ChatGPT JSON to Markdown

Convert exported ChatGPT conversation JSON files into clean, readable Markdown. Built for preserving long conversations and carrying context between ChatGPT threads.

This script parses the official ChatGPT conversation export format and reconstructs the visible conversation chain, including:

• User messages
• Assistant responses
• Timestamps
• Attachments
• Optional hidden/tool messages

Perfect for:

• Uploading cleaned context back into ChatGPT in chats or as a project source file.
• Archiving conversations
• Creating searchable notes
• Personal knowledge management
• Avoiding broken PDF exports / print issues

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Features

• Converts ChatGPT JSON → clean Markdown
• Preserves conversation order
• Includes timestamps
• Handles attachments
• UTF-8 safe
• Supports:
• • single conversation JSON files
• • full ChatGPT exports
• Automatically splits large conversations into chunks
• Generates an index.md for bulk exports
• UTF-8 safe

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Why This Exists

This tool was created to preserve long ChatGPT conversations and carry context between threads.

ChatGPT threads eventually become:

• too long
• difficult to search
• unstable to print/export
• or hit context limits

This script converts exported ChatGPT JSON files into clean Markdown files that can be:

• uploaded into new ChatGPT threads/project source files
• searched locally
• archived
• summarized
• used as continuity/context files

The original goal was simple: Keep long-running conversations and project context portable between threads.

Example Output

# <Conversation Title>

Created: 2026-05-08 22:39:32
Updated: 2026-05-09 10:05:14

--- USER 1 | 2026-05-08 22:39:37 ---

hey buddy, i'm kicking off a new thread...

--- ASSISTANT 2 | 2026-05-08 22:39:49 ---

I’ll pull from the project files now...

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Requirements

• Python 3.9+
• No external dependencies

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Usage

Single Conversation JSON:

python3 chatgpt_json_to_md.py conversation.json

Output:

conversation.md

Optional - Specify output file:

python3 chatgpt_json_to_md.py conversation.json -o output.md

Optional - Include hidden/system/tool messages:

python3 chatgpt_json_to_md.py conversation.json --include-tools --include-hidden

Full Export:

python3 chatgpt_export_to_md.py conversations-001.json

Creates:

chatgpt_md_export/
  index.md
  thread-name.md
  giant-thread_part-001.md

Chunking: Large conversations are automatically split into chunks. Default 200 messages per file

Custom chunk size:

python3 chatgpt_export_to_md.py conversations-001.json --chunk-size 500

Disable chunking:

python3 chatgpt_export_to_md.py conversations-001.json --no-chunk

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Getting Your ChatGPT JSON

Option 1 — Export Your Data

In ChatGPT:

• Settings > Data Controls > Export Data

You’ll receive a ZIP containing your conversations as JSON.

Option 2 — Browser DevTools / DOM Export

Extract conversation JSON manually using browser DevTools.

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