How to Export Microsoft Teams Chats Using Microsoft Purview (eDiscovery Premium)

Purpose of This Article

This guide explains how to export Microsoft Teams chat conversations using the Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal through the eDiscovery (Premium) feature.

You’ll need this process when:

  • A client or internal request requires archived Teams conversations for review or compliance.
  • You’re performing legal discovery, HR investigations, or internal audits.
  • Teams data must be preserved or exported in a readable format (such as PDF or native message files).

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Access the Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal

  1. Open a browser and go to: https://compliance.microsoft.com.
  2. Sign in with an admin or compliance account that has eDiscovery Manager or Administrator permissions.

2. Create an eDiscovery (Premium) Case

  1. In the left-hand navigation, go to eDiscovery (Premium).
  2. Select + New case.
  3. Give the case a clear name and description (e.g., “HR Chat Review – October 2025”).
  4. Click Save to create the case.

3. Add Custodians (Users) to the Case

  1. Open the case you just created.
  2. Navigate to the Data sources tab.
  3. Click Add custodians.
  4. Search for and select the users whose Teams chats you need to export.
    • When you add custodians, their connected data sources (mailboxes, OneDrive, etc.) are automatically linked to the case.

4. (Optional) Apply a Legal Hold

If you need to preserve data to prevent deletion:

  1. Select the custodians you added.
  2. Click Apply hold.
  3. Confirm which data sources (Exchange, OneDrive, etc.) to include.
  4. Apply the hold.
    • This ensures that even deleted messages are retained for the duration of your investigation.

5. Create a Collection for Teams Chats

  1. Go to the Collections tab within your case.
  2. Click + New collection.
  3. Define your search parameters:
    • Locations: Select Exchange mailboxes (Teams messages are stored there).
    • Query: To target Teams messages, use kind:im OR kind:microsoftteams
  4. Run the search to estimate how many items match.
  5. When satisfied, save the collection.

6. Add Search Results to a Review Set

  1. From the search results, choose Add to review set.
  2. This allows you to view Teams conversations in a threaded (chat-style) layout.
  3. Name the review set and click Add.

7. Export the Teams Chats

  1. In the Review sets tab, open the review set you created.
  2. Select the conversations you wish to export.
  3. Click Export.
  4. Configure your export options:
    • Export entire conversations as PDFs or individual chat messages as separate files.
    • Choose whether to include metadata or transcripts.
  5. Start the export.
  6. Once complete, download the export package from the Exports section to your local system.

Final Notes

  • Licensing: eDiscovery (Premium) requires Microsoft 365 E5 or a similar add-on license. Ensure your tenant has access before starting.
  • Permissions: The user performing this task must have the eDiscovery Manager role in Purview.
  • Storage Location: Teams chat exports are derived from Exchange mailboxes, not from Teams directly—this is by design.

Summary

Exporting Teams chats through Microsoft Purview ensures compliance, transparency, and legal defensibility. By following these steps—creating a case, adding custodians, collecting chat data, and exporting—you can retrieve Teams conversations safely and in a reviewable format.

Finished Result: You’ll have a downloadable export (PDF or file set) of Teams chat conversations, properly preserved and ready for review or recordkeeping.