Choose a conversation you were part of

You need Pretake on your iPhone and a one-to-one chat available in WhatsApp on your own phone. Pick an exchange with messages from both of you. Only import conversations you are entitled to use, and read the data-handling explanation before sharing private text.

You can try Pretake’s fictional sample first if you want to explore the app without importing anything. Pretake is for users aged 18 and over and is free to start, with in-app purchases.

Export the WhatsApp chat on iPhone

  1. Open the one-to-one conversation in WhatsApp.
  2. Tap the person’s name at the top to open the chat information.
  3. Scroll to Export Chat.
  4. Choose Without Media. Pretake uses the conversation text; photos, videos, and voice-note files are not needed for this import.
  5. Choose Pretake in the share sheet if it appears. Alternatively, choose Save to Files and remember where you saved the export.

Menu wording can vary with your WhatsApp version and language. WhatsApp provides its own chat export help. The exported text is a separate file; this workflow is for rehearsal in Pretake, not moving a WhatsApp account to another phone.

Import the file and choose your side

In Pretake, start adding the person you want to rehearse with and select the chat-export import option. If you saved the export to Files, use the file picker to select it. Pretake accepts WhatsApp text exports and ZIP exports containing the chat text.

Choose which participant is you when the app asks. Check that the names and messages match the conversation you intended to import. This tells Pretake which writing style to use for the simulated replies.

For a first rehearsal, write one message you are considering, such as “Can we talk about our plans for the weekend?” After a simulated reply, you can continue the exchange or rewind and try different wording. The text rehearsal guide has more examples.

AI-generated replies can be inaccurate. They are practice material, not a prediction of what the person will say. Pretake does not send your rehearsal back to WhatsApp or contact that person.

What happens to the file and its text?

Pretake reads the export on your phone and deletes its working copy after processing. The original file you saved remains in Files until you remove it yourself. Importing does not mean that all conversation text stays on the device.

Selected text is sent to the AI service to generate replies. Pretake stores an encrypted style profile, selected imported messages, and your practice conversations. You can delete the person and their conversations in the app. See the details of server processing and storage.

If the import does not work

  • Pretake is missing from the share sheet: save the export to Files, then select it from inside Pretake.
  • The file contains mostly photos or videos: export the chat again without media and choose the text export.
  • The wrong participant is selected: check which side represents you before starting the rehearsal.
  • An export is unavailable: if permitted, use readable screenshots showing both sides of the conversation, or a screen recording. These alternatives depend on successful text recognition.

A few disconnected messages provide limited context. Include a coherent exchange, and expect gaps when the source conversation does not contain the information needed for a reply.

Pretake is independent of WhatsApp and Meta. For help with Pretake imports, contact support@getpretake.com.