Updated July 2025 – Find out exactly what’s included in your downloadable X (formerly Twitter) archive and how to read and manage it.
Downloading your X (Twitter) data is more than just exporting your tweets — it’s a full snapshot of your activity, content, and account history. Whether you’re curious about what X tracks, want a backup of your conversations, or are preparing to close your account, this archive gives you full transparency over your digital footprint.
But what exactly is included in your export? And how can you explore it?
This guide breaks down the contents of your X (Twitter) archive and explains how to open, navigate, and store it securely.
✅ Why You Should Explore Your X (Twitter) Archive
Understanding your archive is useful for many reasons:
- 🔍 Review your social media history
- 💬 Access old DMs, tweets, or deleted posts
- 🧠 See what information X (Twitter) retains
- 🔐 Audit your digital identity
- 🧳 Backup before deleting your account
Even if you’re not leaving the platform, having a local copy of your account can be useful for archiving or analyzing your online behavior.
📁 File Format: You’ll Receive a ZIP Archive
Once requested, your X (Twitter) archive will arrive as a compressed ZIP file. It contains multiple folders with .html, .json, and media files.
📌 Tip: Use WinZip to extract it and pCloud to store it safely in the cloud.
🗂️ Inside the X (Twitter) Archive – Folder by Folder
Let’s look at what you’ll typically find inside the downloaded package:
📝 tweet.js or tweets/
Contains:
- All tweets and retweets
- Threads and replies
- Date and time of each post
- Tweet content (text, emojis, links)
- Engagement stats (likes, retweets)
⚠️ Tweets deleted from the platform may still appear in your archive.
💬 direct-messages/
- All private conversations (DMs)
- Group and one-on-one chats
- Timestamps and participants
- Text messages (not always media)
Depending on your usage, this folder may be very large or empty.
📸 media/
- Images, videos, and GIFs you’ve posted
- File names, upload dates
- Media may be compressed but readable
Use media viewers or image tools to browse your archive visually.
👥 follower.js, following.js, lists.js
Contains:
- List of users you follow and who follow you
- Blocked and muted accounts
- Your lists and list members
- Saved searches and hashtags
Useful for exporting your community or managing follower data.
🔐 account.js or account-activity/
Includes:
- Username and handle history
- Email addresses & phone numbers used
- Account creation date
- Device usage history
- Login locations and IP addresses
Great for security audits or legal inquiries.
❤️ likes.js, bookmarks.js
- All tweets you’ve liked
- Saved bookmarks
- Dates and tweet IDs
- Content previews
🗂️ Additional Files
You may also receive:
- Spaces & audio logs
- Ads engagement and targeting info
- Moments (if used)
- Poll votes and creation history
🧾 How to Read and Navigate the Data
The archive uses .html and .json formats:
| File Type | Use |
|---|---|
.html | Opens in any browser — perfect for non-technical users |
.json | Structured data — useful for developers and data analysis |
📍 Tip: Stick to .html unless you’re analyzing content with custom tools.
🔧 Tools to Open & Store Your Archive
Here’s what we recommend:
✅ WinZip
Open the ZIP file, browse folders, and preview images with ease.
✅ pCloud
Cloud-based encrypted storage — keep your archive safe and accessible.
✅ [Google Sheets / Excel]
For viewing
.csvor converting.jsonto spreadsheets.
🔐 Keep Your Archive Secure
Because your archive contains sensitive data — DMs, login info, private tweets — you should:
- Never share your ZIP file
- Store it in a secure cloud or encrypted folder
- Delete local copies from shared devices
- Keep a backup in a second location
📌 Summary
Your X (Twitter) archive contains a complete history of your time on the platform. From tweets to DMs to login logs, it’s a powerful tool for privacy, analysis, or goodbye prep.
Explore it, understand it — and store it wisely.
🔘 Download Your Archive Now →
🔐 Open with WinZip | Store with pCloud