WeChat Archiving – Ways to Capture WeChat Messages and Content

WeChat is currently one of the top standalone multi-services applications in the world. The app has recently bypassed 900 million daily active users, including many Chinese traders and bankers. Around 80% of all Chinese WeChat users even use the app in the workplace, resulting in its mass adoption in China.

China’s business landscape now sees widespread WeChat use as both firms and their customers see the app as a convenient communication channel. The app is useful not only for communication purposes but also for bill payments and connecting with people through social media. Both WeChat and WeChat Work have multiple features that their respective users can fully enjoy while using the apps.

Thanks to the widespread use of WeChat in China, foreign firms will need to adopt the messaging app for their official business processes. When financial institutions adopt the application, they’ll need to consider compliance with WeChat FINRA and WeChat MiFID II data retention requirements.

Firms must know how they can record and monitor WeChat messages.

WeChat Client’s Backup & Restore feature

WeChat Client is the WeChat version available on Windows and Mac computers. WeChat Client mirrors the iPhone’s WeChat and lets users use the Backup & Restore feature to backup the messages to the computer.

WeChat users can follow the steps below to download their WeChat history or selected conversations:

1. Go to com and download the compatible version of WeChat client.
2. Install WeChat Client.
3. Launch WeChat Client.
4. Scan the QR code using the WeChat installed in the mobile device.
5. Hit the ‘Menu’ button available on the bottom left corner.
6. Select ‘Backup & Restore’ from the pop-up menu.
7. Select the ‘Backup on PC’ option out of the two options on your screen.
8. WeChat will ask for your confirmation to save WeChat messages and media data to your PC.
9. After approval, select the conversations that you want to make a backup of.
10. Press the ‘OK’ button and wait for the process to complete.

Using Third-Party Applications

Organizations can use third-party apps to capture WeChat conversations. They’re essentially one-stop methods to make a backup of conversations that private individuals will find useful in retaining chats.

Some applications can record conversations from multiple messaging apps, while others can only record the messages sent using a particular app. People can use third-party apps to record messages, but they can only retain conversations in either their mobile devices or their computers.

Should an employee use this method to capture WeChat conversations and media, they’ll need to be trained further to secure the message according to the company’s policies.

Download WeChat Media

WeChat users can capture media sent through the app. Videos can be downloaded from the conversations themselves, Favorites, and Moments.

Download WeChat Videos in Conversations

1. Visit the WeChat web page.
2. Scan the QR code using your mobile device’s WeChat application.
3. Go to the desired Chat log.
4. Tap and hold the desired attachment file until a pop-up menu appears on your screen.
5. Select ‘More’ from the options.
6. Select all the attachments you wish to download.
7. Tap on the ‘File Transfer’ icon on the bottom-left to forward the selected attachments to yourself.
8. Open up the conversation where you sent the video attachment using WeChat on your computer.
9. Click the video attachment.
10. Right-click on the video to bring up a drop-down menu.
11. Select the ‘Save video as…’ option.
12. Type in your desired file name and save it to the computer.

Save WeChat videos from Favorites

1. Launch WeChat on your mobile device.
2. Go to the desired Chat log.
3. Tap and hold the desired attachment file until a pop-up menu appears on your screen.
4. Select the ‘Add to Favorites’ option. You can also tap ‘More” and select all the attachments you wish to download and then select the ‘Add to Favorites’ option.
5. Log in to WeChat Client.
6. Click on the Favorites icon on the navigation menu.
7. Click the video attachment.
8. Click the Save icon below to save the WeChat video.

Save WeChat videos from Moments

Any media content sent through WeChat moments can also be downloaded.

1. Launch WeChat on your mobile device.
2. Go to the ‘Discover’ section.
3. Move to the ‘Moments’ tab.
4. Locate the moment you want to save.
5. Press and hold on the moment you want to save until a pop-up menu appears.
6. Select the ‘Save Video’ option from the menu.

Capture WeChat Messages Using WeChat Archiver

The most effective way to capture WeChat messages to comply with WeChat FCA and MiFID requirements is to use a WeChat monitoring solution.

TeleMessage’s WeChat Archiving solution captures and retains WeChat conversations and media from corporate or BYOD mobile phones to comply with various data protection regulations, including WeChat FINRA, MiFID II, and others. The messages are securely and reliably retained within TeleMessage servers or to your choice archiving data storage vendor.

WeChat Archiver

Identical to regular WeChat, while capturing all WeChat business chats, messages, multimedia and attachments and uploading them to be archived. Read more

Our mobile archiving products securely record content from mobile carriers and mobile devices for various ownership models (BYOD, CYOD, and employer-issued). With our multiple archiving solutions, you can always find the right tools or blend for your requirements:

• Network Archiver
• Enterprise Number Archiver
• Android Archiver
• WhatsApp Archiver
• WeChat Archiver

TeleMessage offers cross-carrier and international mobile text & calls archiving for corporate and BYOD phones including for WeChat recording SEC compliance. Visit our website at www.telemessage.com to learn more about our mobile archiving products.