Discord Chat Exporter is one of the best tools for creating a backup of your Discord servers, channels, and chats. However, setting it up and using it can be a bit complex. We have a comprehensive guide on the entire process (linked below), but this article focuses on a common issue of missing DiscordChatExporter.exe after unzipping the downloaded file.
Takeaways:
- Can't find the DiscordChatExporter.exe file after unzipping the tool on Windows 10
- Can't find the DiscordChatExporter.exe file after unzipping the tool on Windows 11
- Where is the DiscordChatExporter.exe file after unzipping?
Table of Contents
How to Fix DiscordChatExporter.exe File Missing After Unzipping
This should be the only fix you need to follow in this guide. Simply make an exception for DiscordChatExporter.exe in your antivirus tool and the next time you unzip the .zip file everything should be where it is supposed to be, including the DiscordChatExporter.exe file.
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Open your antivirus program and navigate to the quarantine section.
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Look for DiscordChatExporter.exe and restore it if it was removed.
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Add an exclusion for the extracted folder in your antivirus settings.
On the odd chance that this doesn't work for you, you'll need to work your way through the rest of the solutions shown below.
Verify the Downloaded Archive
Sometimes, an incomplete or corrupted download may cause missing files. Sometimes your browser might block the file from downloading. If this happens click the notification in your browser and click "Download anyway".
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Re-download the latest version of DiscordChatExporter from the official GitHub repository: https://github.com/Tyrrrz/DiscordChatExporter
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Check the file size of the downloaded ZIP archive. If it's significantly smaller than expected, it may be incomplete.
Extract Using a Reliable Tool
Some extraction tools may not properly extract all files. Try using a different extraction tool:
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Use 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract the files.
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Right-click on the ZIP file and choose "Extract All" to ensure all files are properly unpacked.
Check Hidden Files and Permissions
It is possible that the file is hidden or you lack proper permissions:
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Enable "Show hidden files" in File Explorer settings.
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Ensure that you have full control over the extracted folder by right-clicking it, selecting Properties > Security, and adjusting permissions if necessary.
Run as Administrator
Sometimes, the file may not appear due to permission issues. Try running the extraction tool or DiscordChatExporter as an administrator:
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Right-click the ZIP file and select Run as administrator when extracting.
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If you find DiscordChatExporter.exe, right-click it and select Run as administrator to ensure proper execution.
Try Extracting to a Different Location
This goes back to the first solution. Make sure you are extracting the file into the location that you've made the exception for. If you try to extract the zip files into the wrong folder Windows Defender will remove them straight away.
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Extract the files to a different directory, such as C:\DiscordChatExporter\ instead of Downloads or Desktop.
