Why are my direct messages missing from the export?

The standard export on the Free and Pro plans covers public channels only. Private channels and DMs require an Enterprise plan and Slack's own approval, which is a policy decision on their side rather than a setting you can change.

Can I export if I am not an admin?

No. Slack restricts exports to Workspace Owners and Admins. If you are not one, you will need to ask someone who is.

What is inside the export?

A .zip containing one folder per channel, each holding JSON files by date, plus lists of the users and channels. It is complete but not readable by a person, which is what this converts.

How to export Slack history

Slack will give you a .zip full of JSON. Before the steps, two limits that decide whether this is possible for you at all.

Read this first

Only an owner or admin can export. Slack does not offer this to ordinary members. If you are not one, you will have to ask whoever is.

The standard export is public channels only. On the Free and Pro plans, private channels and direct messages are not included. Getting them requires an Enterprise plan and Slack’s approval. That is Slack’s policy, not a setting anyone can change, and it is the single most common surprise with Slack exports.

The steps

Click the workspace name, then Settings & administration, then Workspace settings.
Open Import/Export Data.
Choose the Export tab.
Pick a date range, or the whole history.
Start the export. Slack emails you when the .zip is ready to download.

Then make it readable

Upload the .zip exactly as Slack gave it to you — no need to unzip it. You will see how many messages it found before paying anything.

Your export

A WhatsApp export (.zip or _chat.txt), an .mbox, or a Slack export .zip.

Choose your export or drop it hereCounted first. You see the message count before you pay.

Your export is read to count the messages, held only until your archive is delivered, then deleted. If you never pay it is deleted within 24 hours and nothing is charged. What the finished archive looks like.