How to Export Character.AI Chats and Characters (2026)

Last checked: October 21, 2026.

Quick answer: Character.AI says you can export your data through the app or the Character.ai website. Do it now, while the platform is in its Chapter 11 sale process. Also copy each character’s name, greeting, personality, and backstory into a document you control, so you can rebuild them in any app.

Table of Contents

Why back up now #

On October 12, 2026, Character.AI filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to run a court-supervised sale. The platform is still running. But the company has said that if no buyer continues it, “the platform will be wound down” (Character.AI). The sale is expected to finish in late November or early December 2026.

Nobody outside the process knows how it will end. A backup costs you twenty minutes, while losing a character you’ve built for two years costs a lot more. For the full background, read Is Character.AI Shutting Down?.

Export your data from Character.AI (the official route) #

Character.AI’s FAQ confirms: “you can delete your account or export your data through the app or the Character.ai website” (source). Be careful to choose export, not delete.

General steps (website or app) #

Menus change between versions, so treat these as general guidance rather than an exact click-path. Steps may vary by version and device.

Sign in to Character.AI on the website or in the mobile app.
Open your profile or account Settings.
Look for the export or download option, usually in a data or privacy section.
Follow the prompts, and note whether the file downloads directly or arrives by email.
Save the file somewhere safe: your device and a cloud drive.

If you can’t find the option, check Character.AI’s Help Center for the current instructions.

What the export includes #

Contents and format can vary, so open your file and check it yourself rather than assuming everything is there.

When your file arrives, open it and check it. Make sure the chats and characters you care most about are actually there. If something’s missing, save it manually using the checklist below.

Save the details that matter for your character #

An export file is a record. A character sheet is what lets you bring a character back to life. For every original character you want to keep, copy these into a document:

Name and any nicknames
Short description (one or two lines: who they are at a glance)
Greeting / first message, word for word
Personality: three to five core traits, plus at least one flaw
Speech style: formal or casual, favorite phrases, how they react when surprised
Backstory: where they came from and what they want
Relationships: other characters they know, and how they feel about them
Favorite lines: five to ten messages that sound exactly like them
Look: appearance notes, plus any avatar image you made yourself

Do the same for any persona you played as. Your persona is a character too.

Tip: Copying favorite lines matters more than it looks. When you rebuild a character, real sample dialogue is the fastest way to get their voice back.

What exporting won’t give you #

It’s worth being honest about this. Exporting gives you a copy of your data, not a portable character. There’s no universal “character file” that every AI app can import. Each app builds characters differently, and conversations don’t carry the same “memory” into a new system.

So the realistic path is to recreate your character in a new app using your character sheet, not to “transfer” them. The good news is that a rebuild with clear notes often turns out more consistent than the original.

Keep your backup safe and useful #

A backup only helps if you can find it and read it later. A few habits make a big difference:

Store two copies. Keep one on your device and one in a cloud drive you already use.
Name files clearly. For example: “Mira – character sheet – Oct 2026”.
Make one folder per character. Put the export file, character sheet, favorite lines, and any art you made yourself in it.
Keep it private. Chats can include personal details. Don’t upload your export to public sites or share it in group chats.
Re-export later if you keep chatting. An export is a snapshot. If you keep using Character.AI during the sale, export again before the expected late-November/December decision.

If you’re a parent helping a teen back up their characters, sit down and do it together. It’s a nice chance to see what they’ve been creating.

Recreate your OC in a new home #

Once your backup is safe, you can take your time choosing where your characters go next.

Start with our template: How to Write an AI Character. It turns your notes into a clean, reusable character sheet.
If you liked playing as a persona with several characters around you, read Character AI Alternative With Personas.
To see the bigger picture, head back to our AI roleplay alternative hub.

In Redbean, you rebuild your original character from your notes. They then come alive in a calm pixel world, where they talk in their own voice and spend time with the other characters you make.

FAQ #

Can you export Character.AI chats? #

Yes. Character.AI says you can export your data through the app or the website (source). Steps may vary by version, so look for the export or download option in Settings.

How do I save chats on mobile? #

Look for the export or download option in Settings. Steps may vary by version. For chats that matter most, also copy key messages into a notes app as a backup.

Can I export a Character.AI bot? #

Export covers your account data, but contents can vary, so check your file. Either way, save each character’s definition, greeting, and sample lines manually.

Can I import my Character.AI character into another app? #

There’s no universal import format. The reliable method is to recreate your character in the new app using the details you saved.

Will my data be deleted if Character.AI shuts down? #

Character.AI hasn’t said what would happen to user data in a wind-down. It says data is currently protected under its Privacy Policy. Export now so you don’t have to find out.

Make your own original character #

Your character came from your imagination, and it can keep growing. Redbean is a calm pixel world where your original characters talk in their own voice, live their own days, and get to know each other. Nobody needs a franchise and you don’t need a script. You just need the character you made. Redbean is designed to be teen-safe.

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Sources: Character.AI: An Update on Character.ai · BusinessWire press release