Manual method
- In Open WebUI open profile > Settings > Data Controls > Export Chats.
- Save the JSON and record the application version.
- Preserve uploaded originals separately; for a server backup use the administrator’s documented database-and-files procedure.
- Test a copy in a temporary compatible instance and check conversation branches, timestamps and file references.
Coverage and limitations: Other local chat apps use different formats. JSON conversation export is not a full server backup, model-weight backup or proof attachments are embedded. Do not copy a running database blindly.
Size and time to allow
Illustrative planning size: 1 GB; scenario range 0.01–50 GB. This is a storage-planning example, not a measured average. Your archive may be smaller or larger. Chat JSON plus selected uploads; excludes model weights, which may add tens or hundreds of GB.
Preparation and hands-on time: Local export needs no provider queue. Plan 10–30 minutes to inspect a modest archive plus data-copy time.
For the 1 GB example, network transfer alone is approximately:
| Connection download speed | Transfer estimate |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbit/s | 20 min |
| 50 Mbit/s | 4 min |
| 100 Mbit/s | 2 min |
These calculations use decimal GB and 70% of the advertised speed. Tiny transfers can take longer because of startup overhead. Local exports do not need an internet download; use these numbers only for a network transfer. Preparation, retries, extraction, checking and a cloud upload are additional; use upload speed for the latter.
Where and how to keep it
An encrypted USB key can hold this example, but keep another independent copy on an external drive or in private encrypted cloud storage. A USB key alone is easily lost and is not a complete preservation plan.
Create a dated local_ai_chats/YYYY-MM-DD/ folder. Keep received originals unchanged, use a separate working copy, and note the account/profile, selected dates, formats and known gaps in a private README. Compare file sizes, check any supplied checksums, and open sample files from the backup before considering the task finished. Repeat after meaningful additions. Follow the storage, archive-checking and large-file guide.
Sources and review
Public documentation was reviewed on 27 October 2026. No signed-in export or restoration was performed. Account options and availability can change; follow the current provider instructions.