How to download your Facebook export (2026)
Before you can review or move Facebook posts elsewhere, you need an official Download Your Information archive from Meta. This guide walks through the current Facebook flow, what to select, how long it takes, and what to do with the ZIP when it arrives—including using FbZip2Blue to parse and review posts for Bluesky.
Official source: Download your Facebook information (Meta Help Center).
What you get
Facebook packages your data as one or more ZIP files. Inside you will find JSON and media folders (posts, photos, videos depending on what you selected). The exact layout can vary by account type and export options—that is normal.
- Posts and text — status updates, comments metadata (if selected)
- Photos and videos — if you included them in the export request
- Profile information — optional; only request what you need
Before you start
- Use a desktop browser for the request; download links are easier to manage on a computer.
- Ensure you have enough disk space—exports can be several gigabytes for active accounts.
- Plan for wait time: Meta often takes from a few hours to a few days. You will receive an email or notification when the file is ready.
- Only export and process data you own or are allowed to use.
Step-by-step: request your export
- Log in to Facebook on the web (facebook.com).
- Open Settings & privacy → Settings.
- Find Your Facebook information (wording may appear as “Your information” or under “Privacy Center” links depending on region).
- Choose Download Your Information or Download profile information.
- Select Download or transfer information.
- Pick All time or a date range (for a full migration, All time is usually what you want).
- Select data types. Minimum for post migration: Posts and Photos and videos if you want media. Skip ads or messages unless you need them.
- Choose format: HTML is human-readable; JSON is common for tools. FbZip2Blue parses the standard Facebook export ZIP structure—use Meta’s default export options unless you know you need a specific format.
- Choose Medium quality for media unless you need originals for print/archival reasons (much larger).
- Confirm and Create files / Request download.
When the export is ready
Meta emails you or shows a notification with a download link. Download the ZIP to your computer. If the export is huge, Facebook may split it into multiple ZIP parts—keep all parts; you can upload each to the same FbZip2Blue session.
What to do next (review → Bluesky)
A download alone does not publish anything. Typical path:
- Open FbZip2Blue /webv/ and sign in.
- Create an upload session.
- Upload your Facebook ZIP (chunked upload supports large files).
- Run Queue parse job and wait until parsing completes.
- Review posts on Parsed posts—edit text, hashtags, include/exclude.
- With a paid license, publish to Bluesky (test with Dry run first).
Read the full workflow: Documentation · Facebook archive to Bluesky step-by-step.
Troubleshooting
- Export still “pending” after days — Check spam; try a smaller date range; request again.
- Download link expired — Create a new export request.
- ZIP won’t open — Re-download; verify the file completed (compare size to expected).
- Parse fails in FbZip2Blue — Confirm it is a Facebook export ZIP, not a random archive; see FAQ.
Privacy reminder
Your export contains personal data. Store it securely, delete copies you do not need, and do not share the raw ZIP in support chats—describe the issue and session name instead.