ChatCrate · Burger Labs
ChatCrate Support
Help for ChatCrate 1.1 — the WhatsApp Media Archive Manager for Mac. Start with Getting started, then use the sections below. If you still need help, email Burger Labs with the details at the end of this page.
What ChatCrate is
ChatCrate finds WhatsApp Desktop media already available on your Mac and turns it into a permanent local archive you can browse, update, check for duplicates and verify later.
It is not a chat transcript exporter, conversation reader, PDF evidence tool, WhatsApp clone, messaging app or cloud backup service.
Creating your first archive
- Install ChatCrate on a Mac running macOS 14 or later.
- Choose Create New Archive, then select your WhatsApp Desktop data folder — the folder that contains ChatStorage.sqlite and Message/Media.
- Review the preview of chats and media ChatCrate found. Optionally include Status or Downloads media.
- Name the archive and choose a parent destination folder. ChatCrate creates a new archive folder there.
- Grant folder access when macOS asks. ChatCrate is sandboxed and only uses the locations you approve.
- Create the archive, wait for copy and verification to finish, then explore Overview, Media, Chats, Duplicates, Archive Health and History.
ChatCrate copies media into the archive. It does not move or delete WhatsApp originals.
Archive structure in Finder
Inside the archive folder you will see chat-named folders with Images, Videos, Voice notes and Documents where applicable. A hidden .chatcrate package stores ChatCrate’s index and history. You can browse the media folders in Finder without opening ChatCrate.
Updating an existing archive
Open the archive and choose Update Archive. ChatCrate scans WhatsApp media again and summarises new items, already archived items, exact duplicates and conflicts.
Only new required media is copied. Existing verified files are not unnecessarily recopied. If you cancel mid-update, already verified files remain and you can run Update Archive again later.
Browsing Media
Use Media to filter All / Photos / Videos / Voice / Documents, search by chat or filename, filter by conversation or timeline month, and sort by newest, oldest, largest, smallest or conversation.
Photos and videos show real Quick Look thumbnails. Click a tile for Quick Look. Context menus support Open, Show in Finder, Copy File Path and Copy Filename. Friendly labels show conversation and date; the real filename remains available in Finder and menus.
Duplicate detection
Duplicates are identified by SHA-256 exact content match. “Potential duplicate storage” estimates how much space could be recovered if identical copies were reduced — ChatCrate never deletes duplicates automatically.
Archive Health and verification
Verify Archive re-checks archived files for presence, size and stored checksums where available. It can report missing, unreadable or changed files.
Verification checks known integrity signals. It is not a substitute for full disk-health monitoring or a second independent backup.
History, Timeline and Insights
History records create, update and verification runs. Insights show media breakdowns and date ranges from local metadata. Timeline groups media by month and can filter Media Explorer.
External drives and offline archives
Archives can live on external drives. If the drive is disconnected, ChatCrate shows Archive Offline. Reconnect the drive and choose Try Again, or Locate Archive to reselect the folder. ChatCrate does not silently discard an offline archive.
Renaming an archive inside ChatCrate changes only the display name. Moving the archive folder in Finder may require Locate Archive afterward.
FAQ
Does ChatCrate modify WhatsApp?
No. ChatCrate does not move, delete or edit WhatsApp originals and does not write into the WhatsApp database.
Does ChatCrate upload my files?
No. Archive processing stays on your Mac. ChatCrate does not upload WhatsApp media to Burger Labs servers and does not include analytics or third-party tracking SDKs.
Does ChatCrate read my messages?
No. Message text is not read or stored. ChatCrate works with media files and the folder access you grant.
What about Downloads and Status?
Optionally include WhatsApp-named files already in Downloads (placed under Downloads / Unidentified because filenames never include a chat name) and Status media. Both are off or controllable in the preview options.
Why do some folders show phone numbers or Unidentified?
When ChatCrate cannot resolve a friendly chat name from WhatsApp’s local index, it uses a phone-number fallback or Unidentified rather than guessing.
What if thumbnails fail?
Unsupported or corrupt media falls back to a type icon. ChatCrate does not repeatedly regenerate known failures while you scroll.
Is ChatCrate affiliated with WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp is a trademark of its respective owner. ChatCrate is an independent Burger Labs product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by WhatsApp LLC or Meta Platforms, Inc.
Troubleshooting
- Confirm macOS 14 or later, then quit and reopen ChatCrate.
- Re-select the WhatsApp data folder and archive destination, and approve any macOS permission prompts.
- Check that the archive volume is mounted, writable and has enough free space.
- If WhatsApp detection fails, confirm the selected folder contains ChatStorage.sqlite and Message/Media.
- If Archive Offline appears, reconnect the drive or use Locate Archive.
- For sticky permission issues, remove ChatCrate from Privacy & Security folder access where shown, then grant access again from the app.
Contact ChatCrate support
Include your macOS version, ChatCrate version from About, and the exact wording of any error. Do not attach private WhatsApp media unless we specifically ask for a safe sample and you are authorised to share it.
Email is monitored during ordinary working hours. Burger Labs does not provide phone support, live chat or a 24/7 helpdesk.