TweetArchive/Guide

Guide · Updated November 13, 2026 · by Cedano Labs LLC

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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

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
• Privacy: what TweetArchive does and doesn’t see
• How do I open my X (Twitter) archive ZIP?
• Your archive.html is not loading
• How do I view DMs in my X archive?
• How do I search X archive DMs as evidence?
• How do I export X archive photos with the real date?
• How do I export my X archive to PDF?
• My X archive is several GB and won’t open on Windows
• I deleted my X account and only have the archive
• X archive media dates are wrong
• Is it safe to upload my X archive to a website?
• How do I download my official X archive?
• What is tweets.js and why isn’t it JSON?
• How do I convert my X archive to CSV or JSON?

Sources

• The Verge: How to download an archive of your Twitter data (updated Nov 14, 2022)
• Ars Technica: How to download a backup copy of your Twitter data (Oct 28, 2022)
• twitter-archive-parser by Tim Hutton (GitHub)
• alkihis/twitter-archive-reader: file structures

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. Markdown version: /view-threads-in-archive.md.