Manual method
- Sign into Perplexity on the web and open Account details.
- Choose Export my data.
- Wait for the email and download the package through the account’s authenticated route.
- Inspect whether threads, Spaces, citations and required files are present; save missing important documents separately.
Coverage and limitations: Perplexity documents the export action but does not list every included file or give a delivery deadline. Do not promise all attachments, a specific archive format or account-to-account restoration.
Size and time to allow
Illustrative planning size: 0.2 GB; scenario range 0.005–5 GB. This is a storage-planning example, not a measured average. Your archive may be smaller or larger. Hundreds to thousands of research threads as text and citations; files are counted only if actually delivered.
Preparation and hands-on time: Plan days for an asynchronous request, but this is an allowance, not a provider SLA. Save promptly when notified.
For the 0.2 GB example, network transfer alone is approximately:
| Connection download speed | Transfer estimate |
|---|---|
| 10 Mbit/s | 4 min |
| 50 Mbit/s | 46 sec |
| 100 Mbit/s | 23 sec |
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 perplexity_archives/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.