Backing up Facebook data – This is how it works

by Michaela

If you want to back up your Facebook data, you can request a backup online. All information, posts, pictures and videos that are on the Facebook page are saved in this backup. Posts from other people are not saved. In addition, you will receive all personal messages and chat histories.

Download Facebook data

Facebook will only send you the data to which you have access and for which you also have the right to see. If, for example, the email addresses of your friends have not been released for this purpose, they will not be saved. After some time, you will receive the backup as a ZIP file for download.

  • Open Facebook and log in.
  • Click on the gear icon in the top right corner and select “Account Settings” (see picture).
  • At the very bottom you will see the blue link “Download a copy of your Facebook data”.
  • Once you have selected this, click on the “Build my archive” button.
  • Enter your password and click on “Build my archive” again.
    • Now it can take up to three days until your files are ready for you to download. If this is the case, you will be notified by email.

    View Facebook data

    • Open the ZIP file with Windows Explorer or use a packer program like WinRAR or 7-Zip.
    • You will now see the folders “hmtl” and “photos” and the file “index.htm”. If you open this file in your browser, you can click through your complete profile. To do this, you will find a menu on the left side (see picture).
      If you open the folder “photos”, you will find further folders, each containing a file called “index.htm”. In all these files there are different groups of photos. These are divided into your profile photos, cover photos, mobile phone uploads and chronicle photos.

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