
- ChatSheet doesn't load any code from the internet. Everything it runs is inside the extension you install.
- ChatSheet includes an open-source library, WPPConnect wa-js (Apache-2.0 licence), to read data from WhatsApp Web. That library can send usage statistics to Google Analytics; ChatSheet turns this off.
- This website has no analytics, cookies or trackers either. It is hosted on GitHub Pages, which, like any web host, may keep basic technical logs such as IP addresses for security. See GitHub's privacy statement for details.
If you email us, we receive your email address and whatever you choose to send. We use it only to reply and help you, and we don't add you to any mailing list. Please don't send us exported files or screenshots containing other people's numbers or messages.
Installing from the Chrome Web Store is handled by Google under Google's own privacy policy. Your use of WhatsApp is covered by WhatsApp's own terms and privacy policy; ChatSheet doesn't change what WhatsApp collects.
Sharing and selling
We don't sell, rent, share or transfer your data to anyone, because we never have it. No third party receives data from ChatSheet.
ChatSheet's use of data follows the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.
Permissions, explained
When you add ChatSheet, Chrome asks you to allow the following. Here is what each one is for.
| Permission | What ChatSheet uses it for |
|---|---|
Read and change your data on web.whatsapp.com | To read the groups, contacts, chats and messages WhatsApp Web shows you, when you ask for a preview or export. ChatSheet doesn't change anything in your WhatsApp and has no access to any other website. |
Manage your downloads (downloads) | To save your exported files to your Downloads folder, and to open that folder when you click "Show in folder". |
Side panel (sidePanel) | To open ChatSheet in Chrome's side panel, next to WhatsApp Web, if you choose that in Settings. |
Storage (storage) | To remember one setting: whether ChatSheet opens in a tab or in the side panel. |
Other people's data
Phone numbers, names and messages in your exports are personal data that belong to other people too. Laws such as India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) may apply to how you use them. Please:
- keep your exported files private and stored safely;
- use them only to run your own groups and keep your own records;
- not add people to lists, groups or mailings without their agreement;
- delete files you no longer need.
ChatSheet is not made for spam. It doesn't send messages in bulk and doesn't find new numbers.
Your choices
- Exported files: they are ordinary files on your computer. Delete them whenever you like.
- Export history and your choices (on a shared computer, for example): ChatSheet's Settings › Clear what ChatSheet remembers.
- Everything ChatSheet stores: uninstall the extension (right-click the ChatSheet icon › Remove from Chrome). This deletes its settings and history.
Because we don't hold any of your data, there is nothing for us to look up, correct or delete on our side. If you have a question about your rights, email us and we'll help.
Security
Your data never leaves your computer through ChatSheet, so it can't be leaked from our side. The files you export are not encrypted, so treat them like any other private document: keep them somewhere safe and be careful who you share them with.
Children
ChatSheet is not meant for children. You must be old enough to use WhatsApp in your country. We don't knowingly collect data from anyone, including children, because ChatSheet doesn't collect data at all.
Changes to this policy
If we change how ChatSheet handles data, we'll update this page and the effective date at the top before the change takes effect. If a change would ever mean data leaving your browser, we would say so clearly here first.
Contact
Questions about privacy or this policy? Email connect@pilu.in.