Caleb Carmichael

Meta Archive Explorer / 2026

Meta dashboard

Meta lets people download their data, but the export is hard to use: scattered files, duplicate media, and fragmented conversations. I saw a need for a clearer way to explore it.

I designed Meta Archive Explorer so anyone with a Facebook export can bring their messages, media, and activity into one searchable dashboard on their own computer.

Use it with your own export . The README guides nontechnical users through setup with an AI coding agent.

Inside the dashboard

Screenshots use sample data. Select an image to view it full size. Source code

Analytics

Message counts, attachments, calls, reactions, and activity in one view.

Meta Archive Explorer analytics showing message, attachment, call, and reaction totals with sample dataView full size

Conversations

Read message histories, jump to a date, and combine or split imported threads.

A sample conversation with date navigation, thread correction controls, and message historyView full size

Media library

Filter files by type, date, size, and conversation, then jump back to their source.

Media library with file filters, a sample attachment grid, and links to original messagesView full size

Search

Search by keyword, exact phrase, or meaning. Open each result in context.

Archive search with four search modes, a sample result, and a jump-to-source linkView full size

Timeline

Browse messages and activity together, or revisit a particular day.

Timeline with date and record-type filters and a sample Facebook activity entryView full size
Messages indexed
1.3M+
Source archive
40+ GiB
Source files
80K+
Unique files
55K+
Views
17
Search modes
4

Original files, fewer duplicates

The app combines split downloads, removes duplicate copies, and flags missing data. It records where each file came from so the original layout can be rebuilt.

Archive summaryLocal only
Input
80K+ source files
Tracking
Checksums + original paths
Storage
55K+ unique files
Restore
Rebuild the original file layout
Counts from one real export; personal content omitted.

Browse the archive

Explore your conversations, photos, videos, and activity in one place. Follow results back to their source; missing data is clearly marked.

Conversations1,744 conversations
search · filter · jump by date

Search a conversation, jump to a date, and view attachments, reactions, and calls.

Starred

Save messages, media, events, and people in one collection.

People

Merge or split duplicate profiles. Keep the originals and undo changes.

Deletion

Preview deletions, restore removed items, or confirm permanent removal.

Search by words or meaning

Search words or exact phrases right away. Optional local indexing adds search by meaning, with every match linked to the original record.

  1. 01Group the textKeep nearby messages and speaker names together
  2. 02Encode meaningA local BGE model turns text into searchable vectors
  3. 03Find matchesCombine keyword and vector search with LanceDB
  4. 04Rank resultsA second local model sorts matches by relevance
  5. 05Open the originalJump to the conversation, timestamp, and surrounding messages

AI tools

Local models transcribe audio, extract document text, group topics, and estimate tone. AI estimates are labelled and linked to their sources.

Runs on your computer

Browsing, search, and AI tools run locally by default. The app requires sign-in, protects attachments, and supports undoing deletions.

SourceFacebook export filesTrack file paths and SHA-256 checksums
StorageFiles stored by content hashRemove duplicates and preserve the original content
CatalogSQLite · Alembic · LanceDBStore records, manage database changes, and search
ServiceLocal FastAPI serverOne-time sign-in, secure sessions, and protected attachments
InterfaceReact + TypeScript dashboardBrowse large lists and link directly to records

Privacy controls

The server accepts local connections only, checks requests, and blocks automatic downloads of external media. Cloud AI is optional and must be explicitly enabled.

Python · FastAPI · SQLite · Alembic · React · TypeScript · TanStack · ECharts · LanceDB · ONNX Runtime · Playwright