Guide · Open source
How to use wechat-article-exporter (and what still works)
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
wechat-article-exporter is an open-source TypeScript tool for batch-downloading articles from WeChat public accounts (公众号) and saving them as local files. This guide explains what the tool exports, how the self-hosted Docker route starts, and the important limit: the project's README says it is no longer maintained and its one-click sync no longer works. It is most useful for keeping copies of articles you already synced.
wechat-article-exporterwechat-article/wechat-article-exporter · ★ 13.1k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Check the notice. Read the maintenance warning in the README so you know new article sync does not work.
- 2Install Docker. Docker is the prerequisite listed in the README. Install it on the machine where you will run the tool.
- 3Clone the repository. Run the README's git clone command to get the source code onto your machine.
- 4Export what you need. Use the project's documentation site for setup details, and export your existing articles in the format you need, such as HTML for layout-faithful copies.
What wechat-article-exporter does
The tool downloads articles from WeChat public accounts in batches. The README lists export formats of html, json, excel, txt, md and docx.
The HTML export packages images and style files together. The README says this keeps the article layout and styles 100% intact when you open the file.
With login credentials captured from the WeChat app, it can also export reading counts, comments, comment replies and share counts. The README notes that capturing these credentials is a separate step described in the project docs.
- Batch download articles from a public account
- Filter by author, title, publish time, original-content flag and collection
- Download collections (合集)
- Export read and comment data when credentials are supplied
Read the maintenance notice before you start
The README states that the project has stopped being maintained. The WeChat core interface it depends on has been closed by the official side and is unlikely to reopen. The README says this cannot be worked around by changing code, so the one-click sync of public account articles no longer works.
The README also says the repository will become a read-only archive, no new issues or pull requests are accepted, and no new versions will be released. Your already-synced articles stay on your own device.
Get the code with git
The README's install command clones the repository. Docker is the listed install method, and Docker is the listed prerequisite. The README itself does not include Docker run commands; it points to the project's documentation site for the tutorial.
Because the sync interface is closed, use this route mainly to run or study a copy of the code you already have.
git clone https://github.com/wechat-article/wechat-article-exporterExport articles you already have
Choose the output format that fits your use. HTML keeps the layout and images together, which suits archiving. Markdown, TXT and Word suit editing and reuse. JSON and Excel suit data work.
The README says the online website's domain is scheduled to expire. Export anything you need from it before that date, since the site will no longer be reachable afterward.
- HTML: best for faithful, offline copies
- Markdown or TXT: best for editing and note-taking
- Docx: best for sharing in Word
- JSON or Excel: best for analysing article lists and counts
Other deployment options
The README lists three ways to use the tool: the online website, Docker self-hosted deployment, and Cloudflare deployment. It describes the online site as needing no setup. Because the project is unmaintained, treat the online site as temporary and expect it to stop working.
What people use it for
- Keeping HTML copies of articles you synced before the interface closed
- Archiving a public account's existing exports as local files
- Studying or forking the TypeScript code for a learning project
- Converting saved articles to Markdown or Word for editing
Frequently asked questions
Does wechat-article-exporter still download new articles?
No. The README says the upstream WeChat interface was closed, so the one-click sync of public account articles no longer works and the project will not be fixed.
Is wechat-article-exporter free?
The README states the project is licensed under MIT. Check the repository's license file for the full terms.
What do I need to run it?
The README lists Docker as the prerequisite and Docker as the install method. Clone the repository with the git command in the README first.
Can I still use the online website?
The README says the online site's domain is scheduled to expire, after which it will not be accessible. Export any data you need before then.
Does the HTML export keep the original look?
The README says the HTML format bundles images and style files and keeps the article layout and styles 100% intact.
Are there alternatives?
The README credits WeChat_Article as the project whose approach inspired it. It is a separate project you can compare against, but this guide does not evaluate its features.
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Our verdict
Use wechat-article-exporter if you already have synced articles and want to keep faithful local copies, or if you want to read or fork its code. Pick something else if you need new articles synced or active support, because the README says the project is unmaintained and the upstream interface is closed.
Install options & downloads