# How do I view threads in my X archive?

> In the archive, a thread is just a set of your own posts that reply to each other, so it doesn’t look like a thread. TweetArchive links posts using their in_reply_to_status_id field, shows each thread once in your timeline with its size, and lets you expand it in order.

## Step by step

1. **Open the archive ZIP in TweetArchive.** Threads are rebuilt automatically.
2. **Filter to Threads.** In the Timeline, choose “Threads” in the type menu.
3. **Expand.** Click “Show thread” to read the posts in order.
4. **Export.** CSV/JSON include a thread root ID for every post in a thread.

Open the tool: https://tweetarchive.fyi/#app (runs in your browser; the ZIP is not uploaded; free preview, $19 one-time for everything).

## Honest limitations

- There is no official public specification of the archive format that we could read; TweetArchive follows what several independent parsers document and discovers file names instead of assuming one layout.
- Some archives omit @usernames for DM partners; those people appear as a numeric user ID.
- TweetArchive is not affiliated with X Corp. and does not log in to X for you.
- Threads can only be rebuilt when the reply fields are present in your archive; replies to posts that are not in your archive are shown as single replies.

## FAQ

### Why don’t threads show in the raw files?

Each post is stored separately; the link to the previous post is a reply ID field.

### Are replies to other people shown?

Yes, as replies, with the @username when the archive includes it.

### Can I print a thread?

Yes, through the offline HTML export and your browser’s Print → Save as PDF.

### Do I need my account to still exist?

No. Everything comes from the archive file.

## Related

- [How to download your official X archive](https://tweetarchive.fyi/download-x-archive.md)
- [Privacy](https://tweetarchive.fyi/privacy/)

## Sources

- [The Verge: How to download an archive of your Twitter data (updated Nov 14, 2022)](https://www.theverge.com/23453703/twitter-archive-download-how-to-tweets)
- [Ars Technica: How to download a backup copy of your Twitter data (Oct 28, 2022)](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/10/how-to-download-a-backup-copy-of-your-twitter-data-or-deactivate-your-account/)
- [twitter-archive-parser by Tim Hutton (GitHub)](https://github.com/timhutton/twitter-archive-parser)
- [alkihis/twitter-archive-reader: file structures](https://github.com/alkihis/twitter-archive-reader)

TweetArchive is an independent tool made by Cedano Labs LLC. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by X Corp. “X” and “Twitter” are trademarks of X Corp., used here only to describe the archive format the tool reads. TweetArchive is not a forensic lab or a legal service, and its exports are not certified evidence.